Just playing

Interesting bit of interaction behaviour in the video between out male dogs. I had just got in the door from the morning milking, and was having a quick cup of coffee before getting on outside with the dogs, so the dogs have an air of excitement about them, as they wait for the off. Henry is playing with Ernest. Ernest is a very good social player within the pack, and knows it's a very good idea to keep the biggest kid in the playground on side. Ernest gives full submission to Henry and their is a lot of trust between them. Yes, Henry has his jaw at times right around Ernest's neck. Then Ernest's Dad, Toby seems to want to join in. Henry and him have a bit of a more grey relationship, and had a tête-à-tête once a couple years ago over a bitch on heat in the run area at the front of our stable block. Which ended with Henry pinning him to the ground. Hence since we make sure dead on heat bitches are kept right out of the way of the males, unless of course we intend to mate one with them. They have never fought since, but there lies an uneasy alliance between them, which can be seen subtly in Henry's hackles rising slightly at his back end, when Toby offers him the submissive gesture of licking his face, and when they part Henry looking at him doing a rigid tall stance.