Interposing between dog and owner

Complex behaviour. A dog interposes himself between another dog and its owner. The dog may continue along its path, stop between the dog and its owner, displace the dog from its owner, or drive the dog away from its owner.
(Capra, 2010)

In this interaction between two females, the female Rough Collie interposes herself between the Cavalier King Charles bitch and her owner, stepping over the man's feet to approach the Spaniel from the rear.

The male Fox Terrier interposes himself between the mixed-breed bitch and her owner.

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In this interaction between two females, the German Shepherd cross seeks support from her owner. The Staffordshire Bull Terrier approaches, adopting a high-stepping gait in the final steps as she moves closer, then stops in a frontal stance with a raised front paw, head up, staring, tail wagging. The Shepherd cross turns her head, averting her gaze and avoiding eye contact with the Staffordshire, who moves nearer and exhibits a shoulder display; the Shepherd cross stretches her muzzle forward, sniffing the Staffy, and then licks her nose, ears flattened back, head up and tail down. The Shepherd cross steps back and the Staffordshire displaces her by interposing herself between the Shepherd cross and her owner. The Staffordshire crowds the Shepherd cross for a few steps, then leaves the interaction.

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In this interaction between two females, the tan mixed-breed moves away from her owners, and in returning towards them finds herself confronted with an Alaskan Malamute bitch. The mixed-breed leaps forward and sideways, bowing with front legs wide open and barking; the Malamute doesn't move, and reacts by stopping the mixed-breed bitch with a frontal stance and a bow with front legs held wide open. The mixed breed moves closer and the two sniff each other. The mixed breed stiffens, and seeks support from the woman, who is her owner. The Malamute follows her, greets the man and re-orients toward the mixed breed interposing herself between the bitch and her owner. The mixed breed leaps toward her owner, then moves away; the Malamute shakes off. The mixed breed barks, and leaps forward; the Malamute charges toward her, and when the mixed breed tries to circle around her the Malamute interposes herself between the bitch and her owner. The mixed breed seeks support from her owner, but is displaced by the Malamute who reacts to a bow from the other dog with a bow and agonistic pucker, and then moving towards the mixed breed at a slow walk. The two face off, and each display a bow; the mixed breed attempts to move back towards the woman, but the Malamute stops her. The mixed breed then attempts to circle around her, but is stopped once again by the Malamute, who positions herself in front of the owners in a frontal stance, and bows. The mixed breed moves away; the Malamute again greets the two people, and then leaves the interaction.

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