See what some authors write about piloerection
- from Scaredy Dog! Understanding & Rehabilitating Your Reactive Dog by Ali Brown
When the fur stands up like this it is called piloerection. Their purpose is to make him look bigger and scarier; it’s offensive defense. Hackles may stand up any time the dog is aroused, whether excited, happy, scared or angry. -
from How To Speak Dog: Mastering the Art of Dog-Human Communication by Stanley Coren
In dogs, piloerection (the technical term for the bristling or fluffing up of an animal’s fur) is designed to make them look larger and represents a high level of aggression. As we saw earlier, when a dog is communicating a potential attack, we usually see the fur rise on the shoulders (the hackles), and this may extend in a ridge down the center of the back. At the same time, the tail may bristle out as the dog raises it into a dominant vertical position. If a cat sees this display in a dog, it may misread this as the Cattish statement suggesting that the animal it is looking at is terrified.... -
from ComPETability: Solving Behavior Problems In Your Cat-Dog Household by Amy Shojai
piloerection, or the fluffing of fur, but the meaning is a bit different for each. When a dog is communicating aggression, the fur will rise in a ridge along the dog's back and shoulders (referred to as the hackles). Cats make the most of this talent by arching their backs and standing sideways to their adversary before they fluff; but rather than signifying aggression, this typical Halloween-look is the sign of a frightened cat. -
from Help for Your Fearful Dog: A Step-by-Step Guide to Helping Your Dog Conquer His Fears by Nicole Wilde
Piloerection-raised hackles, hair standing on end-is frequently misinterpreted as a sure indication of aggression. While it is true that piloerection often accompanies an aggressive display, it can also manifest as the result of excitement or fear.When dogs are frightened, they may raise their hackles to make themselves look bigger and more intimidating. As noted ethologist and author Dr. Roger Abrantes says, "The fearful, submissive and surprised dog probably raises its hackles to frighten its opponent. If it succeeds in making its opponent hesitate for a moment it will have a better chance to... -
from Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats by Karen Overall
not all piloerection signals are a concern but that they always signal information. The standing dog is a Rhodesian ridgeback who has limited choice about how he presents his pelage. -
from Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats by Karen Overall
Fig. 4-3 A dog with true fear aggression shows the bimodal dorsal piloerection pattern classic for fearful, anxious, and uncertain dogs. No one signal is completely clear in its meaning when alone. Congruent signals are important for clear understanding of behavior. -
from Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats by Karen Overall
pattern of piloerection is changing and is no longer uniform but beginning to show the bimodal pattern that is fully developed in position 8. This dog is showing only a defensive threat. He could become more assertive and aggressive, more fearful and aggressive, or less reactive, depending on the response received to his threats. -
from Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats by Karen Overall
Piloerection is uniform down the dorsum and, possibly, down part of the tail. The jaw is squared, and the ventrum of the neck is not obvious and is instead tucked up by the squared shoulders, head, and jaw. This is an assertive dog who would be confident in a fight or attack. This is the type of posture that is seen in learned or natural assertive, offensive threats. -
from Manual of Clinical Behavioral Medicine for Dogs and Cats by Karen Overall
• Is the hair up on the back or the neck, and if so, where? Where the hair is raised matters because not all piloerection is signaling the same thing- from Patricia McConnell's The Other End Of The Leash:
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