Submission in dogs goes hand in hand with dominance, as owners and trainer we must understand what our dogs are communicating with us.
“Submission: Its Features and Function in the Wolf and Dog” (Rudolf Schenkel, 1967)
Rudolf Schenkel’s 1967 paper is one of the foundational works in canine and wolf ethology. Rather than viewing submission as a response that automatically ends aggression, Schenkel argues that submissive behavior is a sophisticated form of social communication whose primary purpose is to maintain harmony and strengthen relationships within stable social groups.
Overview
Schenkel challenges the widely accepted theory proposed by Konrad Lorenz that submission functions primarily as an automatic mechanism that inhibits aggression after a fight. Based on years of observing captive wolf packs and domestic dogs, Schenkel concludes that submission is fundamentally a social behavior intended to promote peaceful integration between individuals of unequal social status, not merely an act of surrender.
Definition of Submission
The author defines submission as:
The effort of a socially inferior individual to achieve or maintain friendly, harmonious social integration with a socially superior individual.
According to Schenkel, submission is not simply weakness or fear. Instead, it reflects an active attempt to preserve social relationships while acknowledging an existing hierarchy.
Importantly, submissive behavior is only effective when the higher-ranking individual responds with tolerance. If the superior individual remains aggressive or intolerant, submission alone does not resolve the conflict.
Two Forms of Submission
Schenkel identifies two primary categories of submissive behavior.
1. Active Submission
Active submission is characterized by behaviors such as:
- Nose nudging
- Muzzle licking
- Gentle mouthing of the muzzle
- Tail wagging
- Crouched posture
- Friendly physical contact
These behaviors are energetic and affiliative, resembling greeting ceremonies often seen when wolves reunite or approach respected pack members. They communicate friendliness and a desire for positive interaction.
2. Passive Submission
Passive submission includes behaviors such as:
- Rolling partially onto the side or back
- Exposing the chest or abdomen
- Ears flattened
- Tail tucked
- Remaining motionless while allowing investigation
Rather than signaling defeat, Schenkel interprets this posture as demonstrating trust and acceptance during interactions with a more assertive individual.
Origins of Submissive Behavior
One of Schenkel’s most influential conclusions is that submissive behaviors evolved from normal interactions between mothers and their offspring.
He proposes that:
- Active submission developed from puppy behaviors associated with nursing and food begging, such as muzzle licking and pawing.
- Passive submission developed from the posture puppies naturally assume while their mother cleans and cares for them.
As wolves mature, these juvenile behaviors become ritualized social signals that facilitate cooperation and peaceful interactions among adults.
Reinterpretation of Wolf Conflict
Schenkel argues that many behaviors previously described as submission had been incorrectly interpreted.
Specifically, he disputes Lorenz’s assertion that exposing the neck during conflict is a submissive gesture that automatically suppresses aggression. Instead, Schenkel’s observations indicate that many of these postures actually occur during ongoing confrontations and represent elements of challenge, restraint, or tactical positioning rather than surrender. The inferior animal often exhibits inhibition from biting—not because the dominant individual is “merciful,” but because the subordinate avoids escalating the conflict.
Submission Is Not the End of Every Fight
A major contribution of the paper is Schenkel’s distinction between three fundamentally different types of conflict:
- Severe conflicts based on intolerance, which may end in escape, serious injury, or death.
- Ritualized contests over specific privileges, where the loser simply relinquishes the contested resource or opportunity.
- Minor conflicts within cohesive social groups, where submission serves to restore harmony and reinforce existing social relationships.
This distinction emphasizes that submission is characteristic of socially bonded groups rather than all forms of aggression.
Broader Significance
Schenkel concludes that genuine submission exists only in species that possess both:
- Strong social bonds between individuals, and
- Stable hierarchical relationships.
Submission therefore functions less as an act of defeat and more as a communication system that helps maintain group cohesion while reducing unnecessary conflict.
Relevance to Modern Dog Training
Although written nearly sixty years ago, Schenkel’s work continues to influence contemporary canine behavior science. His observations support several principles widely accepted today:
- Many canine social behaviors are rooted in normal developmental interactions rather than dominance displays.
- Affiliative behaviors such as muzzle licking, greeting rituals, and relaxed body language play important roles in maintaining social relationships.
- Social hierarchies are maintained primarily through communication and cooperation rather than constant aggression.
- Successful conflict resolution depends on the behavior of both participants, not solely on the actions of the subordinate animal.
Key Takeaway
Schenkel’s central message is that submission should not be viewed as fear, defeat, or unconditional surrender. Instead, it is a ritualized social behavior through which an inferior individual communicates a desire for peaceful, cooperative interaction. When met with tolerance by the superior individual, submission promotes stability, cohesion, and long-term social harmony within the group.