Dog trainer friends: can dogs learn to copy play styles from each other? Ex: can a terrier who's grown up with a boxer "box"?
Shannon C. replied:
This article is from 2004, but more recently Ramirez has found that dogs can be taught via concept training. Whether or not dogs do this on their own is debatable - and whether they could/would if a behavior defied the innate nature of their breed is also worthy of exploration. I agree it depends on the dog & circumstances. http://www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/7_7/features/Socializing-Your-Puppy_5648-1.html