Defensive aggressive behavior is displayed by animals that would rather flee but are prepared to fight if necessary. The animal is fearful but feels it may be able to hold its own if the threat persists. Elements of threat and submission are combined in their postures, or may visibly alternate as the animal "waffles" between one option and the other. An animal may simultaneously grimace in fear and snarl, or alternately growl and whine. The hackles are erect, the back humped, but at the same time the animal crouches submissively, keeps its tail and ears down, and avoids staring directly at its opponent
Submissive behavior probably originated as soliciting behavior between offspring and parent; the movements often parallel. Weaned pups food-beg from adults by approaching in a submissive crouch -- back curled, head held low to the ground, muzzle turned up -- and licking the underside of the adult's muzzle; later in life, a crouch and muzzle-lick from one adult animal to another is an active submission gesture (G in the previous illustration). The submissive animal may whine or paw at the dominant one and will weave in and out in front of the animal's face, licking at its muzzle. The tail is held between the legs or to one side and wagging weakly; the eyes are narrowed and the head turned away, the lips retracted in a submissive grin, or "fear-grimace". In passive submission, the dominant animal initiates the submission behavior in the subdominant, often growling or staring to make the subdominant animal lie down, flatten its ears, and roll over on its back, in a purely indefensible position. The dominant animal will often stand over the submitting one (C in behavior diagram) and growl at it or bite and mouth it to "remind" it of its position in the social order.