Which of the following is a distance-increasing signal?

• A. Play bow, soft wagging tail, and relaxed mouth.
• B. Lip licking, lower tail, stiff body, growl, low bark, hackles, marking, air snapping, high tail, flagging tail, and showing more than front teeth in a snarl.
• C. Submissive grin and hip nudge.
• D. Yawn and sniffing.

Answer: (B)

Distance-increasing signals are those that convey a clear threat and push the other party away. The chosen option describes a combination of stiff body posture, growling, low barking, raised hackles, a high tail, and showing more than the front teeth in a snarl, sometimes with air snapping. These cues signal the dog intends to escalate and create space, not engage in friendly contact or play. In contrast, the other options depict signals that invite interaction or show submission or curiosity—playful invitations breezily opposed to distance creation, a submissive grin and hip-nudge that encourage closeness, or a yawn and sniffing as neutral investigation.