9. Introduction to Companion Animal Behaviour & Welfare

Question 1

prevalence of behaviour problems

Answer 1

extremely high
dog : 40-80%
cat: 61%
rabbits: 29%
parrots: 71%

Question 2

Consequences of behaviour problems

Answer 2

-Relinquishment
-Behavioural euthanasia

Question 3

how often are dogs and cats relinquished due to behaviour problems?

Answer 3

○ Due to behaviour problems:
■ Cats approximately 8-13%
■ Dogs approximately 10-34%, depends on study, region and
categorization
● Shelter euthanasia rates vary, but behaviour is a top reason

Question 4

Many different opinions on the best approach to training? what is best?

Answer 4

● Reward-based training
● Aversive training
● Balanced training
● Dominance-based training (dogs)

✓ Positive reinforcement/negative punishment best, based on learning theory

Question 5

What is dominance?

Answer 5

Dominance describes the relationship between two individuals
● Related to priority of access to critical resources (eg. food, mates, shelter)
● Developed and maintained by agonistic encounters

No debate that dominance relationships exist, but…
● NOT a personality trait of an individual
● NOT a good explanation for common behaviours as it is not a motivation for behaviour

Question 6

Do dogs show dominance hierarchies?

Answer 6

● Studies on feral dogs vary
○ Many show loose relationships with no obvious hierarchy, others relatively linear hierarchies
○ Some show small kin-based social groups, but lack of strict hierarchy as found in wolves

● Pet dogs differ from feral dogs - neutering!
○ Clear-cut hierarchy not apparent in group of 19 neutered dogs - 3 ‘hermits’, 8 ‘outsiders’, 8 ‘insiders’
○ Pets also have human interference

Question 7

what is leadership (vs dominance) and how do these concepts apply to training methods?

Answer 7

Leadership = initiation of group activities
● Based on affiliative behaviours not dominance
● Participants want to join in

Training methods
● Dominance - make dogs do something by force or intimidation
● Leadership - convince dogs that they want to do something using consistency and positive reinforcement of wanted behaviours

Question 8

Leadership-based training; what is it, and outcomes

Answer 8

Encourage performance of particular behaviours without force
● Work to earn with rewards for appropriate behaviours
○ Attention, food, play, etc
● Ignore or redirect unwanted behaviours

Better outcomes
● Changes emotional state associated with situation
● Rewarded behaviours become habit over time

Question 9

Positive punishment and dominance-based training techniques associated with

Answer 9

decreased welfare, increased aggression

Question 10

Consistent and last behaviour modification best achieved through what kind of techniques

Answer 10

reward-based techniques