Altering perceptions and emotional responses

Question 1

What factors influence an animals fear-anxiety motivations?

Answer 1

• Early rearing experiences
• Parents/genetics
• Life experiences
• Specific incidents
• Health: physical, emotional, cognitive

Question 2

If clinical examination suggests the potential for an underlying medical factor which further tests may be considered necessary ?

Answer 2

• Blood tests
• Radiographs
• Neurological workup

Question 3

What is the first stage of treatment in modifying fear-anxiety related behaviour?

Answer 3

Reduce residual negative emotion - empty the sink

Question 4

How can residual negative emotion be reduced?

Answer 4

• reduce input
• encourage cold tap, low flow rate
• encourage drainage

Question 5

How can the triggers for emotional responses be reduced?

Answer 5

• Limit exposure
• Dilute the trigger
• Modify the environment
• Modify interactions

Question 6

How can removal of residue be encourgaed?

Answer 6

• Maximise the dogs ability to sleep within its requirement of 16 hours
• Allow engagement of appropriate drainage behaviours

Question 7

How can an emotional response be altered when modifying fear-anxiety related behaviour?

Answer 7

• neutralising the animal’s reaction to the problematic stimuli through desensitisation
• change the animal’s perception through forming new and positive associations through the process of counter-conditioning

Question 8

What can occur as a result of inadvertent punishment by the O?

Answer 8

Increase confusion / frustration or induce fear

Question 9

What is emotional conditioning, give an example?

Answer 9

The idea that many emotional reactions are learned due to classical conditioning

o Association of something fear producing (a needle) with a neutral object (a veterinary context) => conditioned emotional response

Question 10

What are the two stages of altering emotional response to a stimulus?

Answer 10

Desensitisation

Counter condition

Question 11

Define desensitisation and counter conditioning

Answer 11

Desensitise – neutralise the emotional response

Counter condition – alter the emotional response

Question 12

How can you ensure successful counter-conditioning?

Answer 12

Ensuring that the positive emotional response initiated by the cue, such as food or social contact, is significantly stronger than the negative emotional association with the problematic stimulus
Animal must be in a positive emotional state when in the presence of previously negative stimulus

Question 13

Give examples of triggers that can be used to induce or cue a positive emotional state via the seeking (desire) system

Answer 13

• Food treats
• Play
• Appropriate social contact

Question 14

What needs to be observed to assess emotional response?

Answer 14

• Body posture
• Facial expression
• Ear and tail position

Question 15

What is counter conditioning?

Answer 15

The process by which the emotional response to a stimulus is changed

Question 16

In what ways has selective breeding made it difficult for some breeds to accurately signal their emotional state?

Answer 16

Morphological characteristics: drooping ears, long fur, short tails, heavy jowls

Question 17

Negative (protective) emotional systems are associated with what signs?

Answer 17

• pulling away
• resisting approach
• leaning backwards
• extending hind legs behind
• raising hackles (hairs along the animals back)
• Tail position being down with the end of the tail between the legs and the base of the tail clamped down against the anus

Question 18

Examples of facial signs of negative (protective) emotional bias include?

Answer 18

• ear position
• pupillary dilatation
• facial tension
• turning the head away
• averting gaze

Question 19

How can the 3 ways in which the tail is wagged give us some clues to emotional state?

Answer 19

• Wagging of the tip of the tail only, often in a frantic manner, indicates a negative (protective) state
• Relaxed and rhythmic wagging of the whole tail from the base to the tip indicates a positive (engaging) emotional state.
• “Windmill” wagging can be seen as an appeasement gesture associated with emotional conflict

Question 20

What is the first priority when altering perceptions and responses?

Answer 20

Stop unnecessary exposure to the problem stimulus

Question 21

Following removal of unnecessary exposure to the problem stimulus, what occurs in the second stage of altering perceptions and responses?

Answer 21

• Active reinforcement of relaxation and positive emotional state with a chosen cue
• Encourage drainage
• Consider other emotional influences and modify
• Drugs