Canine Ethology Flashcards
What type of response causes predatory drift?
A limbic response
Dogs personal space also known as _____ or ______
Critical distance or flight distance
Examples of two reactive states which produce stress
Social situations and fearful situations
What is stress (dog)?
An influence on a dog that deviates the dog from homeostasis, the neural, normal baseline state of one particular dog.
A _______ dog is hesitant. nervous, distrustful, fearful and hopes the scary thing will go away.
Defensive dog
Stress is abstract and subjective, (happy, unhappy, can make more or less active; good stress bs bad stress) How can stress be positive for an animal?
Stress in manageable doses has a positive effect on an individual helping us perform to our potential.
What are some negative effects of stress?
Too much stress inhibits the learning process because of chemical influences in the brain. Can activate “fight or flight” response. Also can produce illness.
How can stress produce illness in a dog?
Stress hormones accumulate in the body taking a long time to dissipate meaning long-term effects on the dog.
How is stress linked to behavior and training problems?
Dogs are more likely to preform an aggressive act under stress as a result of frustration more than they would in a neutral state. Too much stress inhibits the learning process due to chemical influences in the brain activating “fight or flight” response.
Name seven signs of noticeable stress in a dog that may cause you to have to manipulate the environment to make the dog more comfortable.
Panting, drooling, trembling, sweaty paws, tense body, shedding/dandruff, change in eyes or weight displacement.
What causes fearful behaviors in a dog? (External)
Experiences the dog considers “risky” or are predisposed to having a fearful personality, improper or lack of early socialization or prior traumatic experience.
Dogs can be _____ without being threatening or aggressive.
Fearful.
Physiological indicators of fear are the release of ____ and _____ and other chemicals in the body.
The release of adrenaline, cortisol and other chemicals in the body.
A dogs first reaction to fear, if given the opportunity, will be
To try to move away from the fear producing situation or thing to increase the space between them.
Freezing, trembling, panting, whining and being reluctant to approach another dog/ person/object are all common responses of ______.
Fearful behaviors.
Fearful responses in the training area can be characterized by
Attempts to hide under chairs and other objects or behind the owner. Unwilling to enter the building, may freeze in one spot on arrival or slowly creep around the room one step at a time.
When is a dog considered reactive?
A dog is considered reactive when he displays any behavior that goes beyond the behavior of a normal dog In frequency, intensity or duration.
Name three examples of Reactive behavior
Fearful, aggressive or friendliness going beyond the behavior of a normal dog In frequenc, intensity or duration.
Why do reactive dogs show poor impulse control?
Reactive dogs have poor impulse control because their energy builds up and if untrained, it is not always released at the appropriate time.
What does Ambivalence mean?
Ambivalence means being in conflict.
What is the emotional state of an ambivalent dog? Will their body posture show offensive or defensive component? What often determines the action the way the dog will act? ( friendly or fearful?)
A. Unsure, unclear or undecided.
B. The body posture might show both offensive and defensive components at the same time.
C. The way the dog will go, friendly or fearful, often depends on the environment and how the other individual responds.
What do displacement behaviors tell us about how this dog is feeling?
Displacement behaviors are signs the dog is unsure of himself or anxious about how to behave.
Displacement behaviors can be early warning signals that the dog is feeling what type of way?
Threatened or fearful, in conflict or frustrated. “Trying to hold it together“ while deciding what to do next.
How should you respond to a dog using displacement behaviors in class?
Give them plenty of room. Place them anywhere with a solid wall behind them like a corner so they realize no one can approach from the rear and they can retreat if need be.
Name four common displacement behaviors. What makes them displacement behaviors vs normal behaviors?
A. Yawning, lip licking, scratching and sniffing around.
B. They are often out of context for the situation They are occurring in and occur at higher rates than normal behavior.
What do displacement behaviors indicate about the dogs emotional state?
They indicate the dog is in conflict. “All is not well”
What is a ”Cut-off“ signal?
What do these signals suggest?
A. Another name for displacement activities/behaviors.
B. The signals suggest a compromise between potential adversaries. A mean to post pone or break off agnostic conflict or an expressive compromise between fighting and fleeing.
What is a compromise signal? Is it a submissive or defensive gesture?
Compromise signal is not a submissive gesture but an opportunity for the “contestants” to call a draw and walk away without loss of gain or status.
What are calming signals? Who coined the term? How do they de-escalate conflict?
Turid Rugaas. Calming signals are cues that produce pacifying effects on the animal exhibiting them. These signals have a mutually pacifying effect that curtails hostilities before they have a chance to escalate into more serious conflict.
Clusters of calming signals will alert you to ______.
What adjustments should you make after recognizing these clusters?
Clusters of calming signals will alert you to observe carefully. Adjustments to the environment such as increasing space are in order.
Name seven examples of calming signals.
Yawning, stretching the tongue (licking), scratching, turning away (curving), sniffing, blinking (adverting eyes), splitting.
What does “splitting” look like?
“Splitting“ is a type of _____ signal.
A. Splitting is when a dog walks in between two other dogs interacting with each other to split up the focus.
B. calming signal.
Humans can communicate and calm dogs by mimicking these signals
Calming signals
What is agonistic behavior?
Agonistic behavior s any social behaviour related to fighting. The term has broader meaning than aggressive behaviour because it includes threats, displays, retreats, placation, and conciliation.
____ or ____ are two general categories for resolving social conflict.
Fight or flight.
Behaviors used in response to social conflict or competitive encounters are called ______ behaviors.
Agonistic behaviors.
Three options dogs have to resolve social or competitive disputes ____, _____, ____.
(hint: AAS)
Avoidance, appeasement and submission.
What is avoidance?
To simply leave or flee to avoid a threatening situation.
What are some signals of avoidance in a training classroom and what happens if the dog is prevented from using them?
A. Backing away, getting under or behind a chair or owner.
B. If prevented from fleeing dogs in this situation are forced to select another (usually more aggressive) option.
What is appeasement? What is the goal of appeasement?
“Calming signals” Appeasement is to display behaviors with a goal to “turn off” or inhibit perceived threats from others to resolve social conflicts.
What is submission? How is submission different than appeasement?
Behaviors labeled as submissive are shown toward people or dogs that have an established relationship with the dog. Appeasement is to display behaviors to resolve social conflict.
Submissive dogs may be conflicted. Some submissive gestures are similar to those meant to communicate ____ but are not necessarily signals of ____.
Anxiety (fear, stress)
fear
Submission includes a wide range of postures subcategorized into two catagories. What are these two categories called?
Active submission and passive submission.
What is the point of a submissive posture?
A submissive posture is an attempt to inhibit threats coming from another.
What is the goal of a threat of aggression? What is an example of a threat of aggression?
The goal of a threat of aggression is not to cause physical injury but to warn the other to stop. “air-snap”
What is an ”air snap”? What is The point of one?
Air snaps are inhibited bites. The dog could have connected an air snap and done harm but chose to threaten only.
Aggression is often the result of ______ or ____ ____.
Frustration or inner conflict
______ can quickly escalate into a change of behavior. What kind of behavior?
Threats. Aggressive behavior.
What is aggressive behavior?
Aggressive behavior is making contact with the intent of doing harm.
The offensively threatening or aggressive dog is these three things
Fearless, assertive and self-confident.
The dogs body is postured up and forward, making himself appear bigger/look larger and faces the problem head on.
Offensively threatening dog
Which kind of dog offensive/defensive will, if given the option, will be willing to lunge at and chase dogs out of her critical zone.
The offensive dog.
If the dogs were warriors which kind of dog would carry the sword and which kind would carry the shield?
Offensive- sword
Defensive- sheild
A dog trying to protect its self from real or perceived Harm who’s body posture is low or is trying to appear “smaller” and avoiding eye contact is what kind of dog?
Defensive dog.
Why might a defensive dog attempt to look offensive?
The defensive dog may have learned in the past that an offensive looking picture will keep threats at bay, or may be confused/ambivalent.
Conflicted or mixed motivation for threats/aggression can be characterized by
A dog shifting back and forth between offensive/defensive actions
Why are conflicted dogs difficult to interpret by instructors?
Do not ask why but do something to quickly diffuse threatening behavior for any reason.
What two things can you do in class to neutralize offensive/defensive behaviors in dogs?
One of the best neutralizers is space. Another is keeping the dogs focused and busy on a rewarding task.
Why is it important to evaluate why a threat occurred in class?
To make sure the situation is not repeated In your classroom.
What is very important to tell clients about talking about a dog’s behavior?
It is very important to describe the behavior rather than label it.
What is fear?
Fear is a defensive type of aggression that occurs when an animal perceived his physical safety is threatened or when his critical distance is invaded.
What is the main trigger of threats and aggression in dogs and associated with defensive body postures?
Fear.
This type of aggression can be triggered when another individual in the social living group fails to display the proper appeasement behavior or as a result of resource guarding
Dominance
______ is a reaction to a social situation, not a personality trait, in which the body language appears to be more offensive.
Dominance.
What aggression occurs when a dog has a valued resource and does not want to share? (bed, food, toy)
Possessive aggession
Possessive aggression can be described as
Territorial guarding or guarding behavior.
Possible aggression is directed towards
Both dogs and humans
Is possessive aggression offensive or defensive behavior?
Possessive aggression may have both offensive and defensive components.
Protective aggression is when
Protective aggression is when an animal is defending one or more members of it’s social group.
What kind of aggression can material and territorial aggression be included in?
Protective aggression
Territorial aggression is shown when
Territorial aggression is shown when a dog is defending his or her home area or social group.
What kind of aggression is related to possessive and protective aggression?
Territorial aggression.
Does territorial aggression have defensive or offensive components?
Territorial aggression may have defensive as well as offensive components.
Why might a dog show aggression when someone walks near the car they are in? What kind of aggression is the dog showing?
A dogs sense of territory may extend beyond what we deem as appropriate. Territorial aggression.
Name the nine kinds of aggression
Fear, dominance, possessive, protective and territorial.
pain-related, redirected, socially-facilitated and predatory behavior.
Is pain-related aggression defensive or offensive aggression?
Defensive aggression
What is pain-related aggression?
Defensive aggression seen in response to physical pain or discomfort. Can also be known as fearful aggression.
Sometimes this type of aggression is also known as fearful aggression.
Pain-related aggression.
Some put punishment elicited aggression in this category
Pain-related aggression.
When does redirected aggression occur?
Occurs when the dog is prevented or blocked from attacking her primary target.
Redirected aggression can be directed toward:
Any individual that is handy or “in the way”.
sometimes reffered to as “pack-facilitated aggression”
Socially facilitated aggression
When one or more dogs in a group display aggressive behavior, it is easier for the others to follow suit such as barking or howling. What type of aggression is this?
Socially-facilitated aggression
Sometimes listed as a form of aggression. Most do not consider this as a form of aggession because the intent is to obtain food.
Predatory behavior
What is predatory behavior?
preying on other organisms for food
What is the intent of predatory behavior? How is it displayed as a reaction to social conflicts?
To obtain food. It is not displayed as a reaction to social conflicts.
What is predatory behavior directed towards?
Predatory behavior is directed toward individuals or objects moving away like joggers, bikers or skateboarders which stimulate predatory-lIke behavior. (such as small animals)
What might motivate a dog to attack small children especially when they are making quick jerky movements and high pitched vocalizations? Why?
Predatory behavior. The dog perceives quick jerky movements and high pitched vocalizations to be similar to the behavior of prey animals.
Stalking, nipping at the legs and chasing are examples of what type of behavior?
Predatory behavior
What emotion does predatory behavior relate to?
Predatory behavior has nothing to do with malice or emotion It is natural prey drive.
What type of behavior is not displayed as a reaction to social conflicts and the intent is to obtain food?
Predatory behavior
Describe predatory drift
Predatory drift refers to dog to dog interactions where they can be getting along fine and then suddenly something causes a heightened arousal level triggering a limbic response, making one dog regard the other as prey.
What method is used to evaluate bites? Who created it?
Dr Ian Dunbar Created the standardized way to evaluate bites called ”Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale”
How many levels are on Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation scale?
Six levels
What is a level 1 bite as classified by Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale
Air snap. Warning bite that does not connect. “Missed“ on purpose. there were likely many signs leading up to this snap.
1-4 puncture holes from a single bite. Punctures are no deeper than half the length of the dogs canine teeth. What level bite is this?
Level 3
What is a Level two bite classified as on Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale?
Air snap with skin contact. Red mark or slight bruise may be present but no punctures. Dog purposely has not bitten down hard.
What level bite on Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale Is a sign that a dog may be losing bite inhibition?
Level 2
1-4 puncture holes from a single bite, deeper than half the length of the teeth. Soft tissue damage such as severe bruising telling us that the dog clamped down hard, and/or slashes in both directions from the puncture indicating that the dog bit and shook his head. what level bite is this classified as on Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale?
Level 4 bite.
What is a level 5 bite classified as in Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale?
Multiple level 4 bites with deep punctures or slashing due to clamping down, shaking or repeated gripping in an attempt to move the bite to a “better” advantage.
What is a level 6 bite as classified in Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale?
The victim died as a result of the attack.
What is the final level in Dr Ian Dunbar’s Bite Evaluation Scale?
Level 6: death
Why will a dog Shake his head back and forth, clamp down or repeatedly grip during an attack or bite?
In an attempt to move the bite to a “better” advantage.
What causes punctures with slashing?
the dog shaking his head during a bite or attack
Dr Ian Dunbar summarized that __% of dog bites are levels 1-3 and mostly 1’s and 2’s.
99%
What level of dog bites are most common according to Dr Ian Dunbar?
Levels 1-3 (99%)
Compromised mostly by 1’s and 2’s
Bite laws in your community may require you to Report what kind of bite?
Report any bite you know about
At the very least, which level bites should be referred to a dog bite (aggression) specialist?
Level 3-5 bites.
Level 1 and 2 bites may respond to a program of what type of training or behavior modification? (Hint: 5 answers)
Desensitization, counter-conditioning, supervision, environmental and mental changes and strict compliance with safety measures.
Desensitization, counter-conditioning, supervision, environmental and mental changes and strict compliance with safety measures may be responses to what level of bites?
Levels 1 and 2
In dog breeding if you select a change in looks you also get a change in ______.
Behavior.
What three categories is canine behavior Divided into?
Reproductive behaviors, hazard avoidance and food acquisition.
A dogs temperament is a mixture of its ____ and it’s_____.
Genetics and environment
A dog that Is afraid of something is what type of dog?
A defensive dog.
What sexes will mark territory? fixed or unfixed?
All sexes will mark territory fixed or not.
Define anthropomorphism
Assigning human traits and motivations to animals.
Why is early learning experience (Training) vital?
It affects the brains development.
what System is involved with emotions and fear?
Limbic system “fight or flight”
Assigning human traits and motivations to animals is called
Anthropomorphism
