Development

Question 1

True or False:

Predatory behavior is influenced by social exposure in the sensitive period

Answer 1

True

Question 2

During development the predador animal first priority is _____ whereas the prey animal first priority is _____

Answer 2

1. getting enough food (work in cooperative groups or solo)
2. Not being eaten (safety in numbers…open to new members)

Question 3

What is Precocial and Altricial and are they associated with predator or prey species?

Answer 3

Precocial: All senses fully developed at birth - prey offspring

Altricial: Helpless at birth - predatory offspring

Question 4

What is the best defense of a horse (prey species)?

Answer 4

The ability to run

Question 5

True or False:

Sociability and confidence in the environment depends on early social and sensory exposure in precocial/prey species?

Answer 5

False

*Early social and sensory exposure is important for altricial/predator species whereas social exposure during development is less important in prey species

Question 6

The best defense for predator species includes what?

Answer 6

Short distance running, aggression and hiding

Question 7

True or False:

Prey species require a lifelong ability to habituate?

Answer 7

True

*Predators don’t really need to habituate but they do need to be able to recognize social partners from prey

Question 8

Can a dog or cat raised without exposure to humans still become a functional companion?

Answer 8

No

*A wild mustang however can still become a functional companion

Question 9

True or False:

A horse is born with no firm ‘sensitive’ periods?

Answer 9

True

Question 10

In the horse; what phase of development ends with the first successful nursing within a few hours of birth?

Answer 10

Neonatal

Question 11

In the horse the transitional phase is primarily associated with what?

Answer 11

Refinement of sensory and motor skills

Question 12

You are called out on a house call by a new horse owner who is concerned for his new foal. When you arrive you notice the foal lying on his side and the mother standing nearby. What do you tell your client?

A. The foal is dead and he should arrange a funeral service

B. You didn’t specialize in horses and thought you were being called out for a sick cow so you have no idea what is going on

C. The foal is sleeping and most likely in the transitional phase of development

D. The foal is sleeping and should probably be weaned soon

Answer 12

C

*In the transitional phase it is normal for foals to lie down during REM sleep and the mother to have a ‘recumbency response’ (stand nearby her foal who is lying down)

Question 13

During the socialization phase (~4 weeks) young foals will begin to display gender differences. How are the interactions of fillies different from colts?

Answer 13

Fillies: Chasing and grooming

Colts: Chasing, mock fighting, mounting

Question 14

True or False:

As foals mature they spend more time away from their mother and with other herd members?

Answer 14

True

Question 15

Describe the weaning process that would naturally occur with horses?

Answer 15

Begins at 6-12 months and is a gradual process where the foal will come and go for several weeks before leaving for good. Often weaning isn’t complete for 2-3 years.

Question 16

True or False:

Colts will often stay with their natal band after reaching sexual maturity (~12 mo +)

Answer 16

False

*While it is not uncommon for a fillie to join the existing harem a young colt will often feel pressured by the harem stallion to leave the natal band and join a bachelor band or form a new harem

Question 17

What was the take home message regarding the study that was discussed that talked about imprint training in horses?

Answer 17

Although early handling made the horses easier and safer to work with in the long run the standardized imprinting procedure within the first few hours of birth wasn’t necessary and the horses showed no improved response to specific stimuli

Question 18

What are the general features of the neonatal phase of development in dogs and cats? How long does it usually last?

Answer 18

1. Can feel touch, temperature, smell and taste
2. Dogs: birth to ~13d

Cats: birth to 10-13d

Question 19

True or False:

Dogs and cats reach social maturity around the same time as sexual maturity?

Answer 19

False

*Social maturity not usually achieved until 1-3 years of age (~2x sexual maturity)

Question 20

What would you advise an owner to do with her new puppies during the neonatal phase of development that will help improve disease resistance, decrease emotional reactivity and increase learning and problem solving?

Answer 20

3 min of handling per day + exposure to temperature change

Question 21

What developmental stage in puppies and kittens begins with opening of eyes and ends when their ears are fully open (onset of acoustic startle)?

Answer 21

Transition

Question 22

True or False:

Short periods of handling from birth to 5 weeks for puppies and kittens will increase nervous system maturation stimulate more hair growth and result in increased weight gain?

Answer 22

True

*They will also be more confident, exploratory, open eyes earlier and have enhanced motor development

Question 23

What specifically defines the socialization period of development for puppies and kittens?

Answer 23

All senses are functioning so as to facilitate learning and communication

Question 24

How does the seek/fear relationship change from early socialization period to late in the socialization period?

Answer 24

Early: seek > fear

Late: seek < fear (usually happens by 14-16 weeks in puppies)

Question 25

Early in the socialization period puppies will have a ____ recovery from frightening incidents; learn ___ ____ from littermates and have a(n) ____ separation response.

Answer 25

1. Rapid
2. Bite Inhibition
3. Intense

Question 26

Puppies benefit the most from exposure to substrate differences, various objects, other animals and handling of their feet, ears and tail during which developmental stage?

Answer 26

Socialization

*3-12 weeks

Question 27

What is the ideal age to get a puppy?

What are some potenital problems of removing a puppy too early? Too late?

Answer 27

1. 7-12 weeks
2. -Poor bite inhibition
   - Poor social skills with other dogs
   - Increased separation anxiety
3. Isolation until 12 weeks results in:
   - Not comfortable with humans (if not exposed to humans)
   - Avoid other dogs/poor social skills (if not exposed to other dogs)
   - General fear of new environment (if housed in kennel)

Question 28

What are some characteristics of the juvenile period in puppy development?

Answer 28

• Environmental exploration
• Onset of male elimination pattern (lifting leg etc)
• Short attention span, easily excitable

Question 29

What are the common onset times for certain types of aggressive behaviors such as the territorial response and competitive response in dogs?

Answer 29

Sexual maturity (6-18 mo)

Social maturity (1-3 years)

Question 30

How do the developmental stages differ in puppies and kittens?

Answer 30

Kittens have stages that are shorter, earlier, and less defined

Question 31

What is the critical period for kittens that will make them more tolerant and could impact their feral classification?

Answer 31

3-7 weeks

*early handling (0-45d) will also make them less fearful, open eyes earlier, and they will have increased exploration

Question 32

What determines the preference for prey and food of a cat?

Answer 32

The mother facilitates learning of predatory behavior and determines the kitten’s food preferences

Question 33

True or False:

In kittens; social play will peak before object exploration and locomotor play

Answer 33

False

Object exploration and locomotor play: 7-8 weeks

Social Play: 12-14 weeks