Differences in Breed and Cross-Breed Communications

Question 1

How many different dog breeds does the British Kennel Club acknoledge in the UK?

Answer 1

215

Question 2

How can the alignment of a dogs eyes effect communication?

Answer 2

Dogs with eyes set far apart may not be able to execute a direct stare
Dogs with eyes that are closer together (EX cocker spaniels) are better hunters and allows them to make eye contact
Dogs with bair that covers their eyes because of their breed (EX old english sheep dogs)

Question 3

How can the shape of the dogs mouth (based on breed) effect communication?

Answer 3

Some dogs (EX shih tzu) do not have the prominent facial features to preform a “submissive grin” as well as other breeds (EX irish wolfhound) can

Question 4

What are some examples of how the type of coat can effect communication using hackles?

Answer 4

EX poodles have curly coats and so you cannot see raised hackeles
EX rhodesian ridgebacks have permanantly raised hackles

Question 5

How can the color of the dogs coat effect communication?

Answer 5

Dogs with black coats can be harder to read and can seem “featureless” to other dogs

Question 6

What are some different types of tails that can impede communication?

Answer 6

Dogs with curled tails (EX pugs) cannot use tail communication as well as other breeds
Dogs with docked tails (EX bulldogs, boxers, dobermans) can be extreamly difficult and nearly impossible to read tail communication

Question 7

Why is it more difficult to read dogs with skin folds? (EX pug, english bulldog, shar-pei)

Answer 7

Their skin folds make it a lot harder to read facial expressions
The dog may look like it is frowning when it is actually happy

Question 8

What are some specific reasons breeds are bred for?

Answer 8

Hunting, companionship, herding, watchdogs

Question 9

______ were bred to communicate through barking.

Answer 9

Terriers

Question 10

What are some breeds known for their barking?

Answer 10

German sheperds, minuature schnauzers, chihuahuas, beagles, terriers

Question 11

What are some examples of howling breeds?

Answer 11

Basset hounds, bloodhounds, siberian huskies

Question 12

What are some examples of quiet breeds?

Answer 12

Collies, calavlier king charles spaniels, mastiffs

Question 13

What is the “silent dog” breed?

Answer 13

Basenji (Trey-bo!)
They do not bark at all but they are not completly silent, they make a sound similar to a yodel

Question 14

What kind of breed are usually the best with eye contact communication?

Answer 14

Herding breeds such as australian shepherds and border collies

Question 15

Why do dogs use direct eye contact with humans?

Answer 15

To learn our emotional states, get food or to see whats happening in the world around us

Question 16

How is staring at humans like an award?

Answer 16

When dogs stare at their humans, oxytocin (the “feel good” hormone) is released into their bloodstream

Question 17

How can it be more difficule to read dogs who naturally have most of their weight on their front legs? (EX english and french bulldogs)

Answer 17

They have a naturally agressive looking stance even when they are not being agressive

Question 18

Before the Victorian Era what was our main focus for dog breeds?

Answer 18

We were more focused on what a dog could do, not what they looked like
Over time dogs took on certain apperances

Question 19

When and why did we start to care more about how dogs looked?

Answer 19

In the Victorian Era, the middle class was upwardly mobile and wanted to show off their social standing and wealth and the easiest way to do this was by choosing dogs with certain apperances

Question 20

Which type of breed outpreformed the other type?

Answer 20

Purebred dogs were more consitent than mixed breed dogs but both preform very well

Question 21

T or F
Dogs are able to recognize when they are communicating with another dog and they are able to recognize different breeds

Answer 21

True

Question 22

Research shows that based on their breed, dogs are better at certain things. What do purebreds and mixed breeds tend to be better at?

Answer 22

Mixed breeds tend to be better with memory
Purebred dogs tend to be better with communication

Question 23

Dogs that have ______ colored coats often seem “featureless” to other dogs which makes these dogs difficult to read, when it comes to communication

Answer 23

Black

Question 24

Research has shown that dogs that look most like ___________ are the easiest for other dogs to read.

Answer 24

Wolves

Question 25

How are dogs able to recognize different breeds?

Answer 25

By looking at differences in size, shape, face shape, coat type, and sound of other dogs