Dog Behavior (Unit 2) Flashcards
When does a pregnant dog have changes in behavior?
Changes in behavior occur close to whelping
– want to find safe place to nest
What happens when pup is born
- Mother licks, removes birth sac
- Cuts cord
- Aids it to suckle
What are the 4 stages of development?
- Neonatal period
- Transitional period
- Socialization period
- Juvenile period
Neonatal period
- Birth to 14 days old
- Altricial –> dependant on parental care
- Unable to regulate body temperature
- Primary behavior goals: acquire food, warmth, and maternal care
Neonatal dogs
- Require tactile stimulation for urination and defecation
- Well developed olfactory and tactile systems
- Poor hearing and eyes closed
Mother dog behaviors
- Licks young
- Stimulates urination and defecation
- Cleans up messes
- Nurses them
- Carries them
- Influence of hormones: Prolactin –> stimulates flow of milk, increases mothering behaviors
Neonatal dog innate behaviors
- Rooting reflex: searching to find teat to suckle on
- Triggered by maternal licking
- Enables puppies to locate teat
- Develop nipple preference
Neonatal dog behaviors
- Vocalizations limited to distress calls
- Accompanied by increased activity
- Rapid growth occurs
- Behaviors don’t change much in the first 2 weeks
- Dependant on mother
- Learning abilities limited
- Early handling may be beneficial
Long term effects on behavior:
- Accelerated maturation of the nervous system, increased growth rate. enhanced development of motor skills, and problem-solving abilities
Transitional period
- 14 - 21 days
- Rapid physiological changes
- Deciduous teeth erupt –> 20 days
- Maturation of sensory organs
~ open eyes 12-14 days
~ About 19-21 d, ear canals open - Behaviors begin to transition neonatal to adult
- Stand to walk
- Tail wagging
- No longer need stimulation for urination and defecation
Mother dog behaviors (transitional period)
- As puppied age, mom begins to provide food
- Vomit/ chew up food
- Even males in wild will do this –> as will older offspring
What happens during transitional period?
- Social behaviors start to emerge
- Capable of learning
~ Rate of learning reaches adult level at 4-5 weeks - Begin introducing new toys, objects
- Expose to normal household sounds, sights, smells, handle, pet, brush
Primary Socialization
- 3-12 weeks
- Most important period of social development
- Very rapid behavioral changes
- Maturation of central nervous system
Mother dog behaviors (primary socialization period)
- At 5 weeks, mother begins to prevent suckling
- May growl or snap at young
~ Pups may roll over onto back when happens - Start to learn that they don’t need to suckle
Primary socialization milestones
- Puppies become highly responsive to stimuli
- Increased opportunities to learn
- Form attachments to other animals, people
Importance of socialization
- Development of species-specific social behavior
- Dog social to its own species and humans
- Prevent development of inappropriate behaviors
Changes during primary socialization
- Rapid increase in activity ~ more complex behavior - Play becomes more complex - Facial expressions and aggressive vocalizations appear at 5 weeks - Social structures begin to develop
Xenophobia
Definition: fear of new things
- Approach and investigate novel stimuli
- Until about 5 weeks of age
- Starting at 5 weeks, puppies become more wary of new things
- Fits with natural development in wild
Development of species-specific behaviors
- Learn from mother
- Mother will discipline if too rough or aggressive
- Teaches puppies how to read dominant signals
Weaning process
- Start at 3-4 weeks
- Completed by 7-9 weeks
- Mother will do by:
~ increased periods away from litter
Moving to new homes
- Usually 8-9 weeks
- Too early: more fearful, don’t know how to interact with humans
- Too late: more fearful, less trainable
- Socialization with humans is important
Socialization to humans
- Should occur between 5 and 12 weeks
- After 14 weeks, show fear, untrainable
- Shift social attachments
- Introduce dog to new housemates, other people
Fear imprint period
- Highest level of curiosity: 3-5 weeks
- 8-10 weeks, “fear imprint” period
- Uncertainty and decreased confidence
- Genetics and early socialization will affect
Socialization procedures
- Provide a variety of experiences
- At 3 weeks, provide with sights, sounds of household
- More varied at 7-9 weeks
- Continue up to 4 months of age and beyond
Ways to socialize puppies
Vet clinic Children Cars Other pets Weather Walking on leash Different flooring/ textures Loud noises Vacuum Variety in people Fire alarm/ emergency vehicles Grooming/ trimming toenails
~ anything really you want them to reacts well as an adult to