Dog Behaviour Flashcards
1
Q
What are the 12 steps in the ladder of de-escalation?
A
- Yawn, blink, lick nose/muzzle
- Turning head away
- Turn body away, sitting, pawing at things
- Walk away
- Creeping, ears moving further back
- Standing crouched tail tucked
- Lying down, pick up a paw
- Stiffening up (brow furrowed, muzzle), staring
- Teeth show
- Growling
- Snapping
- Bite
2
Q
What can we do to de-escalate prior to the appointment?
A
- Is there a quieter entrance?
- A quieter place to wait than the waiting room? Empty exam room?
- Let the owner move the dog, not you
- Don’t drag the dog
- Try treats
3
Q
What can we do to de-escalate in the exam room?
A
- Let the patient settle
- Take history, ignore the pet
- Let come to you, stroke if it approached
- Consider examining on the floor, not table
- Can the owner bring a blanket from home to lay o the floor and help calm them?
- Can the owner restrain?
- Liability issue: the the owner gets bit, the clinic is liable
- If the owner is afraid, they cannot handle
- If the dog is protective of owner, owner cannot handle
- Should we ask the owner to leave?
- Should we muzzle them?
4
Q
What can we do to de-escalate in a particularly stressful/painful procedure?
A
- Distract
- Treats, petting
- Analgesics if painful
- Sedate if necessary
- Consider rescheduling with the owner medicating prior to the appointment
5
Q
Muzzle
A
- Leather and nylon better for dogs than basket muzzles (toenails can get caught)
- Shoelace muzzle if the dog is really aggressive (easy to slip on), also fits every size dog
- Let owners know that muzzles don’t hurt the dog
- Don’t wear for more than 10-15 min
6
Q
Why might a dog be anxious?
A
- New surroundings
- Contact with new dogs
- Contact with unfamiliar people
- Unfamiliar smells
7
Q
What are the 3 anxiety responses?
A
- Freeze
- Flight
- Fight
8
Q
What can we look for in eyes?
A
- How open are they?
- Avoiding eye contact: fear, looking for escape
- Wide: state of persistence
- ‘Half moon/whale eyes’
- White (sclera) of eyes visible = state of anxiety
- Sign of arousal and fear
9
Q
What can we look for with ears?
A
- Middle of head: relaxed
- Middle of head & raised: unsure
- Retracted: fear, submission, play
- /Always retracted during a bite/
- Pointing forwards: alert, interested, assertive, possible attack
10
Q
What can we look for with muzzles?
A
- Normal: jaws closed, or open with tongue hanging out
- Anxious, defensive, aggressive: retracted muzzle, teeth may show, drooling
- All teeth: defensive
- Only front teeth: aggressive
- All dogs will close their mouth prior to biting
- Displacement activities that show anxiety: yawning, grooming, licking lips
- Nose/lip licking: appeasement, dog trying to calm their anxiety
- Anxious, defensive, aggressive: retracted muzzle, teeth may show, drooling
11
Q
What can we look for with posture?
A
- Center of gravity
- Relaxed: weight evenly distributed
- Invitation to play: rocked back, front legs lowered
- Anxious: one paw lifted up/weight not evenly distributed, head turned away, c shaped spine, move away from you
- Submissive: body lowered, tail low, lying down, belly exposed
- Aroused: leaning forwards, head outstretched
- Flat on the floor: avoiding interaction, don’t touch me
12
Q
What can we look for with hair?
A
- Piloerection along back
- Sign of anxiety or offence
- Erect whiskers
13
Q
What can we look for with tail?
A
- Wagging from base: friendly
- Wagging from the tip (short/stiff wags): aggressive
- Straight out (perpendicular): attack
- Held high: intimidation or aroused (aware of surroundings)
- Relaxed: normal
- Tucked loosely (between legs): humility
- Tucked tightly (to belly): fear
14
Q
Should you give a dog your flat hand to smell?
A
No! Make a fist
15
Q
Should you reach out to pet a dog that is focused on something else?
A
No! Get their attention first or you will startle them
