Dogs Flashcards
In terms of other animals, how does the domestication time of wolves compare?
They are believed to be the oldest domesticated animal!
When were wolves domesticated?
About 12,000 years ago (10,000 BC)
Where were wolves domesticated?
Probably around modern day Germany.
How did we base the domestication age of wolves?
Same as other animals, we base this age on finding bones.
When and where were bones of wolves first found with humans?
Kent, England (400,000 years old)
When and where were bones of wolves second found with humans?
North China (300,000 years ago)
Who were the precursors of our modern dogs?
Wolves or Jackals
Why were wolves domesticated?
companionship and hunting.
A reminder: The other oldest animal domesticated is pigs. How do wolves compare?
Pigs were domesticated anout 9,000 years ago, wolves 12,000 years ago!
When did distinct dog breeds start to become present?
About 3,000 to 4,000 years ago.
When were most of our main breeds of dogs were intact and well defined?
The roman empire.
WHat is a female dogs? An intact male?
Bitch, stud.
What is a young dog of either sex?
A puppy.
What is the name for parturition in dogs?
Whelping.
What is spaying?
Removal of ovaries and uterus.
What is another name for spaying?
Ovariohysterectomy.
In dogs, how long is estrus? Whats the range and average?
Range: 3-21 days
Average: 9 days.
What is the length of dogs estrous cycle?
183 days.
However, its extremely variable.
Considering a dogs estrous cycle is 183 days, what does that mean?
bitches can only breed twice a year.
(Only go into heat twice a year)
If a dog can only breed twice a year, why are they not considered seasonal breeders?
Because it is random! Not any specified breeding season.
The two heats are not dependent on the environment.
In breeding, what is a huge difference between dogs and other animals?
In dogs, breed actually influence estrus and estrous length.
In other animals, if not breed, than what influences estrus and estrous length?
The enviroment! Think about it.
Angus and hereford are different breeds with the exact same kind of cycles.
The estrous cycle of a dog is influenced by ______
its breed.
How often do German shepards cycle?
have estrous cucles of 4-4.5 months.
Length of the Basenji (african dog) estrous cuycle?
Only one estrus per year.
How is the anatomy of a stud dog different than people?
They have an os penis.
What is an os penis?
A small bone. It is the bulbus glandis (head of penis)
What is the os penis also called?
baculum: penile bone.
What does the os penis allow?
Penetration with an erection.
Why is it important that a dog can penetrate before he is erect?
Its a mechanical issue. If the stud is fully erect before he penetrates, the penis will be too big and he will not be able to mate.
Why can natural breeding of dogs be difficult?
Many young dogs will get too excited and get erect before they are fully penetrated.
What happens after the penis is inside the vagina? What does this result in?
An erection occurs.
This results in the “tie”
When does a tie occur?
The tie occurs when the portion of the penis with the os penis becomes engorged with blood and swells to a size so large that it is firmly locked within the vagina.
What are three commonly misunderstood dog breeding facts?
the tie is not essential for pregnancy.
Ties break spontaneously
Throwing water on either dog doesnt really help.
What is a common abnormality in dog breeding?
Pseudopregnancy.
What is pseudopregnancy?
A false pregnancy.
How common is pseudopregnancy?
Estimated that 50-75% of intact bitches will show signs of pseudopregnancy at some point in their life.
Where do we think do we think pseudopregnancy comes from?
We believe it is a “normal abnormality” left over from canine ancestors.
Why does pseudopregnancy happen in dogs and wolves?
We dont really know why, but there is one most common theory.
Why happens to some dogs in pesudopregnancy?
They may lactate.
What is the most common theory for why pseudopregnancy happens in dogs and wolves?
In wild packs of canines, pseudopregnant bitches nurse puppies from the alpha female or from bitches that died during whelping.
What are the four types of auditions that dogs make?
Bark, whine, howl, growl.
Do dogs make complex vocalizations? Explain?
Yes, but its a bit different compared to other animals.
Describe the complex vocalizations of dogs.
Of there four common noises, Dogs have in-between noises where the amplitude is different.
How are the complex vocalizations of dogs different than most other animals?
In most animals, like pigs, their compelx noises were different strings and combinations of their simple noises.
Dogs dont generally string their noises into sequences, but rather have in-between noises with different amplitude.
Describe the audition of dogs: Whine.
Care-soliciting.
signifies pain, fright, or mild frustration.
Describe the audition of dogs: growl.
Aggressive or distance-increasing call of dogs.
Describe the audition of dogs: howl.
It has not been deciphered well. We dont really know why dogs howl.
What is the most likely reason that dogs howl?
Likely how dogs really communicate verbally with each other.
How do dogs use howls to communicate with each other?
Believed that most canids can distinguish strange adult and pup howls
Describe the noise range of a howl.
Believed that much of the howl is out of our hearing range.
Describe the audition of dogs: Bark
A territorial call for most dogs.
How will a dog change their barks? Give an example?
Dogs will alter tone and amplitude of bark to mean different things.
For example, the bark of a dog that wants let outside is different than the bark or a dog that sees another dog.
Do wild canids bark?
Yes, but it is a trait that has been selected for by humans during domestication.
Our modern dogs bark far more than wild dogs ever do.
What is the natural way of dogs to communicate with each other?
howling. Not barking.
How do dogs convey moods and emotions?
They use their tail, face, ears, mouth, and hair
They also use body position (such as lying or standing)
Describe a dogs body language when it is neutral.
tail down, ears down, standing upright.
Describe a dogs body language when it is aroused or interested
Tail up, ears up, standing upright on toes or with a front leg raised.
Describe a dogs body language when it is play soliciting.
tail up and wagging slightly, ears erect, standing up right and moving or gesturing slightly with front paws.
Describe a dogs body language when it is giving active greeting.
Tail wagging over a wide range, ears erect, more exaggerated motion with front paws.
Describe a dogs body language when it is showing aggression.
Tail up, ears erect, weight on front feet, exposed teeth.
Describe a dogs body language when it is showing fear.
Tail tucked, ear back and down, weight on rear feet, exposed teeth.
Describe a dogs body language when it is showing submission
Tail tucked, ears back and turned down, crouching on all four legs or rolled over to expose belly.
Describe the flow of the emotional potential in a dog.
The dog is always starting in neutral.
From there, the dog enters a state of arousal.
Then, the behavior goes either to play soliciting, aggression, or submission.
If the mood is aggression, than it can be offensive or defensive.
What is the significance of a dogs leg position when it pees.
Leg position means a lot socially. It shows status.
How many general weaning dates are there for dogs?
Three! Early, average, and late.
What is the early weaning time?
About 28 days.
4 weeks or so.
What is the average weaning time for a puppy?
about 42ish days.
About 6ish weeks.
What is the late weaning time for a puppy.
About 70 days
About 10 weeks.
In terms of behaviors, name the order than dogs learn things.
Mouthing, play soliciting, fighting, snapping, face licking
WHat is different about face licking versuses the other behaviors?
Face licking is continuously learned. Never stop learning it.
Around when do dogs learn to mouth? (the window)
From 21 days- 25 days
When do dogs learn to play solicit. (the window)
From 22 days- 33 days
When do dogs learn to fight? (the window)
31ish days- 38 days
When do dogs learn to snap? (the window)
34 days- 40 days
When do dogs learn face licking?
Starts around 40 days and is a continuous process.
What does the behavior timeline tell us?
Dogs learn to pay first then be aggressive.
In terms of vocalization, name the order in which dogs start to make them?
Growl, bark, whine.
Why is howling not on the learning timeline?
Howling is an instinct! They are born knowing how to do it.
Dogs howl on instinct. When do they learn to howl a lot?
Learn a lot to howl during 3-7 weeks.
When do dogs learn to growl? (the window)
24ish days- continuous learning.
When do dogs learn to bark? (the window)
28ish days - continuous learning.
When do dogs learn to whine? (the window)
30ish days- continuous learning.
Considered the timeline, Why might a later weaning date be better? (after 6 weeks)
So much socialization happens between 3-7 weeks.
How does increased handling and positive interaction affect puppies?
When they are young, it stimulates brain activity. (Increased EEG activity)
Creates more awareness, better socialization ect…
When dogs are isolated starting from 58 days onward, what are the socail affects?
Little to no effect. Any isolation of a puppy past day 60 has little to no effect.
How does hand rearing affect puppies?
they are more socialized to humans, difficult to socialize with dogs.
When puppies are isolated starting from 25 or so days onward, what are the social affects?
No social play or aggression.
When puppies are isolated starting from day 1 and onward, what are the social affects?
Cannot be socialized to humans.
What is the number one behavioral problem in dogs?
Destructiveness
In recent years, how has destructiveness in dogs changed?
it has been increasing!!
What are two reasons that destructiveness seems to be increasing in dogs?
Increased number of young owners and
Decreased contact during the day between dogs and owners.
What are four contributing factors to destructiveness in dogs?
Breed
Boredom
Separation anxiety
Barrier frustration
