Ethology Flashcards
What does it indicate when a dog’s ears are back?
Appeasement, fearful, defensive
What does a forward position of a dog’s ears suggest?
Bold, offensive
What does prolonged eye contact from a dog signify?
Offensive threat
Sustained eye contact can be a challenge or threat in canine communication.
What does it mean if a dog avoids eye contact and looks away?
Fear, submission
This behavior is often a sign of anxiety or a desire to avoid confrontation.
What does scanning behavior in dogs indicate?
Anxiousness
Dogs that scan their environment may be feeling uneasy or threatened.
What does a ‘smile’ from a dog represent?
Submissive greeting
A relaxed mouth and facial expression can indicate a friendly, submissive demeanor.
What does a wagging tail typically indicate in dogs?
Arousal, excitement, hunger
Tail wagging can signify various positive emotions, depending on the context.
What does a high tail that tips back and forth slightly indicate?
Dominant behavior
A high, wagging tail can be a sign of confidence and assertiveness.
What does a lower tail that wags faster suggest?
Subordinate dog
A low, fast-wagging tail may indicate submission or excitement in a less dominant context.
What does raised fur (piloerection) on a dog indicate?
Arousal
This response can occur in situations of excitement or agitation.
List some stress signals exhibited by dogs.
- Panting
- Drooling
- Trembling
- Sweating
These behaviors can be signs of stress or anxiety in dogs.
What does a change in a dog’s eyes often indicate?
Stress or discomfort
Changes in eye appearance can reflect a dog’s emotional state.
What is a common behavior of dogs when they feel unsure or anxious?
Displacement behavior
This might include grabbing an object or displaying other unrelated actions.
What is agonistic behavior?
Conflict resolution in response to social conflict or competitive encounters
This behavior includes various strategies dogs use when faced with threats.
What is avoidance behavior in dogs?
Leave/flee by hiding or backing away
This is a common response to perceived threats.
What is the goal of appeasement behavior?
To turn off or inhibit threat
This behavior is often used to calm tense situations.
What does submission behavior indicate in dogs?
Shown towards people/dogs that have established a relationship with the dog
Submissive behavior can be either passive or active.
What are some signs of aggression in dogs?
Growls, air snaps, snarl bark
These behaviors indicate a dog may feel threatened or is asserting dominance.
What is anthropomorphism?
Assigning human traits and motivations to animals
This can lead to misunderstandings of animal behavior.
What emotions does the limbic system involve?
Emotions such as fear
The limbic system plays a crucial role in emotional responses.
Name the bite evaluation scale by Dr. Ian Dunbar:
- Air Snap
- Air Snap w/ Skin contact
- 1-4 puncture holes
- 1-4 puncture holes - deeper than half the length of teeth
- Multiple #4 bites
- Scream of victim
This scale helps evaluate the severity of dog bites.
What is the limbic system?
Network of cells in the brain that integrates instinct and learning.
What is the cerebral cortex?
Cognitive functions, such as learning and problem solving. It coordinates movement and receives and processes sensory, visual, and auditory information.
True or false: if the dog is engaged in mentally stimulating situation, such as paying attention to a learning sequence, the dogs cerebral cortex is engaged?
True
The dog is less likely to experience intense emotional response such as fear because that part of the brain is the limbic system. If the limbic system is activated, the cerebral cortex is inhibited
