Ethology (Dog Behavior and Rest of Midterm-FInal)

Question 1

What is Paedomorphosis?

Answer 1

Paedomorphosis – retention of

puppy/juvenile traits into
adulthood

Question 2

These are examples of Altered predatory sequence

related to breed:

How so?

Sheep Guarding:

Shepherds:

Cattle dogs:

Answer 2

Sheep guarding – reduced drive
Shepherds – strong eye, reduced
bite
Cattle dogs – bite

Question 3

Some traits in canine domestication?

Answer 3

Smaller size, shorter
muzzle, domed head
Convex mandible, smaller
teeth
Larger eyes, floppy ears
Increased care soliciting
behavior
Decreased fear, increased
curiosity and playfulness

Increased alarm barking
Increased scent marking
Avoidance of fecal soiling
Earlier sexual maturity - 7-10 months vs. 22 months
Polygamous
Biannual reproductive cycling vs. annual/seasonal

Question 4

True or False: Earlier sexual maturity with domesticated canines

Answer 4

True 7-10 months vs. 22 months

Question 5

True or False with increased domestication:

Increased scent marking

Answer 5

True

Question 6

In domesticated canines, there is

annual/seasonal cycling or biannual reproductive cycling?

Answer 6

Biannual reproductve cycling

Question 7

Domesticated canine:

Developmental Stages

(Just list)

Answer 7

Neonatal – birth to 13 days
Transitional – 13 to 19 days
Socialization – ~3 to 12
weeks
Juvenile – 12 weeks until…
Sexual maturity (+/- 1 year)
Social maturity – between 1
and 3 years (roughly 2x
sexual maturity)

Question 8

Domesticated canine:

Neonatal –
Transitional –
Socialization – ~

Juvenile –
Sexual maturity-
Social maturity –

Answer 8

Neonatal – birth to 13 days
Transitional – 13 to 19 days
Socialization – ~3 to 12
weeks
Juvenile – 12 weeks until…
Sexual maturity (+/- 1 year)
Social maturity – between 1
and 3 years (roughly 2x
sexual maturity)

Question 9

True or False:

Females (Wolves) ––Most fights with opposite gender

Answer 9

Females – large investment in
reproduction, most fights within
same gender

False

Question 10

True or False: Lower ranking wolves are antisocial to other wolves.

Answer 10

False: Lower ranking – relatively
social to other wolves, need
for social interaction

Question 11

What sorts of stimulation should you expose your dog to for neonatal handling?

Answer 11

Daily periods of handling from birth to 5 weeks
Approximately 1 minute per day
Exposure to cold
Vestibular stimulation on tilting board
Exposure to flashing lights
Auditory stimulation

Question 12

True or False: Increased emotionality results from neonatal handling

Answer 12

False: Increased emotionality

Question 13

Neonatal Handling: How long?

Early Neurologic Simulation: How long?

Answer 13

Neonatal Handling: Birth to five weeks

Early Neurologic Simulation: Day 3-16

Question 14

Benefits of Neonatal Handling?

Answer 14

Benefits included:
Earlier opening of eyes
Increased confidence
Increased exploratory behaviors
Earlier nervous system maturation
More rapid hair growth and weight gain
Enhanced motor development
Decreased emotionality

Question 15

Benefits of early neurologic stimulation?

Answer 15

Benefits included:
Improved cardiovascular
performance (HR)
Stronger heart beats
Stronger adrenal glands
Improved tolerance to stress
Greater resistance to disease
Not a substitute for routine
handling, play s

Question 16

What period (in canines) ends with acoustic startle response and includes opening of eyes, and response to light?

Answer 16

Transition Period (13-19)

Question 17

How old are canines when they start to eliminate in specific locations?

How old when stand to nurse, eat regurgitated food, etc?

When does vision form and when does it starte to become acute?

Answer 17

Vision
form at 4 weeks, acuity at 8 weeks
Ingestive
stand to nurse, eating regurgitated food, solid food
between 5-10 weeks
Elimination
leave nest, eliminate in specific locations by 8.5weeks,
responds to o

Question 18

How old and in what phase are dogs when they experience the following?

Decreased tolerance from mother
Decreased nursing
Decrease in separation distress
response

Answer 18

Socialization Period

6-14 Weeks of age

Question 19

When does avoidance of strangers peak?

Answer 19

Avoidance of strangers peaks at
12-14 weeks
Protect from predators
Interferes with socialization

Question 20

This is characteristic of what canine stage?

Sense organs fully developed
Environmental exploration
Male elimination behaviors
(leg lifting, scratch after
defecation)
Conditional learning fully
developed (short attention
span, excitable)

Answer 20

Juvnenile

Question 21

True or False: Puppies can bark aggressively before 12 weeks of age

Answer 21

False. Not before 12 weeks.

Question 22

Developmental Stages of Feline:

Question 23

When does stable learning in canines begin?

Answer 23

Stable learning begins at 8-
9 weeks (avoidance
conditioning experiment)

Question 24

What is critical period for handling kittens?

Answer 24

3-7 Weeks

Question 25

Characteristics of feline transitional period?

Question 26

Handling of kittens? What are the benefits of handling them from 7-14 weeks? When is the critical period for kittens?

Answer 26

Early handling (5min/day
from 0-45 days)
Less fear
Open eyes earlier
Increased exploration
Handled from 3-14 weeks
More tolerant than those
handled 7-14 weeks
Critical period from 3-7
weeks
Impact for feral kittens!

Question 27

When is weaning complete for cats?

Answer 27

7 Weeks of age

Question 28

What is critical period for kittens?

Answer 28

3-7 weeks

Question 29

When does social play peak for cats?

Answer 29

12-14 weeks

Question 30

When does elimination occur in kittens?

Answer 30

5-6 weeks

Question 31

Learning Quadrant?

Question 32

Difference between anxiety and fear:

Answer 32

Fear: Focus on Stimulus, Reaction Stops when Stimulus Goes Away

Anxiety: Hypervigilance/Scanning, Loss of Selective Attention

Fear is direct response to stimulus. Anxiety is not as directly caused–more of an anticipative apprehension. Prepares body for threat.

Question 33

Sensitive Period for Dogs and Cats in terms of socialization?

Answer 33

Sensitive period from 3
to 12 weeks (2-7 for
cats)
Individ

Question 34

Most common neurotransmitters to consider when looking at anxiety/aggression in dogs

Answer 34

Neurotransmitters:

Norepinephrine: Are primarly affected by antidepressant medication
Serotonin:Primarily affected by antidepressant medication.
Dopamine (Drive states): May have excessive dopamine.
GABA: Primary inhibitory neurotransmitter in brain, opposition to glutamte