Ethology (Dog Behavior and Rest of Midterm-FInal) Flashcards
What is Paedomorphosis?
Paedomorphosis – retention of
puppy/juvenile traits into
adulthood
These are examples of Altered predatory sequence
related to breed:
How so?
Sheep Guarding:
Shepherds:
Cattle dogs:
Sheep guarding – reduced drive
Shepherds – strong eye, reduced
bite
Cattle dogs – bite
Some traits in canine domestication?
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
True or False: Earlier sexual maturity with domesticated canines
True 7-10 months vs. 22 months
True or False with increased domestication:
Increased scent marking
True
In domesticated canines, there is
annual/seasonal cycling or biannual reproductive cycling?
Biannual reproductve cycling
Domesticated canine:
Developmental Stages
(Just list)
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)
Domesticated canine:
Neonatal –
Transitional –
Socialization – ~
Juvenile –
Sexual maturity-
Social maturity –
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)
True or False:
Females (Wolves) ––Most fights with opposite gender
Females – large investment in
reproduction, most fights within
same gender
False
True or False: Lower ranking wolves are antisocial to other wolves.
False: Lower ranking – relatively
social to other wolves, need
for social interaction
What sorts of stimulation should you expose your dog to for neonatal handling?
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
True or False: Increased emotionality results from neonatal handling
False: Increased emotionality
Neonatal Handling: How long?
Early Neurologic Simulation: How long?
Neonatal Handling: Birth to five weeks
Early Neurologic Simulation: Day 3-16
Benefits of Neonatal Handling?
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
Benefits of early neurologic stimulation?
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
What period (in canines) ends with acoustic startle response and includes opening of eyes, and response to light?
Transition Period (13-19)
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?
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
How old and in what phase are dogs when they experience the following?
Decreased tolerance from mother
Decreased nursing
Decrease in separation distress
response
Socialization Period
6-14 Weeks of age
When does avoidance of strangers peak?
Avoidance of strangers peaks at
12-14 weeks
Protect from predators
Interferes with socialization
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)
Juvnenile
True or False: Puppies can bark aggressively before 12 weeks of age
False. Not before 12 weeks.
Developmental Stages of Feline:
When does stable learning in canines begin?
Stable learning begins at 8-
9 weeks (avoidance
conditioning experiment)
What is critical period for handling kittens?
3-7 Weeks
Characteristics of feline transitional period?
Handling of kittens? What are the benefits of handling them from 7-14 weeks? When is the critical period for kittens?
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!
When is weaning complete for cats?
7 Weeks of age
What is critical period for kittens?
3-7 weeks
When does social play peak for cats?
12-14 weeks
When does elimination occur in kittens?
5-6 weeks
Learning Quadrant?
Difference between anxiety and fear:
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.
Sensitive Period for Dogs and Cats in terms of socialization?
Sensitive period from 3
to 12 weeks (2-7 for
cats)
Individ
Most common neurotransmitters to consider when looking at anxiety/aggression in dogs
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
