Exam 1: Canine Behavior Flashcards
Who should be first to evaluate dog/cat presented for behavior problems
Veterinarian
Diagnostics should include medical exam
Face - relaxed
Soft
Loose expression
Face - stressed
Skin taunt
Wrinkled brow
Lips pulled back
Tense jaw
Eyes - relaxed
Almond shaped
Normal pupils
Soft eye
Squinty
Eyes - stressed
Dilated pupils
Prolonged staring or avoiding eye contact
Whale eye
Hard eyes
Threatening gaze
Ears - relaxed
Neutral
Back but not flattened
Loose
Ears - stressed
Out to side
Flat against head
Spine/posture - relaxed
Flexible neck to tail
Spine/posture - stressed
Rigid
Stiff
Tail - relaxed
Level with topline
Slightly above or below
Wagging
Tail - stressed
High above topline
Tucked
Wagging
Mouth - relaxed
Mouth open or closed
Lips - long, soft
Commissures relaxed
Mouth - stressed
Mouth closed
Lips - short, tense
Snarl
Lip lift
Bite
Barking
High arousal
Solicit support
Alert others
Seek attention
Warning signals
High pitched bark
Excitement
Fear
Attention seeking
Frustration
Low pitched bark
Warning
Territorial defense
Guarding
Hackles
When up - state of arousal
Can happen when playing
Intense emotional state
Wagging tail
Happens when dog is aroused
Does not mean dog is friendly
High flagged tail
Highest arousal
Freezing tail
Warning sign of aggression
Tucked under tail
Fear
Appeasement
Leave me alone
Neutral/relaxed dog
Ears up (not forward)
Head high
Mouth open slightly, tongue exposed
Loose stance, weight flat on feet
Tail down and relaxed
Alert/attentive dog
Eyes wide
Smooth nose and forehead
Mouth closed
Slight forward lean, standing tall on toes
Ears forward (may twitch)
Tail horizontal (not stiff or bristled)
Tail may move slightly from side to side
Playful dog
Tail up, may broadly wave
Ears up
Pupils dilated
Mouth open, tongue may be exposed
Front end lowered by bent forepaws
“Play bow”
Belly up - 3 types
Distance increasing signal
Distance decreasing signal
Very confident dog
Belly up - distance increasing
Lack of confidence
Appeasement behavior
Fearful
Tail tucked, tense, unsure
Belly up - distance decreasing
Rub my belly
Dog relaxed and asking for rub
Loose, mouth open, curved, no tension, soft eyes
Belly up - very confident
Occasional
May roll to evade handling, but not fearful or defensive
May be very assertive
Do not stand over such a dog
Active appeasement dog
Forehead smooth
Eye contact brief and indirect
Licks at face of other dog
Corner of mouth back
Paw raised
Body lowered
Passive appeasement dog
Head turned to avoid direct eye contact
Eyes partly closed
Nose and forehead smooth
Corner of mouth back
Rolls onto back exposing throat and stomach
Tail tucked
Stress/anxiety dog
Body lowered
Tail down
Ears back
Pupils dilated
Rapid panting with corner of mouth back
Displacement behaviors
Normal behaviors that occur out of context for given situation
Usually result of anxiety, uneasiness, frustration, stress
“Calming signals”
Distance increasing - avoid conflict
Examples of displacement behaviors
Yawn Shaking off Lip lick Blink Scratch Paw lift Grooming out of context
Avoidance behaviors examples
Averting eyes/gaze, avoiding visual contact
Turning head away, turning whole body away
Crouching, moving back/away
Trying to escape
Hiding behind objects/people
Backing up with paw up
Fear/defensive aggression dog
Body lowered
Hackles raised
Tail tucked
Ears back
Pupils dilated
Nose wrinkled
Lips slightly curled
Defensive grin
Commissures back with cheek teeth exposed
Ears back, dilated pupils, whale eye
Offensive pucker
Commissures forward, showing only front teeth
Ears forward, Dilated pupils, hard and direct stare
Offensive threat/aggression dog
Tail raised and bristled and stiff
Hackles raised
Ears forward
Forehead may show vertical wrinkles
Nose wrinkled, lips curled
Teeth visible
Mouth open and C-shaped
Stiff legged stance, leaning slightly forward
Canine ladder of aggression
- Blinks, yawns, licks nose
- Turns head away
- Turns body away, sits, paws
- Walks away
- Creeps, ears back
- Stands crouched, tucks tail under
- Lies down, leg up
- Stiffens, stares
- Growls
- Snaps
- Bites
What is one of first behaviors to stop when stressed, ill, poor welfare
Play
Normal dog behaviors they need
Play Touching Social contact Chewing Physical exercise
