Exam 1 - Common Behavior Problems in Dogs Flashcards
what are the 3 main categories of why dogs bark?
normal behavior - threat, warning to pack members, & show solidarity of other dogs
boredom - higher likelihood in certain breeds (cairn terriers)
want attention/interaction - separation anxiety, confinement anxiety, & learned
when do we see barking become a problem for owners?
when the owner is home - owner is motivated to make a change, punishment to the pet may actually be a reward, & often is triggered by other factors
owner is not home & neighbor is bothered - owner has little motivation to change & wants a fast/easy solution
why avoid using verbal or physical punishment with operant conditioning with positive punishment when trying to modify behavior for too much barking?
doesn’t do anything for the dog - you’re unable to do it consistently
wait for extinction or distract the dog
what are some examples of remote punishment when using operant conditioning to modify behaviors of excessive barking?
no bark collars - citronella collars & noise/vibration collars (put them on all dogs in the house)
‘booby traps’
what is the benefit of using remote punishment for excessive barking?
advantage of consistency!!
what are some examples of management for excessive barking in dogs?
doggie day care, ignore or distract the dog
normal behaviors have an internal reward, so they are difficult to stop
how can you teach a dog to be less reactive in regards to excessive barking?
teach the dog ‘quiet’ - let them smell the treat
dog gets the treat as soon as they are quiet - repeat this often & gradually increase the length of ‘quiet’
what are some management techniques for dogs that are reactive at the door?
block off the problem entrance
find an alternative way for people to let you know they are coming
how can you use behavior modification for a dog that is reactive at the door?
teach the dog to heel at the door and sit on the mat - reward the correct, quiet behavior
have a friend ring the doorbell or knock - walk the dog on a leash to sit on the mat & don’t open the door!!!
reward the dog when it is quiet & continuously sitting
open the door & immediately shut it - reward appropriate behavior
gradual steps until the friend rings the doorbell & when the door opens, the friend rewards appropriate behavior
repeat with increasingly unfamiliar guests
what is destructive chewing associated with in puppies?
normal in puppies
what is destructive chewing associated with in older dogs?
lack of exercise - particularly in mouth-oriented breeds such as labs/goldens
boredom, separation anxiety, thunderphobia, lack of supervision (uncontrolled access to the wrong location)
how is destructive chewing managed in dogs?
limit their access to inappropriate locations/objects - crate training!!!!! don’t confine them without appropriately training the dog
provide 1-2 chew objects at a time that are unique to their environment that are readily available & rotate them frequently
avoiding emotional coming/going
why do we see destructive chewing with furniture?
hidden treats, they are teething, boredom, or stress
why do we see destructive chewing with trash?
smell attracts their attention - they get a food reward for getting into it
why do we see destructive chewing with items/objects belonging to one person?
changes in the pet’s schedule, inattention to dog by the person, & development of negative feelings toward the dog
how do we manage destructive chewing with items/objects belonging to one person?
tighten up the dog’s schedule & reinforce only positive things to break the negative cycle
why do we see counter surfing in dogs?
high value items (usually food) - behavior is rewarded & the dogs will get creative
how can we manage a dog that counter surfs environment to prevent the behavior?
prevent temptation - put the food away & keep the counters clean
how can you teach a dog to not counter surf?
use a video cam - confine the dog when not training
bait the counter & go out of sight, as soon as the dog jumps on the counter, reappear with a shaker can, repeat until the dog stops trying, & repeat lessons periodically
how can remote punishment be used to stop a dog from counter surfing?
scat mat or photoelectric sensor trigger - blast of air or a loud noise
what is pica?
eating of non-food items
is a dog eating grass considered pica?
no - normal behavior
what are some reasons why dogs may eat non-food items?
are they truly eating it or just destroying it, contaminated with food scents, teething, attention seeking (behavior rewarded in the past), moving objects, boredom, or suspect gi abnormalities
how can you manage a dog that eats non-food items?
prevent access to the types of objects eaten/discard them
may muzzle the dog if necessary