Jean Donaldson - Fear and aggression prevention Flashcards
Fight-or-flight action patterns, how do they manifest themselves in the dogs behavior?
Manifest as fear + aggression.
What is the first step in diagnosing a behavioral problem? Why?
Assessing Your Dog’s Emotional State
Consider upset or not? Different approaches for different emotional states.
What emotions could an upset dog have and what behaviors would you possibly see?
Worried, anxious, uncomfortable, afraid. See fight, flight, freeze.
What will a fearful dog do/look like?
Might seek cower or flee. If prevented: Yelp, whine, scream, silent.
What will an aggressive dog do/look like?
Might growl, snarl, snap, bite. May be first plan. Or after trying hindered flight.
What is the risk in interpreting a dog as fine or clam?
Freeze might be misinterpreted as “fine”: Likely tight body, tight face, ears plastered back, body slightly shrunken. Might not be in open flight. Not interested in treats.
What is the initial goal with training a dog that’s been diagnosed as “Upset”?
Catch “upset” early! Before frank fear/aggression. Remove from situation, avoid exacerbation, then fear/anxiety/aggression competently addressed.
Why is the human tendency to classify dog behavior as good or bad unhelpful?
Based solely on whether behavior inconvenience or aggravate human. Put consequences thereafter (often inhumane ones). Doesn’t get to the root of the problem which is emotion.
What is the most important question to be answered with the first question of behavioral problem diagnostics?
Do we need to put measurements in place to get at an emotion or is the emotionally fine and just guessing the wrong behavior?
If the dog is not diagnosed as being “upset”, what is the solution?
To increase or decerase behavior using consequences (operant).
If dog is diagnosed as being “upset”, what is the solution?
Either to change emotion directly using respondent conditioning or indirectly by densly and positively reinforce easy behaviors (operant).
Explain how operant conditioning can also be used to change emotion.
Train competing response with very conservative criteria. Get side effect of loving problem (people, dogs). Bc problem never too intense + means get to play an easy game for prizes.
What functions do the big 4 action pattern categories (fight, flight, feeding, courtship) have?
Solve vital life problems.
Explain how the “Dog has to feel safe” rule has such trumping motivation over others.
2 of 4 = Defense of self/resources - Get distance weighs heavily.
How would you reply to the statement that a dog is being drama queen?
Not at all drama queen. Properly wired functioning animal! Fear + aggression BIG animal world. Any immediate threat of death, bodily injury, loss of critical resources = Emergency! Making a wrong decision about what is dangerous and not could mean death.
Why is fear in natural world a good thing?
Animals have to decide which side want to make errors on. Caution vs risk-takers. Big Q = Whether to invoke fight-or-flight: Is it dangerous? Will I waste energy or die?
Why is fear and agression conserved so well in our dogs?
Without big evolutionary stretch with no significant threat = Strong conservation hair-trigger fight/flight defaults. Cost of false negatives is just that high! And other factors, like genetics and socialization.
How can we push back against fear and agression in our dogs?
Genetics + Rearing practices. Without pressure keep fight/flight at bay: Spook novelty, suspicious strangers, freak out if limbs touched/restrained, protect scarce resources.
What si the more usual reason for fearful and agressive dogs?
Many think fearful/aggressive dog bad experience/abuse. Usually from failures of neglect rather than ”instruction”.
Which fear transmission mechanisms affect sound sensitivity?
Genetics, intrauterine environment, maternal behavior(epigenetics), bad experiences and too little early socialization.
How could sound sensitivity onset occur?
Fast + early: Terrified sudden loud noises from first exposure. Or gradual, requires multiple exposures. Seem okay first few times, get worse.
What are the standard means of help towards sound sensitivity?
Combo safe room (block out noise, white noise generation, dog ear muffs) + medication.
What type of medication could be used for sound sensitivity?
Long duration antidepressiva type for storm season + short acting benzodiazepines
How can the intrauterine environment produce fear in offspring?
Stress dam during pregnancy, offspring more anxious/fearful. Also other deficits, incl. learning deficits
