Lecture 4: Canine Social Organization, Communication & Aggressive (Curtis)

Question 0

Puppies handled during what age are most responsive to humans?

Answer 0

5-7 wks

Question 1

“sensitive” periods for dog-dog, dog-human, and for dog to explore novel environment

Answer 1

period of time when animal is plastic and open to new experiences.

dog-dog: 3-8 wks
dog-human: 5-12 wks
novel environment: 10-20 wks

Question 2

What happens if puppies are raised only with kittens from 2.5 to 13 wks?

Answer 2

• don’t recognize dogs as conspecifics

- prefer to be around cats

Question 3

What happens if pups separated from mother at 6 wks?

Answer 3

• neg. effect on physical condition
• no superior human bonding created
• at-risk for anxiety-based issues

Question 4

At what age do pups develop attachment to location and companions?

Answer 4

6-7 wks

Question 5

At what age do pups develop elimination/location preference?

Answer 5

by 8.5 wks

Question 6

At what age do pups have best response to novel objects?

Answer 6

5-9 wks

Question 7

At what age does stabilization of pup-pup social hierarchy occur?

Answer 7

11-15 wks

Question 8

Best time to adopt puppies

Answer 8

12-14 wks

Question 9

What is ritual signaling?

Answer 9

normal “soft” communication of body language between dogs. Involves ears, tail, head, lips, stance, eye contact, licking, mounting, and urine marking.

Question 10

4 signs of aggression

Answer 10

snarling, growling, snapping, biting

Question 11

up and forward ears represents:

Answer 11

alert/dominance, confidence

Question 12

down and back ears represent:

Answer 12

• fear/submission/anxiety
• excitement/anxiety

dominant/confident dogs may also lay their ears back to protect them from damage in a fight

Question 13

Up tail represents:

Answer 13

alert/dominance

Question 14

midlevel tail represents:

Answer 14

relaxed, attentive

Question 15

down tail represents:

Answer 15

fear/submission

Question 16

an up head represents:

Answer 16

alert/dominance

Question 17

Down/turned away head represents:

Answer 17

fear/submission

Question 18

elevation of the lips w/o retraction of the commissure represents:

Answer 18

dominant aggressive threat

Question 19

retraction of the commissure with exposure of the teeth represent:

Answer 19

defensive threat, submission

Question 20

upright/leaning forward stance represents:

Answer 20

alert/dominance

Question 21

crouched stance represents:

Answer 21

fear/submission

Question 22

what is the most submissive position?

Answer 22

rolling over (lying down = 2nd most)

Question 23

mounting represents:

Answer 23

dominance. Usually is social NOT sexual!

Question 24

dominance in eyes:

Answer 24

staring

Question 25

submission in eyes:

Answer 25

looking away, blinking

Question 26

Dog who urinates over another dog's urine is dominant or submissive?

Answer 26

dominant

Question 27

metacommunication

Answer 27

a form of communication in which info is provided that modifies the meaning of subsequent communication. ex- the "play bow"

Question 28

deferent = dominant or submissive?

Answer 28

submissive

Question 29

signals of dominance/confidence

Answer 29

- ears erect/forward - tail elevated - makes/hold eye contact - body leans forward - piloerection (hair stands on end) - standing over/jumping on

Question 30

signals of submission/anxiety

Answer 30

- ears lowered and turned back - body lowered - tail tucked - turns head/body away - averts eyes - may roll on back - may urinate - licks

Question 31

T or F: No treatment for aggression is 100% effective

Answer 31

T

Question 32

Aggression directed at humans is almost exclusively related to: *

Answer 32

fear/anxiety

Question 33

4 F's that result from fear

Answer 33

fight, flight, freeze, fiddle (ie. lip-licking, yawning)

Question 34

what is fear aggression? Treatment?

Answer 34

aggression coupled with signals of fear and submission. Tx options: do NOT punish, avoid situations that are likely to trigger fearful/defensive behavior, classical conditioning, desensitization, counter-conditioning, off-label use of medications

Question 35

possessive aggression and Tx

Answer 35

dog defends specific items, but otherwise doesn't exhibit aggression. often fear-based. Tx- remove defended items or desensitization/counter-condition

Question 36

Tx of territorial aggression

Answer 36

Tx - don't give a territorially aggressive dog a territory to defend! Never leave dog outside alone, DS & CC, classical conditioning

Question 37

protective aggression and Tx

Answer 37

an extension of territorial aggression. Dog perceives that the owner is threatened. Tx - avoid situations that dog believes it needs to protect, command control, DS & CC, classical conditioning, collar/harness

Question 38

maternal aggression

Answer 38

post-partum protective aggression of pups. Usually wanes as puppies mature

Question 39

pain aggression is usually assoc. with what conditions? Tx?

Answer 39

chronic conditions, nail trims, grooming, arthritis, skin conditions Tx: make medication positive, treat underlying condition

Question 40

risk factors for predatory aggression? Tx?

Answer 40

loose dogs, history of predatory behavior. | Tx: contain dog, command control, DS & CC, classical conditioning, harness/muzzle, medications

Question 41

dominance aggression and tx

Answer 41

persistent aggression accompanied by multiple ritual dominance signals directed toward the owner. A "problem of relationships." Tx: NO punishment, alpha rolling

Question 42

Canine hieracrchy

Answer 42

canine relationships are FLUID, with contextual deference and a continuum of possible scenarios. Disputes usually settled through ritual signalling

Question 43

Reasons for inter-dog aggression

Answer 43

status-related, fear, arousal, possessive, protective, territorial, redirected, predatory

Question 44

non-household aggression

Answer 44

usually territorial or fear based. Difficult for owners to control

Question 45

household aggression

Answer 45

b/w dogs in same household. Most commonly limited to one pair of dogs. More severe than aggression b/w non-housemates. Female-female aggression most severe

Question 46

Triggers for household aggression

Answer 46

excitement, control over resources, physical proximity, owner presence (esp. when owner SUPPORTS the victim and PUNISHES the aggressor)

Question 47

When does household aggression usually onset?

Answer 47

- onset of social maturity of younger dog (18-24 mo. old) - hierarchy not clearly established - "dominant" dog is aging or ill

Question 48

increased irritability --> tolerance to conspecifics

Answer 48

decreases

Question 49

Tx for household aggression

Answer 49

- separate dogs when not supervised - establish owner control - collars, harnesses, spay/neuter - stabilize pack hierarchy by identifying and supporting dominant dog - avoid "mixed signals" - allow and reward ritualized signaling - off-label use of medications

Question 50

Bottom line goal for stopping household aggression

Answer 50

diffuse the situation and to give both of the dogs a way out

Question 51

Tx for evenly matched dogs who try to both be "top dog"

Answer 51

- randomize order of feeding and handling - desensitize and counter-condition to each other's proximity - look for ritualized signals and reward Prognosis is poorer if: initiator is younger than target, person has been bitten, or aggression is unpredictable

Question 52

Types of aggression (11)

Answer 52

- Fear - Possessive - Territorial - Protective - Maternal - Pain - Predatory - Dominance - Inter-dog - Non-household - Household