Small Animal Behavior Language

Question 1

what are the signs of a relaxed dog in the green?

Answer 1

relaxed posture, play bow, soft mouth and eyes, relaxed and neutral ears, tail is in neutral position and may be wagging

Question 2

define : displacement behavior

Answer 2

behavior which occurs with nervous energy

Question 3

what type of behavior is a play bow?

Answer 3

displacement (green zone)

Question 4

what are the signs of a defensively threatening dog in the yellow?

Answer 4

tense muscles and low to the ground, tail is stiff and low to the ground, piloerection may be present, ears pulled back against head, hard mouth with growl or snarl, whale eyes and tense

Question 5

what will a yellow zone dog become if continued to be antagonized?

Answer 5

offensively threatening

Question 6

what are the signs of an offensively threatening dog in the red?

Answer 6

stiff body posture and leaning forward, still with tail carried high, piloerection present, ears are forward & erect with little movement, mouth has lip pulled showing teeth with growling or snarling, eyes stare and are tense with pupils dilated

Question 7

does a dog in the red mean to be aggressive out if fear if he lunges?

Answer 7

yes, will not avoid aggression until threat is gone

Question 8

how do dogs meet in a neutral social manner?

Answer 8

lateral approach with nose to rump (crescent)

Question 9

what are the six levels of feline body language?

Answer 9

relaxed and alert (green), tense and anxious (yellow), fearful and terrified (red)

Question 10

what will a cat in the relaxed zone look like?

Answer 10

head is resting down on surface or body, eyes are heavy and pupils are normal size, ears slightly forward, no sounds or purring, tail is loose and relaxed, may bunt (rub up) on surfaces

Question 11

what will a cat in the alert zone look like?

Answer 11

head is over body with some movement, eyes are open, ears neutral or erect forward, whiskers are neutral to forward, tail relaxed with some motion, no sound or meow

Question 12

what will a cat in the tense zone look like?

Answer 12

head over/stuck to body with little movement, eyes wide open & pupils can be partially dilated, ears erect and facing front or back, tail is close to body and twitching, no sounds or plaintive meow, slinking movements

Question 13

what will a cat in the anxious zone look like?

Answer 13

head on same plane as body with little movement, eyes wide open and dilated pupils, ears somewhat flattened, tail close to body and curled forward, no sounds or yowling/growling, increased respiration

Question 14

what will a cat in the fearful zone look like?

Answer 14

head tucked still, eyes wide and pupils fully dilated, ears fully flattened, tail close to body and curled under body, yowl or growl sounds, freeze or fidget movements with swatting or biting

Question 15

what will a cat in the terrified zone look like?

Answer 15

head lowered, pupils fully dilated, ears fully flattened and pinned back, tail close to body, spitting and hissing as well as shrieking, piloerection and raised whiskers, swatting and biting with aggression

Question 16

what type of aggression do cats display at vet hospitals?

Answer 16

fear or pain related

Question 17

signs a cat will bite

Answer 17

sudden pupil dilation, piloerection, fast and jerky tail movements, swatting, very vocal, direct staring

Question 18

what is the name of the scale used to assess feline pain/behavior? (doesn’t exist for dogs)

Answer 18

grimace scale

Question 19

T/F : an animal in a stage of fear, anxiety, or pain does not have to be BAR

Answer 19

false ( animal should always be BAR depending on health and development)