Unwelcome behaviour in dogs and cats Flashcards
What is the leading reason of death in young companion animals?
Behavioural problems
Are certain behavioural traits linked to breeds?
Yes, cerain breeds have certain behavioural traits
What questions would you ask in order to determine if a behaviour is problematic?
- Is the behaviour problematic for the animal, the owner, other animals or other human?
- Is the behaviour normal for the species?
- Is the behaviour normal for the individual?
What factors determine behaviour?
- Current environment
- Genetics
- Past experiences
How can you prevent problem behaviour from developing in the first place?
- Socialisation
- Correct puppy and kitten rearing
- Selecting an appropriate pet for your situation (type, breed, age, sex, sire and dam)
- Sufficient preparation of the home
- house trainign
- play
- fulfullment of behavioural needs
- knowing when to ignore behaviours
- castration
- early intervention if problems arise
What are the key steps in treating behavioural problems?
- Gathering history
- identify the motivation and triggers (causes)
- Manage the environment
- behavioural modificaiton (learning)
Some of the above may be treated with psychopharmaceuticals.
What are some common pathological unwelcome behaviours in dogs?
- Aggression
- Separation Anxiety
- Phobias
- Obsessive Compulsive Disorders
What are some common management related (or normal but displayed in undesirable contexts) unwelcome behaviours in dogs?
- Jumping
- Scratching
- Barking
- Digging
- Mouthing/grabbing/biting
- Mounting/humping
- Coprophagia
- Rolling in faces
- Constantly moving
What is a solution to jumping, scratching, barking and lunging in dogs?
- Acknowledge, attend to door, ask dog to sit and be quite and reward this behaviour, only open the door when the dog is quiet
- Scratching - use a shield on the door to prevent damage, create a ‘dog doorbell’ and reward the dog’s use of it (redirect)
What is a solution to barking and patrolling the street in dogs?
- Prevent dog from stimulus (curtains, blinds, barriers)
- Provide other stimulation (automatic treat dispenser)
- If owner is home, use same approach as dogs that are reactive at doors
What is a solution to digging in dogs?
- Play, companionship, sand or soil boxes with buried toys/treats, kiddie pools, food toys
- Thermoregulation options (pools, fans, digging pits with wet sand)
What is a solution to mouthing, grabbing and biting in dogs?
- Toy basket near the door. Dog must take a toy in its mouth before walking through the door (redirect).
- Stop interacting when it occurs and freeze
- Give gentle verbal cue (‘No’)
- Gently remove body part(s) while holding dog
- Quickly offer a toy or something to chew and praise dog when it takes it - redirection
- ‘Startling’ but not scaring - using a disruptive stimulus
What is a solution to mounting or humping in dogs?
- Ask dog to stop and sit and reward instantly.
- Leave and ignore dog if it continues to hump.
What is a solution to coprophagia (eating faeces) in dogs?
- Keep dog away from faeces or the faeces away from the dog
- Other consideration would be regular screening for parasites
What is the solution to rolling in faeces in dogs?
- Early intervention –call dog away when it begins sniffing and reward dog for coming
What is the solution to constantly moving in dogs?
Exercise
- Trails/uphill walks
- Running
- Frisbee/ball
- Agility
- Swimming
- Scent work
- Play dates
- Intellectual exercises
What is the most common unwelcome behaviours in cats?
- Inappropriate urination and defecation - most common
- aggression
- scratching behaviour
- hunting
- rubbing
- roaming
- depression
- overactivity
- OCD
- inappropriate play
- cognitive dysfunction
- separation anxiety
- fearful behaviour
- plant eating
Is aggression in cats normal or not?
Depends, it is normal to an extent but may have a pathological cause.
What is the solution to scrating behaviour in cats?
- Provide scratching posts and rewards use
- Redirect inappropriate scratching
What is the solution to hunting behaviour in cats?
- Fulfil behavioural needs. This can be done by mimicing hunting behaviour by placing food in treat balls/food puzzles (individual preference), Owner play with toys that stimulate hunting
What is the solution to rubbing in cats?
- Provide corner combs
- dont remove scent marks
What are some solutiosn to roaming behaviour in cats?
- Neuter
- Entertain and stimulate at home (exercise, mental stimulation)
- Keep cats indoors with or without access to outdoor cat enclosures
What is a solution to overactivity in cats?
Increasing aerobic activity and interaction
What is a solution to plant eating in cats?
- Ensure there are no plants toxic to cats in the house
- grow plants specifically for the cat to eat (cat grass, cat mint, spider plant)
What are some solutions to nocturnal activity?
- Play games before bed
- Get another cat as a ‘playmate’ (careful selection required)
- Play with a dog if enjoyed
- Feeding 1-2 hours before bedtime
- Take outside/leash-walk before bed
- Training
What are some solutions to inappropriate play in cats?
- Always stop the behaviour with a gentle verbal cue and/or withdrawal from interaction
- Redirect behaviour onto a toy
- Reward display of a more appropriate behaviour
What are some sultions to house soiling in cats?
- litter and feeding sites in different rooms = place food in places where cat has deposited faeces (after thorough cleaning)
- cover or uncover the litter tray
- change litter substrate
- increase size and number of litter trays
- include an outdoor cat enclosure
