Post on 25-May-2015
Canine Behavior
Normal Behaviorwithin a pack
In The Wild:
• Social group centered around a dominant pair
• Advantages to group living
• Hierarchy benefits all
Factors influencing position
In general:
• Male over female
• Older over younger
• Larger over smaller
• Individual motivation
Status communicated through
• Posture, sound and space Dominate dog - tail elevated, ears erect,
direct eye contact, low growls, bumping, grabbing
Subordinate dog – head down, flattened ears, nose to mouth, urinating, rolling over, whining
• Physical maturity reached at 7 to 10 months
• Behavioral maturity reached at 2-3 years.
When a subordinate dog in pack reached behavioral maturity, it may challenge the dominate dog!
Types of Behavior
• Type I Conditioned reflexes
Formed between formerly neutral, meaningless stimuli and autonomic functions.
• Type II Conditioned reflexes
Involves learning a deliberate motor response
• Basis for most problem behavior is when Type I comes in conflict with Type II.
• Conflict stimulates the dog to the unconditioned reflex of flight, freeze or fight. (Ability to handle stress dictated which way dog will respond)
Perception effects behavior
• Vision: 70% greater peripheral and 20 degrees narrower binocular than humans.
Discrimination of detail less refined.
• Hearing: Sound man hears at 17 feet, dogs can hear at 75 feet.
Critical Periods in Puppy Life
• A puppy cannot be taught anything prior to 21 days of life:
* Backing away
* Wobbly walk
* Wink
* Whimper
• First 28 days critical – needs mother and litter mates for
* food
* massage
* warmth
• From the 4th to 7th week of life, canine socialization is developing and puppy needs litter to learn.
• From 4th to 16th week, human interaction is also critical
Critical Behavior Periodsand their related problems
• Socialization 3-14 wks
• Optimum socialization 6 to 8 weeks
• Fear imprint 8-10 wks
• Shyness, aggression if after 14 weeks
• Shyness, dependence on owner if earlier
• Traumatic defensive
• Puberty onset 12-14 wks
• Protective/aggressive 18-40 weeks
• Functional 36-56 wks
• Mounting
• Barking, social protection
• Serious protection Correction problems
• Achievement 104-208 weeks
• Purposeful, Protection Correction difficult
Aggression
• It is important to know what type of aggression a dog is displaying.
• Body language will give you a clue
• The situation the dog is in will give you a clue.
• Go slow and be patient
Types of Aggression
• Territorial/Protective
May be exhibited toward owner
May be exhibited toward surroundings
• Fear aggression
This is the most dangerous for techs in a clinic setting.
Go slow – plan ahead
• Pain Aggression
Even the nicest dog that is in pain may display aggressive, biting behavior
• Interdog aggression
Caution when moving a dog from place to place in a clinic \
Caution when breaking up a fight
Displace aggression may surface in a clinic setting
• Medically related aggression
Seizure -like brain disorders
Rabies
Drugs
• Maternal Aggression
• Prey Aggression
• Dominance Aggression
The dominant aggressive dog is confident and friendly on entry
Becomes aggressive when you attempt to restrain or treat
Handling a Strange Dog
A dog’s method of defense is the mouth. Some general rules:
Have a general knowledge of breed differences.
Use a quiet, reassuring voice. Speak to the dog by name.
Offer the back of your hand to discern the dogs intention
• You have at least 3 factors in your favor in a hospital setting:
Strange environment Slick surface The use of a muzzle
• Know the following: How to muzzle a dog How to pick up and carry a dog Restraining a dog on a table How to hold a dog’s head When chemical restraint is necessary
Puppy Temperament Testing
• The best time to do a temperment test at age 49 days – just prior to fear imprinting period
• Whenever possible it is helpful to see both the puppy’s parents
• Each puppy should be tested in a quiet place away from the other puppies
• Tests should be performed in sequence
• Each test should be done in the same way for each puppy
Scoring
• Mostly 1’s Very dominant aggressive. Needs strong owner
• Mostly 2’s Dominant. Needs strong owner and will be too much for small children
• Mostly 3’s Good for family, but will need early training. Good working potential
• Mostly 4’s Submissive, manageable and easily trained. Good family dog
• Mostly 5’s Shy, easily frightened and may become a fear-biter. Needs calm, quiet structured home.
• Mostly 6’s Very independent. Not cuddly or demonstrative. May be a biter if bothered or unsocialized
Test 1 –Social Attraction
• From a few feet away coax the puppy to you by clapping hands and kneeling down.
• 1 comes readily, jumps and bites at hand• 2 comes readily, paws and licks hand• 3 comes readily, tail up• 4 comes readily, tail down• 5 comes hesitantly, tail down• 6 doesn’t come at all
Test 2 - following
• Stand up and walk away in normal manner
• 1 & 2 Follows, tail up, gets underfoot
• 3 follows readily, tail up
• 4 follows readily, tail down
• 5 follows hesitantly, tail down
• 6 does not follow or walks away
Test 3 – restraint crouch
• Crouch down and gently roll pup on back and hold with one had for 30 seconds
• 1 struggles fiercely, flails, bites• 2 struggles fiercely, flails• 3 settled, struggled, settled• 4 struggled then settled• 5 no struggle• 6 no struggle, strains to avoid eye contact
Test 4 – Social dominance
• Let pup stand up and gently stroke from head to tail until recognizable behavior seen
• 1 jumps, paws, bites, growls• 2 jumps, paws• 3 cuddles up and tries to lick face• 4 squirms, licks at hand• 5 rolls over and licks at hand• 6 walks away and stays away
Test 5 – Elevation Dominance
• Bend over and cradle under belly with fingers laced and palms up elevate slightly off ground and hold 30 seconds
• 1 Struggles fiercely, bites, growls• 2 Struggles fiercely• 3 No struggle, relaxes• 4 Struggles, settles, licks• 5 No struggle, licks• 6 No struggle, freezes
Test 6- Retrieving
• Crouch, get pups attention, toss crumpled ball of paper 4 to 6 feet
• 1 Chases, picks up and runs away• 2 Chases, stands over object and no return• 3 Chases and returns with object to handler• 4 Chases and returns without object• 5 Starts to chase, loses interest• 6 Does not chase object
Test 7 – Touch Sensitivity
• Press webbing of one foot with finger and thumb, increasing pressure until response, while you count slowly to ten
• 1 8 – 10 counts until response• 2 6-7 counts• 3 5-6 counts• 4 2-4 counts• 5 , 6 1-2 counts
Test 8 – Sound Sensitive
• Place pup in center of area, from behind strike a metal spoon on a pan twice
• 1 Listens, locates sound, comes barking• 2 Listen, locates sound and barks• 3 Listens and walks curiously toward sound• 4 Listens, locates sound• 5 Cringes, backs off, hides• 6 Ignores sound, shows no curiosity
Test 9 –Sight Sensitivity
• Place pup in center. Jerk a towel tied to a string around the floor a few feet from pup
• 1 Looks, attacks, bites• 2 Looks, barks, tail up• 3 Looks, attempts to investigate• 4 Looks, barks, tail tucked• 5 Runs away, hides• 6 Ignores, walks away
Test 10 - Persistence
• Show treat then place under a clean plastic margarine tub
• 1 Very persistent, barking, successful
• 2 Pawing, pushing, successful
• 3 Quiet, thoughtful, successful
• 4 Small, feeble attempt, has to be assisted
• 5 & 6 Didn’t attempt or gave up quickly
Test 11 – Stability
• With pup6 feet away, slowly open umbrella and place it on its side. Allow pup to investigate
• 1 Barks, growls, leaps, bites• 2 Goes directly to object, tail up• 3 Investigates with tail up• 4 Startles, recovers slowly, cautiously
investigates
• 5 Startles, tucks tail, ears down, avoids and unwilling to investigate
• 6 Startles , avoids umbrella
Activity level during test
• 1 High energy, gallops everywhere
• 2 High energy, trots constantly
• 3 Medium energy, trots with some walking
• 4 Low energy, mostly walks
• 5 Very low energy, walks all the time