Animal BehaviorAnimal Behavior

What Are We Going To Learn?

Common animal behaviors “Wild” animal behaviors Unwanted animal behaviors and how

to correct them. Training techniques Researching behavior

What is Behavior?What is Behavior?

Give me your definition!Give me your definition!

Definition: Definition: – a : the manner of conducting oneself a : the manner of conducting oneself – b : anything that an organism does involving b : anything that an organism does involving

action and response to stimulationaction and response to stimulation– c : the response of an individual, group, or c : the response of an individual, group, or

species to its environmentspecies to its environment– d: the response of an individual or animal to d: the response of an individual or animal to

past experiences and memories. past experiences and memories.

What Are Some Common What Are Some Common Animal Behaviors?Animal Behaviors?

Happy Happy

Sad Sad

AnxietyAnxiety

HungerHunger

AggressionAggression

How Do These Behaviors How Do These Behaviors Relate to Human Behavior? Relate to Human Behavior?

Humans share all of the same Humans share all of the same behaviors!behaviors!

What Are Other Types of What Are Other Types of Behaviors? Behaviors?

Living in herds and packs vs. living solitary Living in herds and packs vs. living solitary liveslives

Two reasons to live in herds or packs:Two reasons to live in herds or packs: 1. Protection from predators1. Protection from predators

2. Hunting packs- more efficient at capturing 2. Hunting packs- more efficient at capturing prey. prey.

Solitary Lives:Solitary Lives:

Why do some animals live solitary lives?Why do some animals live solitary lives?

– Some animals live alone because there are not Some animals live alone because there are not enough resources to support more than one enough resources to support more than one animal in the territory (i.e. food, shelter, etc)animal in the territory (i.e. food, shelter, etc)

Other Types Of Behaviors:Other Types Of Behaviors: Prey vs. predator behaviors Prey vs. predator behaviors Some prey animals react to a predator very differently Some prey animals react to a predator very differently

from other prey animals. For example: from other prey animals. For example:

Horses: Run away from predators.

Rabbits: Freeze in the presence of a predator.

Other Types Of Behaviors:Other Types Of Behaviors: Predator animals can Predator animals can

either live solitary lives either live solitary lives or live in packs. or live in packs.

They live in packs not They live in packs not for protection like prey for protection like prey animals, but for easier animals, but for easier hunting. hunting.

Some predator animals Some predator animals do live in social or do live in social or family groups (such as family groups (such as a pride of lions). a pride of lions).

What Are Some Behavior What Are Some Behavior Differences Between Male And Differences Between Male And

Female Animals? Female Animals? Female animals: tend Female animals: tend

to take care of the to take care of the young, some females young, some females are the hunters and are the hunters and gather the food for gather the food for their young and the their young and the males. males.

Male animals: They tend to be viewed as the dominant animal in the pack, they tend to be the protectors.

Why Do Wild Animals Have Why Do Wild Animals Have These Behaviors? These Behaviors?

SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES!!!!! SURVIVAL OF THE SPECIES!!!!! These behaviors aid in hunting and These behaviors aid in hunting and

protecting the pack or herd and protecting the pack or herd and those two things are vital to the those two things are vital to the survival of the species as a whole!survival of the species as a whole!

How Did Animals Get These How Did Animals Get These Behaviors?Behaviors?

1. 1. Genotype - Inherited Traits: These behaviors are part of the animals genetic makeup and are due the evolution of the packs overtime.

2. Learned Behaviors: The animals learn from certain experiences they have had and this can shape how they act when presented with that experience again.

3. 3. Present Environment: The animals must adapt to whatever environment they are currently in, in order to survive.

Back to Domestic Animals!Back to Domestic Animals!Why Do We Care?Why Do We Care?

Why is it important to recognize Why is it important to recognize behaviors? behaviors?

More Detail on Recognizing More Detail on Recognizing Behaviors Behaviors

Happy-Happy-

1. Panting, relaxed 1. Panting, relaxed expressionexpression

2. Excited tail wag2. Excited tail wag

3. Play bow 3. Play bow

4. Tail thumping on the floor4. Tail thumping on the floor

How Do You Recognize Certain How Do You Recognize Certain Behaviors in Domestic Animals?Behaviors in Domestic Animals?

Anxiety in dogs:Anxiety in dogs: – 1. One paw raised1. One paw raised– 2. Nervous licking2. Nervous licking– 3. Tucked tail3. Tucked tail– 4. Barking or whining4. Barking or whining– 5. Tail drop for curly tail dogs5. Tail drop for curly tail dogs– 6. Urination/defecation6. Urination/defecation– 7. Only wagging the end of their tail. 7. Only wagging the end of their tail.

Anxiety in Cats:Anxiety in Cats:– 1. Swishing tail1. Swishing tail– 2. Growling2. Growling– 3. Dilated eyes 3. Dilated eyes

Recognizing Certain Behaviors Cont.Recognizing Certain Behaviors Cont.

Aggression in dogs:Aggression in dogs: – 1 . Growling/snarling1 . Growling/snarling– 2. Snapping2. Snapping– 3. Aggressive barking3. Aggressive barking– 4. Lunging while leashed with snapping4. Lunging while leashed with snapping– 5. Standing still with a wide-based stance and a low 5. Standing still with a wide-based stance and a low

headhead

Aggression in cats:Aggression in cats:– 1. Growling/hissing1. Growling/hissing– 2. Swishing tail2. Swishing tail– 3. Spitting3. Spitting– 4. Swiping at you with their claws4. Swiping at you with their claws

Some Unwanted Behaviors in Some Unwanted Behaviors in Domestic Animals: Domestic Animals:

Fear biting:Fear biting: Usually due to the Usually due to the animal being in a state of panic animal being in a state of panic rather than being aggressive. rather than being aggressive.

Dog BitesDog Bites Who is most likely to get bit?Who is most likely to get bit?

– Children under 15 years of age.Children under 15 years of age.– MalesMales– Dog owners. Dog owners.

What type of dog is most likely to What type of dog is most likely to bite?bite?– Family pets more than straysFamily pets more than strays– Scared dogsScared dogs– Aggressive dogsAggressive dogs– Hungry dogsHungry dogs– Any dog can bite!!!Any dog can bite!!!

How To Prevent A How To Prevent A Dog Bite: Dog Bite:

1. Keep dog leashed when in public1. Keep dog leashed when in public 2. Socialize your dog from a young age2. Socialize your dog from a young age 3. Don’t take your dog into situations where it might 3. Don’t take your dog into situations where it might

feel unsafe or uneasyfeel unsafe or uneasy 4. Be cautious around unfamiliar dogs4. Be cautious around unfamiliar dogs 5. Teach children to ask permission before they pet a 5. Teach children to ask permission before they pet a

dogdog 6. Avoid direct eye contact and do not yell or run.6. Avoid direct eye contact and do not yell or run. 7. Keep your arms down at your sides and do not 7. Keep your arms down at your sides and do not

hover over the dog. hover over the dog. 8. When around an unfamiliar animal talk in a calm, 8. When around an unfamiliar animal talk in a calm,

soothing voice so as not to upset the animal. soothing voice so as not to upset the animal.

More Unwanted More Unwanted Behaviors:Behaviors:

Urinating in the house: Urinating in the house: – 1. Fear 1. Fear – 2. Submission2. Submission– 3. Separation anxiety3. Separation anxiety– 4. New addition to the family4. New addition to the family– 5. Marking territory 5. Marking territory – 6. Lack of proper housetraining6. Lack of proper housetraining

How To Prevent How To Prevent Urinating In The House Urinating In The House

1. Basic housetraining1. Basic housetraining– Be sure the dog is outside when it is going Be sure the dog is outside when it is going

to need to eliminateto need to eliminate– Go out with the dog to be sure it does Go out with the dog to be sure it does

eliminateeliminate– Reward the appropriate behaviorReward the appropriate behavior

2. If a dog is submissive urinating, never 2. If a dog is submissive urinating, never scold it for doing so. Stay calm, try to scold it for doing so. Stay calm, try to identify the action that caused the animal to identify the action that caused the animal to submissive urinate, and avoid it in the submissive urinate, and avoid it in the future. future.

More Unwanted Behaviors:More Unwanted Behaviors:

Excessive barking: Excessive barking:

1. Alert/warning1. Alert/warning

2. Attention seeking2. Attention seeking

3. Boredom3. Boredom

4. Lonely4. Lonely

5. Anxious5. Anxious

How To Prevent How To Prevent Excessive Excessive Barking: Barking:

1. Stay calm and do not 1. Stay calm and do not shout “no” at the dog. shout “no” at the dog.

2. Get their attention 2. Get their attention and make them sit or lie and make them sit or lie down, this will down, this will sometimes relax them. sometimes relax them.

3. Do not hug or try to 3. Do not hug or try to comfort your dog when comfort your dog when they are barking, this they are barking, this will just reinforce the will just reinforce the unwanted behavior. unwanted behavior.

4. If they are barking to get your attention, ignore them until they stop and then pay attention to them.

5. If they are barking because they are bored, give them more enrichment activities such as toys and chew bones to keep them occupied.

More Unwanted Behaviors:More Unwanted Behaviors:

Jumping on people Jumping on people – Attention seekingAttention seeking– ExcitedExcited– Asserting dominance (least likely) Asserting dominance (least likely)

How To Prevent Jumping On How To Prevent Jumping On PeoplePeople

1. Teach them from a young age that 1. Teach them from a young age that jumping is unacceptable.jumping is unacceptable.

2. Never cuddle or hug your dog when 2. Never cuddle or hug your dog when

they jump on you, this sends mixed they jump on you, this sends mixed signals to your dog when you scold signals to your dog when you scold them for jumping on someone else. them for jumping on someone else.

3. When your dog jumps at you, turn 3. When your dog jumps at you, turn your body to the side to make them your body to the side to make them miss you, and then ignore them so miss you, and then ignore them so they know they don’t get attention for they know they don’t get attention for jumping.jumping.

How To Train a DogHow To Train a Dog There are 2 ways to train an animal: There are 2 ways to train an animal:

– Classical Conditioning- Classical Conditioning- A conditioning stimulus is applied and the unlearned behavior is then performed.

– Operant Conditioning-Operant Conditioning-Uses consequences to modify the occurrence of a learned behavior.

– TrainingTraining

Clicker TrainingClicker Training

Is a form of operant conditioning The clicker is much faster than saying "good dog"

and it can be used with treats to reward a dog for good behavior.

How to:– 1. Get a clicker and a handful of your dog's favorite

treats. – 2. Click the clicker and then immediately give your dog a

treat, repeat this several times. – 3. Try using the clicker when the dog is not paying

attention to you and if he looks at you give him a treat.– 4. Finally, when your dog follows your command or does

something that deserves a reward, click the clicker and give him a treat. This makes the dog more likely to repeat the action in the future.

Crate Crate Training:Training:

Why should I crate train my dog?– 1. To provide a safe way to transport them.– 2. To provide a way to keep them confined when you are

gone, if need be, so they don't destroy furniture, walls, etc!– 3. If there is an emergency and they need to be evacuated

or boarded they will already be used to being in a crate. How to

– 1. Select a crate that is large enough (should be large enough for him to stand up and turn around in.)

– 2. Put the crate in a place where the dog spends alot of time.

– 3. Encourage the dog to go into the crate by dropping treats in there.

– 4. Feed the dog his meals in the crate. – 5. Gradually increase the time you keep the dog in his crate

(start with 5-10 minutes at a time and work your way up).

Other Training ToolsOther Training Tools Many different kind of collars, each for a

specific purpose. You should talk to a trainer to know which one to use and how to use it correctly:Choke collars Pinch collarsShock collars

Muzzles Halters

– Gentle LeaderGentle Leader– Head or chest and bodyHead or chest and body

Researching BehaviorResearching Behavior

Anti-Bark CollarsAnti-Bark Collars– Citronella Spray Collars vs. Shock CollarsCitronella Spray Collars vs. Shock Collars

Researching BehaviorResearching Behavior

A group of dogs that barked excessively A group of dogs that barked excessively were studied.were studied.

The owners were given both a shock collar The owners were given both a shock collar and a citronella spray collar to try out for and a citronella spray collar to try out for two weeks. two weeks.

Citronella Spray Collar vs. Shock CollarsCitronella Spray Collar vs. Shock Collars Which of the two methods of training do Which of the two methods of training do

these collars use?these collars use?– Classical ConditioningClassical Conditioning– Operant ConditioningOperant Conditioning

Researching BehaviorResearching Behavior

Results:Results:– Most of the owners Most of the owners

preferred the citronella preferred the citronella spray collars. spray collars.

– Half of the owners reported Half of the owners reported the shock collar had no the shock collar had no effect on the dogs at all. effect on the dogs at all.

– One owner reported liking One owner reported liking the shock collar better. the shock collar better.

Why is Research Important?Why is Research Important? Research is vital so that we can better Research is vital so that we can better

understand how to train and correct understand how to train and correct behavior in our pets. behavior in our pets.

Also, some of the research done on Also, some of the research done on animals carries over into you and me! animals carries over into you and me!

What Did We Learn Today?

Common animal behaviors “Wild” animal behaviors Unwanted animal behaviors and how

to correct them. Training techniques Researching behavior