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