An Sci 200 Exam 4 (final ish)

Dog history

- Domesticated for 10-12,000 years
- pack animal
- predator (wolf like)
- Most breeds developed in last 150-200 years

Dog terminology

- Intact male: Dog (stud)
- Female: Bitch
- Young: pups
- Parturition: whelping
- Alerting a Female: spaying
- Altering a male: neuter
- cropping: cutting of ears
- Docking: cutting of tail
- withers: measuring point

Dog Sight

* Dichromatic (like red-green color blindness in humans)
* Better in low-light Better motion detection
* Breed variation
* Poorer acuity
* Maybe equivalent to 20:50 or 20:100

Dog Hearing

* Can hear higher pitched sounds
* Maybe hear lower volume sounds
* Mobile ears: locate source of sounds

Dog Smell

200+ million receptors
Compare to about 5 million for humans
Larger area of sensing tissue
Brain devoted to smell is larger (40x)
Dogs can sense odors at concentrations 100 million times lower

Dog Taste

* Humans have 9000 taste buds
* Dogs have 1706
* Cats have 473
* Closely related to sense of smell

Considerations with dog ownership

* Do you have time?
* Exercise Grooming
* Training Cost: Startup cost, Normal maintenance costs, Health care costs, Other costs

Purebred vs mixed breed

* set by breeding: inbreeding/linebreeding and homozygosity
* Appearance when mature adult size behavior and temperament
* pride of having a purebred vs saving a mixed breed from the shelter

Sporting Breeds

* Naturally active and alert
* Group includes pointers, retrievers, setters and spaniels
* Remarkable instincts in water and woods Many participate in hunting and field activities esp. For birds
* Require regular, invigorating exercise

Pointing

* Sensing something and going into a certain position and locking into it

Hound Breeds

* Very diverse group, used for hunting
* Some use scenting to find prey, others use sight or stamina
* Some can produce a unique sound known as baying

Working Breeds

* Bred to preform jobs, including guarding property, pulling sleds, water rescue, guarding livestock
* Intelligent, capable and fast learners
* Considerable dimensions and strength Some may be unsuitable for average families: Size, strength

Terrier Breeds

* Energetic and feisty character
* Bred to hunt and kill vermin
* Require owners with determination: Training is challenging, Not a soft mouth

Toy Breeds

* Bred to be pets, companions
* Have longer life-spans
* Great for apartments or small spaces Easier to control, cost less, eat less food

Non-Sporting

* Vary in size and disposition
* Most developed for a specific purpose:
* Dalmatian (coach dog), Bulldog, Chow Chow, Boston Terrier

Herding dogs

* Very intelligent and respond well to training
* Control the movement of other animals
* Need a lot of exercise, something to herd

Designer dogs

* Planned crossbreeding (hybrids) Labradoodles, goldendoodles, etc Bullnese Gointer Papichon Etc

Fats (dogs)

* At least 9-15% suggested for adults
* Free choice 15-20%
* Fat affects palatability (sweet may also)
* Deficiency symptoms: poor hair, flaky skin, inability to reproduce, poor immune response

Carbs (dogs)

* No real requirement but feed a lot
* Inexpensive energy source Many adult dogs are lactose intolerant

Protein (dogs)

* 18-26% of diet
* In general should not be used as the prime energy source (maybe)
* Metabolic by products (nitrogen) cna damage kidney (maybe not shown in dogs
* Young animals require higher levels
* Taurine
* Excess meat can interfere with mineral balance: Ca:P ratio

Dog food allergies

* Not uncommon (est 1-2% of dogs)
* Consistency search for new, novel ingredients as allergies develop to commonly used ingredients

Avidin in dogs

* Found in raw egg whites
* Binds with biotin, making it unavailable Causes hair loss, esp in dogs
* Not a common problem

Non-Nutritional factors

* Feces volume
* Feces consistency
* Fecal odor
* Flatulence
* Appeal of feed to owner (color, odor, texture)
* Appeal of feed to animal (smell)

Dry dog food

* 10-12 % moisture
* Good for teeth
* Often contains grains, soybean meal, animal product, milk products, fats and oils, vitamins and minerals May be pelleted expanded or extruded

Canned Dog food

* 74-78% moisture
* may include more meat products

Specialty diets (dogs)

* Puppy
* Stress
* Geriatric
* Reducing
* Maintenance
* Vet recommended diets

Information that must be on the label

* Brand name
* Product name
* Ingredients List
* Most-least Designator (treat, snack, complete diet)
* Complete diet is different from treats and snacks
* Net weight
* Picture (optional)

Labeling regulations

* If specific ingredient is the product name: it must contain at least 95% of that ingredient
* If specific ingredient is in product name: it must contain at least 25% of that ingredient
* If the product name says “with ___” it must contain 3% of that ingredient
* Ingredient flavor: doesn’t have to have it actually in it but has to taste like it
* Snacks are not required to have nutritional adequacy labels

How much food to feed? (dogs)

* Most have a suggestion on the label
* Then adjust based on individual dog
* Different companies have to come up with different methods
* Body condition scores
* Interesting research:
* Fed 25% less feed from 8 weeks on Increased median lifespan almost 2 years

Food toys (dogs)

* Slows down consumption
* Alleviates boredom
* Stimulates interest
* Cleans teeth
* May cut down on destructive behaviors, obesity, separation anxiety, etc

How much to feed dogs

* Dominance hierarchy: may exist around the food dish.
* Provide each dog with own dish apart from each other
* Adult dogs: at least twice a day on a schedule allow 20 or so minutes then remove dish
* Puppies: 3 smaller meals a day to avoid bloating

Home mixed dog food diets

* Commercial diets are formulated to be fed as the sole ration
* Can be difficult to create a balanced diet
* Study published in JAVMA 200 dog food recipes analyzed 9 met all nutrient requirements from AAFCO

Treats and scraps (dogs)

* Table scraps / leftovers are often not balanced
* Treats, if fed in large quantities, can affect formulation

BARF Diet (Biologically Active Raw foods)

* Or bones and raw food
* Currently being promoted by some
* Argument is that this is more natural, some enzymes are destroyed in cooking
* Dogs generally produce their own digestive enzymes Be careful: disease-causing organisms are also destroyed by cooking
* More difficult to balance diet Some commercial available Bacterial contamination is still a concern

Other food related things (dogs)

* Chocolate: can be a problem with dogs
* Sugar free gum: Artificial sweetener xylitol, very toxic to dogs
* Raisins/grapes: can be toxic, cause acute kidney failure, mechanism is unknown
* Onions and garlic: can damage red blood cells, cause anemia, takes quite a bit

History of guide dogs

* Origin: 100 BC germanic king was said to have a guide dog In 1916 German shepard society opened the first training school.


* Dogs were intended to lead germany's blind war veterans after WWI

Breeding guide dog program

* Seeing eye breeds golden retrievers, german shepherds, and labrador retrievers at their own facility: Boxers, golden/lab mixes, and dobermans have also been known to be used
* Dog are bred for intelligence, temperament, and natural working attitudes
* Currently, schools obtain 95% of their dogs form their own breeding programs or contract breeding

Main guide dog breeds

Labrador retriever, german shepherd golden retriever

Raising guide dog puppies

* At 7-8 weeks puppies are given to families
* During the next year and half puppies learn basic obedience and good manners
* Most important is that puppies are exposed to social situations: Restaurants, schools, buses, cars, doctors offices, pedestrian traffic, environmental sounds

Formal Training

* During the first few weeks: spay and neutered, introduced to unusual kennel experiences
* Dogs are turned loose in groups Introduced to harness

Guide dog harness

* harness is held by straps between the front legs and over loin attached to a rigid handle harness is comfortable

Preliminary training

* Introduction to distractions
* New commands “forward”, “halt”, “hop up”, “steady”
* Most of training done on campus and quiet residential areas

Later training

* Harness training is busier areas of town
* New commands: “right”, “left”, and “over here”
* Curb checks and street crossing introduced:
* Dog cant distinguish walk signs or traffic lights! Exposure to more difficult social settings
* Harness training in more challenging environment: pedestrian, traffic, stairs Introduction to “intelligent disobedience”
* Preliminary blind fold and obedience test.

Advanced training

* Harness training in urban areas
* Training on buses, trains, and subways Introduction to low overhead clearances
* Advanced off leash Final test

Final Test

* Dog must lead instructor blindfolded
* Off leash obedience
* Distraction response
* Traffic training and intelligent disobedience
* Can dog detect dips, holes, doors, trees, signs, or fire hydrants?

Training with a blind person

* If a dog passes the final test and passes all medical exams, he/she is matched with a blind person
* The student training last between 28-40 days

Who is eligible for a seeing eye dog

* You are legally blind
* Physically and mentally healthy
* Over 16 years of age
* Physically able to walk several miles at a brisk pace everyday
* Be able to provide a safe, stable, loving, and healthy home for your dog

Hearing dogs

* Mostly only work in the home
* Training takes 4-6 months and cost 25,000:
* Only 1 out of 4 dogs completes the program
* Training sounds: fire and smoke alarms, the telephone, oven timer, alarm cock, doorbell/door knock, name call and baby cry
* Dogs can also learn to repetitive sound the owner wishes to teach

Seizure alert dogs

* Alert owners several minutes before onset of a seizure:
* Through vocalization or physical contact
* Must be trained with their epileptic owner, so they can pick up on the specific type of seizure activity
* Reduces owners falling and injuring themselves when seizures occur, also gives time to get help

Physical Service dogs

* Assist physically disabled people by:
* Retrieving objects that are out of their reach
* Pulling wheelchairs
* Opening and closing doors
* Turning light switches off and on
* Barking for alert Finding another person
* Providing balance to aid in walking
* Many other individual tasks as needed


* Generally use labradors and golden retrievers

Psychiatric service animals

* Stop damaging behaviors
* Guide person home or to safety
* Notice alarms, smoke, etc
* Therapy animals, emotional support animals: Not covered under ADA

Guide Horse foundation

* Founded in 1999:
* Because of the critical shortage of guide animals
* Use miniature horses which are a similar size to guide dogs
* Horses can be house broken

Advantages of guide horses

* Non allergenic: for those with dog allergies
* Long lifespan: can work for 30-40 years
* Excellent vision: can see a range of 350 degrees
* People who have dog phobias/people who really love horses
* Better acceptance? Some guide dogs have problems getting access to areas because they are viewed as a “pet”

Issues with guide horses

* Feed
* Space and housing
* Travel limitations
* Fairly unproven commodity

Disease detection

* Dogs can be trained to detect smells several forms of cancer have been studied diabetes

Merle

* Associated problems:
* Often blind Eyes may be small, malformed Often deaf
* Pups often die or must be euthanized Homozygous semi-lethal

Pleiotropy

One gene affects multiple traits

Other health situations

* Deafness: Common in Dalmatians
* Uric acid production: Common in Dalmatians, Causes bladder stones

Hip dysplasia

* Fairly common problem in some breeds
* Hip joint breaks down
* Very painful to walk
* Can be diagnosed by X-Ray
* OFA certification Afflicted should not be used as breeders

Breeder induced problems

* Collie eye anomaly
* Respiratory problems:
* Bulldogs
* Black problems:
* Dachshunds: Stretched out body, Slipped discs
* Boxers: Solid tight muscle body
* Skin problems: Sharpeis

Other breed related issues

* Nearly every breed has some specific problems that have been found in that breed
* Check into theses when deciding on a breed, and then discuss with breeder
* Some genetic tests being developed now

Inbreeding

* Inbreeding increases homozygosity
* Advantage: increases predictability, purity
* Disadvantage: can increase incidence of deleterious (bad) recessive traits To be used properly, must be willing to remove problems from the gene pool
* Potential usefulness of inbreeding: Breed formation (linebreeding)

Spay and Neuter dogs

* Spay: Ovariohysterectomy: Removal of ovaries and uterus
* Neuter: Removal of testicles
* Best age: 6 months of age but really depends on breed/size

Benefits to spaying

* No pups
* No heat cycles
* No uterine cancer
* No uterine infections (pyometra)
* Reduced risk of mammary tumors
* Decreased roaming:
* Reduced strays attached to bitch during estrus, Bitch wont try to escape to be bred

Benefits to neutering

* No pups
* No testicular cancer
* Decreased urine marking
* Decreased roaming Maybe less aggression and dominance behaviors:
* Debatable, Aggression is often not correlated

Negative aspects of spaying and neutering

* Risks of surgery
* Slight changes in conformation: Increase in orthopedic problems
* Bladder incontinence
* May be increases in some cancer rates Decreased activity level: Obesity (?)

Breeding the dogs

* Should wait until at least second cycle
* Bitches are not “polyestrous”
* Make sure bitch is healthy, dewormed, etc Successfully carry pregnancy
* Wont pass pathogens on to puppies
* May be more difficult to treat when pregnant

Dog penis

* Has a bone inside called the OS penis
* Penis inside body, muscle retracts for erection

Artificial insemination

* semen: fresh, chilled, frozen inseminaiton: vaginal, transcervical, surgical

Live cover breedings

* Tend to be the cheapest and simplest
* Occasionally, difficulties arise:
* Esp. male or female mating for the first time, May need to restrain male or female

Benefits of chilled and frozen semen

* No transportation of dogs
* Shipping semen is cheaper than shipping animals
* Shipping internationally possible
* Frozen last indefinitely
* Frozen when dog is young and in prime Minimizes contact between dogs

Negative of chilled and frozen semen

* Timing is critical and adds cost
* Shipping adds cost: overnight Insemination requires trained experts
* Frozen semen insemination is recommended to be surgical which adds risk to the bitch

Indications of heat

* Canine estrous cycle
* Sexual heat in female (6-12 months of age)
* Bloody discharge (designates day 1- proestrus):
* not menstruation
* Pronounced swelling of vulva
* Sexual desire intensifies (days 10-14)
* Cycle time about 21 days (variable) Long anestrous period

Gestation

* 63 days from breeding
* Detection
* Mammary glands swell last 3 weeks
* Milk appears during last week
* Body weight may increase 20-55%
* Be careful they don’t put on too much fat

Pseudopregnancy

* Not uncommon
* Every appearance of being bred
* Mammary glands swell
* May produce milk
* Maternal instincts are present
* Nesting
* Mother inanimate objects
* Weight gain
* No pups
* May want to decrease feed to speed up recovery

Metabolize energy requirements of pregnant dog

* First 30 days of gestation: 100% normal for breed and size
* Days 30 to day 63: 150% Lactation day 1-14: 200%
* Lactation day 14-35: 300% By weaning back to 125%

Whelping

* Giving birth in a dog
* Provide location three weeks prior
* Whelping box:
* Warm, Quiet, Secluded (from everyone) If all is going well, stay away: but Still check in
* Signs of whelping:
* Temp drop, Great restlessness, Desire for seclusion Active labor (first puppy within 20 min)

Newborn pup

* Enclosed in membrane sac (placenta):
* Either head or back end first
* Bitch will break membrane with teeth:
* Release liquid inside,
* Special attention bulldogs and boxers: Trouble with tearing placenta
* Breathing will start
* Keep new puppy warm
* Make sure they nurse
* Handle as little as possible until eyes open

Newborn puppy care

* Teeth will come in in about 2-4 weeks
* Eyes will open in about 12-15 days
* Ears open about 14-17 days
* Start to crawl at about 7-14 days, walk by 16
* Weight should double in 7-10 days

Early training with puppies

* Expose them to many things:
* Noises, Handling, May be able to start housebreaking (litter training)
* Don't let them bite you

Pup nutrition

* Colostrum Feeding:
* Start eating and drinking around 3 weeks,
* Weaning at 6-8 weeks
* 8-12 weeks good time to separate from litter

Optional procedures

* dock tail
* dewclaw removal: can curl around and grow into skin

Requirements for successful dog traing

* Patience
* Knowledge of what to correct
* timing

Important training for puppies

* Socialization:
* adults, babies, other dogs, car rides, etc
* Establish your dominance:
* don't allow dog to assume pack leader position
* Use proper toys for play:
* no shoes/socks, balls, frisbees are good
* Crate train:
* facilitates housebreaking, prevents destructive behavior

Rewarding good vs. punishment

* Food and praise are good rewards
* Be careful with punishment:
* Timing is difficult, Can instill fear, May have a different response than expected

Unintentional training

* Poor timing of praise or punishment
* Calling a dog and then punishing
* Yelling to stop barking
* Allowing begging at the table
* Playing inappropriate games:
* Tug of war, Keep away, Wrestling

Appropriate methods of "punishment"

* For times when you must get attention
* Voice of disapproval
* One quick snap on a collar
* Rattling a can filled with pennies
* Time-out in a bare room

Factors that influence learning

* breed characteristics
* General temperament
* age:
* pups: short attention span
* Old dogs: unlearn bad behaviors
* health/environment:
* remove distractions
* handler/trainer:
* dominant attitude

Housebreaking (potty training)

* Dogs are usually sanitary
* Highly recommend a crate
* Restrict to one room to start
* Place newspapers 180 from feeding and sleeping area
* Adjust time of day you feed and give water
* Pups will usually need to eliminate after a meal or a nap
* After about 2 weeks open room 2
* May need to build up slowly Punishment generally wont work
* Praise greatly

Training to go outside

* Take outside often
* Show it area you want it to use
* Praise greatly

Barking and how to stop it

* Wild dogs rarely bark may be a natural or learned response May be desirable as alarm
* Remove rewarding factor
* Don’t yell or throw things
* Reward non-barking
* Leave, then return Praise and treat if no barking
* Stretch out time away
* May have to tie or muzzle if you need to skip a session

Clicker training

* Somewhat new method
* Better timing of reward
* Methods
* Click whenever you see desired action
* Can give praise and treats
* Click should be desired reward for the pup

Antagonistic behavior

* patterns associated with conflict
* Flighting, predation, herding, play-fighting
* Defense and escape reaction

Sexual behavior

* Mutual investigation of anal and genital area
* Courtship behavior sometimes seen
* Mating behavior

Eliminative behavior

* Urination and defecation in places used by other males and females

Maternal Behavior

* Giving of care and attention
* Primarily toward young
* Feeding, protection and grooming

Allelominmetic Behavior

* Doing what other animals in the group do
* Makes hunting and safety more efficient

Prevention methods for canine health

* Biosecurity
* Quarantine
* Nutrition
* Sanitation
* Dental Care
* Vaccinations

Dog Dental Care

* brush dogs teeth
* dental toys available

Vaccines

* Active immunity
* DHLP-P
* rabies
* distemper, hepatitis, leptospirosis, parainfluenza, parvovirus
* Vaccinate pups at 6,8,10,12,14 weeks