Behavior systems 1 - Development

What is required from normal brain development?

Novelty and varied sensory input 

What are the effects of deprivation during early development?

They are long-lasting and relatively permanent effects

What two factors do behavior always depend on?

Genetics and environment

What is the correlation between interaction and individual?

Every interaction between an individual and it’s environment has a potential to modify the individual, including the brain and behavior

How do genetics influence temperament?

behaviors related to fearfulness, intensity of responses and emotions

What is the sensitive (socialization) period?

Time when a small amount (or LACK) of experience has large effect on later behavior.

How much of an effect do early life experiences have?

They have a profound, persistent effect on behavioral development.

Prenatal period (dogs)

Maternal stress → ↑ stress sensitivity later; puppies from commercial breeders show ↑ aggression/fear

Neonatal period (dogs) (2 wks age)

Altricial, blind, deaf, rely on dam; REM sleep; tactile/olfactory cues. Maternal care affects cognition/social outcomes. Elimination is not spontaneous.

Magnus reflex (neonatal) (dog)

Turn head → extends limbs same side; flexes limbs opposite

Crossed extensor reflex (neonatal) (dog)

pinch hind foot → withdrawal foot; extend opposite

Rooting reflex (neonatal) (dog)

pushes face into object and crawls 

Transitional (2nd - 3rd week)

Eyes/ears open, startle response, species ID, exploration, inhibition learning, begin to urinate/defecate spontaneously

Socialization period (4-14 weeks)

MOST critical period behaviorally; play, bite inhibition, recognition of humans/conspecifics.

Week 7: weaning and if removed too early from other dogs → difficulties with other dogs

Fear responses begin ~8 wks.

Inadequate exposure → neophobia, fear, poor trainability.

If no play happens at 3-9 weeks old = pathology.

During a puppy vet visit what does a comfortable dog look like?

Being wiggly, mouthy, playful 

During a puppy visit what does a fearful puppy look like?

Puppies who freeze or are passive during handling

What are normal puppy behaviors?

Mouthing until 1 years old - not predictive of aggression

Resource guarding normal for dogs, but not acceptable for many humans

Separation distress and vocalizing - helps with safety

What are some concerning puppy behaviors?

Not approaching new people

Panting, pacing, attempting to flee, or snapping during veterinary visits

Avoiding novel, non-social stimuli especially after 4-5 months of ago

If avoiding conspecific play 

Prolonged vocalization, escape, pacing when alone 

Repeatedly urinating and defecating in an appropriate sized cage

Social maturity in dogs (18-36 months)

Behavior issues often emerge; risk of relinquishment at 1–2 yrs.

Prenatal period in cats - Maternal malnutrition during pregnancy →

less time mothering kittens, male kittens can become more aggressive and growth deficits can occur in some brain regions

Prenatal period in cats - Mothers fed low protein diets →

have more emotional kittens, vocalize more, lose balance more, poorer relationship with mom

Neonatal period (cats) (birth - 9 days)

Altricial

blind/deaf (eyes open 6-10 days) (some auditory stimuli at 5 days)

rely on queen for elimination

reflexes (10 days)

suckling ~4 hrs/day

tactile, olfactory, search for warmth

Transitional period (cats) (9-14 days)

Begin crawling/walking, eat solids, eyes/ears open

Socialization period (cats) (2 - 7/9 weeks)

The most important period in cat development

What happens to kittens separated from queen and hand-raised from 2 weeks?

More fearful, aggressive, poor social skills

When do fearful reactions begin with kittens?

Around 6 weeks of age

What is recommended at 3-9 weeks of age for kittens?

GENTLE handling by humans for improved socialization to humans

When is a cats hearing fully developed?

4 weeks

When are cats able to control elimination?

5-6 weeks and they are able to dig and cover feces and urine

What happens when kittens are 6 weeks old?

They have air righting ability, meaning “cats always land on their feet”

When are cats able to maintain their body temperatures?

7 weeks

Why is removing kittens before 6 weeks of age not recommended?

It can lead to suspicious and even sometimes fear aggressive behavior

When does play develop in kttens?

Social play develops at 4 weeks old

At 9 weeks kittens are usually spending an hour a day or 10% of their time playing

What could absence of play indicated in adopted young cats?

Distress, should be evaluated

What is the main goal during kitten vet visits?

Associate early with positives - make the visit, safe, calm, and rewarding

How should a kitten carrier be introduced for vet visits?

Treat it like furniture – a safe place with favorite treats and toys.

What abnormal behavior is described by kittens destroying and ingesting non-food items?

Pica

Which concerning kitten behaviors may require behavioral evaluation?

Not using litter box

Excessive biting/scratching

Hiding large amounts of time

Social maturity in cats (3-4 years)

Territorial defense, conspecific dynamics; some behaviors seen as nuisance to humans.

Are horses altricial or precocial at birth?

Precocial species – born in an advanced state of development, able to stand and walk within hours.

Why does foaling often occur in the early morning

Likely an evolutionary predator defense adaptation

What is the significance of the mare licking the foal after birth?

Stimulates respiration and muscles, and establishes olfactory recognition for bonding

Which sense are functional within the first hour of a foals life?

All sense - vision, hearing, and righting reflex

How often do foals suckle in the first few days of life?

About every 15 minutes

When do foals stand and what behaviors can they perform within the first day?

Stand within 15-60 minutes. Within 1 day can gallop, grrom, play, urinate, flehmen, and graze

How soon do foals pass their first feces?

Within the first hour after birth

What unusual behavior is seen in foals early in life that may have a functional role?

Coprophagia (eating feces) - function still questioned

When is the socialization/sensitive period in horses?

Not identified in horses: likely hours after birth instead of weeks

Up to what age is a foal’s attachment to the mare the strongest?

Greatest up to about 4 weeks of age, then declines

What is the “imprint training” in foals?

A technique by Dr. Robert Miller involving the handling of the foal all over immediately after birth to desensitize it

Do studies show benefits to imprint training in foals?

No - studies show no benefits. It can interfere with mare bonding

What kind of handling is beneficial for foals in the neonatal period?

Positive handling of the mare → foals observe and benefit

Gentle handing of the foal - but not imprint training

When should positive reinforcement training begin with foals 

Immediately - start with shaping

How does foal behavior change from birth to 8 weeks?

First 2 weeks - solitary play (galloping to/from mare)

By 8 weeks - social play increases, preferred over solitary

What proportion of foal locomotion is in the context of play?

About 70%

How much do foals graze up to 4 months of age?

4-16 minutes per hour

What is social facilitation in foals and how does it affect grazing?

Foals graze when their mothers graze (learned behavior)

By what age to foals graze like adults and for how long?

By 8-9 months, graze 60-70% of the time 

At what age are foals naturally weaned vs. artificially weaned?

Natural weaning - 11 months

Artificial weaning - 4-6 months → causes stress and may increase risk of abnormal behaviors

What is foal “snapping” (champing) behavior, and when and why does it occur?

When foals open and close their mouth while retracting their lips. It peaks around 2nd month of age, usually when approaching a new adult horse, and is possibly an appeasement behavior.

At what age do colts typically leave their original social group?

Around 2-3 years of age. 

After leaving their original group, what type of social group do young stallions usually join?

Bachelor groups of 2-5 year old stallions

At what age do fillies typically leave their original social group?

Around 3–4 years old, when they are sexually mature

Are piglets precocial or altricial, and what behaviors do they show in the first days of life?

Precocial; they explore, root, and chew within the first days.

When do piglets typically start social play with littermates?

Around 3–5 days of age.

When does teat order start forming in piglets?

On the first day of life.

By day 6, what percentage of piglets still change teats?

Only about 10%.

What exploratory behaviors do piglets show?

Explore, root, mouth, and chew

Why is play important in piglets?

Play is very important; failure to play is considered abnormal.

During which age are piglets very active?

2–6 weeks of age.

Until what age do piglets continue playing, and how does frequency change?

Play continues through natural weaning at ~14 weeks, but becomes less frequent.

At around what age do piglets show a startle reaction, and what does it look like?

Around 4 weeks; characterized by a soft vocalization and freezing.

When does natural weaning occur in piglets?

Gradually between 13–17 weeks of age.

At what age are piglets weaned in confined systems?

Around 3 weeks of age

What behaviors can early weaning in confined systems lead to?

Agonistic behaviors such as fighting and mounting.

What behavior occurs about 5 minutes after birth in calves?

The cow licks the calf, forming the cow–calf bond.

By when do calves typically suckle and successfully intake colostrum in natural settings?

Within 70–90 minutes after birth.

When do calves begin grazing if given the opportunity?

On the first day of life.

Do calves in natural settings show cross-suckling?

No cross-suckling is not observed

What happens when milk is restricted to 4 L/day in commercial settings?

Calves experience hunger; in the hole-board test, they visit the feeder 24 times/day, 2.5x more than ad libitum-fed calves.

What abnormal behaviors can appear in commercial calves?

Cross-suckling (other calves or objects) and prolonged bucket drinking (18 min/day).