Small Animal Behavior & Development

Green (relaxed) dog

• relaxed/even posture, potential for play bow or wiggle

• neutral tail and ears, position varies by breed

• soft mouth w/relaxed lips, ± mouth open/tongue out

• soft eyes/brows, normal pupil dilation, steady gaze

Yellow (defensively threatening) dog

• tense muscles, weight back, low to ground, ± exposed belly and paw up

• stiff/tucked tail

• may have piloerection

• ears pulled back

• hard mouth, ± growling, panting, licking, yawning

• darting gaze, pupils dilated, eyebrows furrowed, whale eye

Red (offensively threatening) dog

• tense muscles, weight forward

• high tail, slow/methodical wag

• piloerection

• erect/forward ears

• baring front teeth, growling/snapping

• hard stare, tense brows, dilated pupils, eyes wide or squinted

Non-threatening approach

• turn body to side, approach from side, & bend at knees

• avoid direct stares

• speak softly

Green relaxed cat

• resting head

• eyes heavy/closed, slit pupils

• slightly forward ears

• extended/up or loose

Green alert cat

• head over body, some movement

• normal pupils

• ears neutral or erect

• whiskers neutral to forward

• relaxed tail with some motion

Yellow tense cat

• head over or pressed to the body, little movement

• wide eyes, pupils partly dilated

• ears erect

• tail near body, ± twitching

• may exhibit plaintive meow & ventral recumbancy

Yellow anxious cat

• head on body, little movement

• wide eyes, pupils dilated

• ears partly flattened

• tail near body, ± curled forward

• may plaintive meow, growl, or yowl

• increased resp. rate

Red fearful cat

• tucked still head

• wide eyes, dilated pupils

• fully flattened ears

• tail near/curled under body

• may plaintive meow, yowl, or growl

• may freeze, fidget, flee, swat, or bite

Red terrified cat

• lowered head

• fully dilated pupils

• ears flattened/pinned

• tail near body

• piloerection

• may spit, growl, yowl, hiss, or shriek

• may freeze, fidget, flee, swat, or bite

Imminent cat bite signs

• Sudden loss of pupil points

• Piloerection

• Metronome tail

• Swatting

• Vocalization

• Direct stare

Canine neonatal period

• 0-13 days

• deaf/blind/limited smell

• limited learning

Feline neonatal period

• 0-9 days

• Can smell, hearing on day 5

Canine transitional period

• 14-20 days

• Eyes open (day 10-14), teeth erupt, hearing/startle develops (20 days)

• Learn to stand/avoid pain

• Avoid separation from mother

Feline transitional period

• 9-14 days

• eyes open (7-10 days), grooming starts, learn to stand/walk/orient to sound

• Avoid separation from mother

Canine socialization period

• 3-12 weeks

• weaning, leaving nest to eliminate, play behaviors

• form social relationships

Feline socialization period

• 2-7 weeks

• start weaning at 4 weeks

• form social relationships

• being object & social play, exploratory behavior

Canine juvenile period

• 3-6 months

• rapid growth, increased independence

• sexual interest & teething

Feline juvenile period

• 7 weeks - 5 months

• finish weaning, independence increases

• peak and decline in social play

• do not separate from mom before 12 weeks

Canine adolescence

• until 1-1.5 years

• maintenance of social experience/skills

Canine social maturity

• 18 months - 4 years

• develop proactive defense responses (aggression)

Feline social maturity

~18 months

Early canine illness

Predisposes dogs to aggression, fear of children/strangers, and separation issues

Canine fear periods

• 1 from 8-10 weeks, 1 for 3 weeks between 4-11 months

• susceptible to single-event learning, creating lifelong fears

Canine time budget

• 5% maintenance activities

• 7-24% active

• 13-55% awake inactive

• 33-58% sleeping

Feline time budget

• 11% maintenance activities

• 4% active

• 42% awake inactive

• 47% sleeping

Canine elimination

• occurs away from eating/sleeping areas

• defecation: 2-4x (puppies), 1-2x (adults)

• urination: every 2-6 hours

Feline elimination

• dig, sniff, eliminate, cover pattern

• urination: 2-4x

• defecation: 1-2x