Small Animal Behavior and Development

Signs of relaxed dog (green):

-posture

-tail

-ears

-mouth

-eyes

-posture: relaxed, weight carried evenly, may see play bow or body "wiggle"

-tail: relaxed & neutral position, +/- wagging

-ears: Relaxed, neutral position

-mouth: appears "soft", +/- open, tongue hanging out, mouth +/- closed, lips relaxed over teeth

-eyes: soft", relaxed, eyebrows neutral, normal pupil size, steady relaxed gaze

Play bow and behavior

May or may not be friendly; can also be a displacement behavior —> behaviors out of context to get rid of nervous energy

Signs of defensively threatening dog (yellow):

-posture

-tail

-piloerection

-ears

-mouth

-eyes

Posture: muscles tense, weight shifted back, low to ground, may roll to expose belly, holding one paw up

Tail: stiff, usually tucked or low to ground, +/- wagging

Piloerection: +/- present, +/- "blowing coat"

Ears: pulled back against head

Mouth: hard mouth +/- growling, snarling, pant, lick, yawn

Eyes: Vigilant with pupils dilated, eyebrows furrowed, darting eyes, "whale eye"

What is the defensively threatening dog trying to communicate?

Trying to avoid a fight and create distance between them and you; essentially saying, " I don't like what you're doing, stop right now!"

A defensively threatening dog is likely to become a _______________ threatening dog if provoked further

Offensively

Signs of offensively threatening dog (red):

-posture

-tail

-piloerection

-ears

-mouth

-eyes

Body posture: "hard & stiff": muscles tensed, weight forward, +/- very still

Tail: carried high, often slow & methodic wag

Piloerection: usually present

Ears: erect and forward, little movement

Mouth: top lip pulled up (baring front teeth only), growling, snapping, barking

Eyes: Hard stare, wide open or squinted/hooded, eyebrows tensed, pupils dilated

The offensively threatening dog is acting "aggressively" due to __________

Fear

How do humans greet each other? Dogs?

Humans: very direct approach, make eye contract, lean forward, move quickly

Dogs: approach each other laterally, nose to rump sniffing, averted gaze, moving slowly

How can we adapt out behavior to seem less threatening?

-turn body to the side

-bend at the knees vs waist

-pat the side of your leg

-approach the side, rather than front of dog

-speak in soft, light hearted tone of voice

How are green, yellow, red broken down for cats?

Green: Relaxed, alert

Yellow: tense, anxious

Red: Fearful, terrified

Relaxed (green) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-sounds

-tail

Head: resting on surface or over body

Eyes: closed to heavy, pupils slit to normal size

Ears: turned slightly forward

Sounds: none/purr

Tail: extended or loosely wrapped; up or loosely down if standing

Alert (green) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-whiskers

-tail

-sounds

Head: over the body, some movement

Eyes: open normally, pupils normal

Ears: nuetral or erected to front or back

Whiskers: neutral to forward

Tail: relaxed, some motion

Sounds: none or meow

Tense (yellow) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-tail

-sounds

Head: over the body or pressed to body, little or no movement

Eyes: wide open, pupils normal to partially dilated

Ears: erected to front or back

Tail: close to body; tense downwards or curled forward, may be twitching

Sounds: none/ meow/ plaintive meow

Other: ventral recumbency or "slinking

Anxious (yellow) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-tail

-sounds

Head: on plane with body, little or no movement

Eyes: wide open, pupils dilated

Ears: partially flattened

Tail: close to body; +/- curled forward

Sounds: none, plaintive meow, growling, yowling

Other: increased RR

Fearful (red) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-tail

-sounds

Head: tucked, still

Eyes: wide, pupils fully dilated

Ears: fully flattened

Tail: close to body; curled under body when standing

Sounds: none/plaintive meow/ growl/ yowl

Other: freezing, fidgeting, escaping, swatting, may bite

Terrified (red) cat

-head

-eyes

-ears

-tail

-sounds

-other

Head: lowered

Eyes: pupils fully dilated

Ears: fully flattened, pinned back

Tail: close to body

Sounds: spitting, growling, yowling, hissing, shrieking

Other: "Halloween Cat" - full piloerection

Freezing, fidgeting, escaping, swatting, biting (aggression)

Development Periods in Dogs and Cats

1.) Prenatal

2.) Neonatal

3.) Transitional Period

4.) Socialization Period

5.) Juvenile Period

6.) Sexual Maturity

7.) Social Maturity

Neonatal Period in Dogs

-0 to 13 days

-deaf, blind, poor sense of smell (can sense pheromones)

-eating, sleeping

-very limited learning

Neonatal Period in Cats

-0 to 9 days

-deaf, blind

-can smell, but also use tactile and thermal stimuli

-hearing starts at day 5

Transitional Period in Dogs

-14-20 days

-eyes open 10-14 days

-tooth eruption

-able to stand

-learn to avoid pain BUT no emotional learning/body language of fear

-ends with startle response when hearing starts at 20 days

Transitional Period in Cats

-9 to 14 days

-grooming emerges

-start orienting to sound

-standing and walking

Separation during the transitional period can lead to....

-fear and aggression to people

-impaired learning

-increased asthma

Socialization Period in Dogs

-3 to 12 weeks

-gradual wean

-offer play behaviors

-social relations between animal and people form

-first fear period 8-10 weeks

When is the first fear period in dogs? What is it?

8-10 weeks; When an animal is highly susceptible to single event learning, and a negative event can cause lifelong profound consequences

Socialization Period in Cats

-2 to 7(9) weeks

-weaning starts at 4 weeks

-social relationships with people and animals

-object and social play begins at

-exploratory behavior

-fear response begins

Juvenile Period in Dogs

-3 to 6 months

-rapid growth

-increasing independence

-sexual interest

-teething (destructive chewing)

Juvenile Period in Cats

-weaning complete

-social play peaks and declines (more predatory behaviors begin to develop)

-independence increases

-separation from mother prior to 12 weeks can lead to aggression

Separation from the mother at _____ weeks can lead to increased aggression in cats

12 weeks (during juvenile period)

Adolescence in Dogs

-time between sexual and social maturity

-ends at around 1 to 1.5 years

-second fear period

-maintain social experience and skills (or lose it if not continued)

When is the second fear period in dogs?

During the adolescence stage, usually around 7-11 months

Social maturity in Dogs

18 months to 4 years

Social maturity in cats

18 months

What can occur during social maturity?

Animals start developing proactive defense responses; fearful, poorly socialized puppies can often escalate to aggression

Can you "socialize" a newly adopted 1 year old dog?

No, at this point the socialization period has passed

When do most people get puppies? What is significant about this?

6-8 weeks; it is during the first fear period when they are most psychologically sensitive to fear

Early illness predisposes dogs to...

Aggression problems, fear of strangers and children, and separation related problems

If lack of exposure results in fearful puppies but illness results in fearful puppies and they aren't fully vaccinated, what is the best recommendation?

Make wise choices for socialization such as:

-avoid dog parks, pet stores, etc

-play dates with healthy, vaccinated, socially mature dogs

-puppy kindergarten

For socialization, obedience classes where the dogs do not interact _________ sufficient

Aren't

Characteristics of a good puppy class for socialization

-puppies less than four months (have first set of vaccines)

-appropriate sanitation before and after

-appropriate supervision

-health screening/vaccinations required

-only positive reinforcement

Characteristics of good house training for puppy

-reward with food RIGHT after going potty

-supervision at all times

-take them out every two ours and after play, sleeping, eating

-create a schedule

Persistent mouthing behavior over 12 weeks in dogs may be sign of...

-premature maternal separation

-displacement behaviors in anxious pups

-early signs of aggression (resource guarding, handling)

-learned attention seeking behavior

Tips for mouthing behavior in dogs

-avoid rough play with hands and feet

-avoid rough play or handling that increases arousal

-always have a toy available to set the puppy up for success

Feline best success considerations

-cats raised with dogs during socialization don't show defensive behavior (same concept with other animals, such as rats)

-expose to new people

-keep litter box hygiene up

-carrier training

-provide areas for perching, scratching, enrichment