Lecture 26: Communication and indicators of animal intent (canine and feline)

What is the posture of a relaxed dog?

relaxed, weight carried evenly, may see play bow or body wiggle

What does the tail of a relaxed dog look like?

relaxed and neutral position, may be wagging

What do the ears of a relaxed dog look like?

neutral position

What does the mouth of a relaxed dog look like?

appears soft, may be open, tongue hanging out, mouth may be closed with lips relaxed over teeth

What do the eyebrows of a relaxed dog look like?

soft, relaxed, eyebrows neutral, normal pupil size, steady, relaxed gaze

What is the body posture of a defensively threatening dog?

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

What does the tail of a defensively threatening dog look like?

stiff, usually tucked or low to ground, may be wagging

What do the ears of a defensively threatening dog look like?

pulled back against head

What does the mouth of a defensively threatening dog look like?

hard mouth with or without growling, snarling, pant, lick, yawn

What do the eyes of a defensively threatning dog look like?

vigilant with pupils dilated, eyebrows furrowed, darting eyes, whale eye

What does the body posture of an offensively threatening dog look like?

hard and stiff, muscles tensed, weight forward, may be very still

What does the tail of an offensively threatening dog look like?

carried high, often wagging slowly and methodically

What do the ears of an offensively threatening dog look like?

erect and forward, little movement

What does the mouth of an offensively threatening dog look like?

top lip pulled up, growling, snapping, barking

What do the eyes of an offensively threatening dog look like?

hard stare, wide open or squinted/hooded, eyebrows tensed, pupils dialted

How do dogs typically green each other?

Indirectly, lateral approach, polite sniffing, averted gae, play bow

How should you approach a dog?

turn your body to the side, approach the side, bend at the knees, avoid direct stares, pat side of your leg, speak in a soft voice

What does a relaxed cat look like

head resting on surface or over body, eyes closed to heavy, pupils slit to normal size, ears slightly forward, tail extended or loosely wrapped, may see bunting

What does an alert cat look like?

head over body, eyes open normally, pupils normal, ears normal or erected to front, tail relaxed with some twitching

What does a tense cat lok like?

head over body or pressed to body, eyes wide open, pupils normal to partially dilated, ears erected to front or back, tail close to bod, ventral recumbency or slinking

What does an anxious cat look like?

on the plane with body, eyes wide open, pupils dilated, ears partially flattened, tail close to body, increased respirations

What does a fearful cat look like?

head tucked, eyes wide open, pupils fully dilated, ears fully flattened, tail close to body, freezing, digeting, escaping, aggression

What does a terrified cat look like?

head lowered, pupils fully dilated, ears fully flattened, tail close to body, spitting, growling, yowling, hissing, shrieking, halloween cat

What are the warning signs of an imminent cat bite?

sudden dilation of pupils, piloerection, fast, jerky swishing of tail, swatting, vocalization, direct stare with open mouth vocalizations