ANS 150 Companion Animals: Dogs and Cats

When and where were dogs domesticated?

Around 10,000 BC around modern day Germany

What were dogs domesticated for?

Companionship and Hunting

What were the precursors to modern dogs?

Wolves or Jackals

When were distinct dog breeds present?

Around 3000 to 4000 years ago

What is a Stud?

An intact male dog

What is dog parturition called?

Whelping

How long is estrus in dogs?

Average: 9 days

Range: 3-21 days

How long is the estrous cycle in dogs?

183 day average

What can influence the length of the dog estrous cycle?

The breed

What is an Os Penis?

A small bone at the head of a stud’s penis that allows penetration without an erection

What causes a tie during dog breeding?

The stud having an erection while inside the vagina and swells so large that it’s firmly locked in the vagina

Is the tie essential for pregnancy?

No

Does the tie break spontaneously?

No

Does throwing water on dogs help break the tie?

No

What is pseudopregnancy?

A hormonal condition where a female dog will exhibit signs of estrus while not pregnant

Why is it believed dogs exhibit pseudopregnancy?

It’s believed that pseudo pregnant dogs would nurse puppies from the alpha female or other females that dies during whelping in wild herds

When and where were cats domesticated?

Around 4000 BC in ancient Egypt

Why were cats domesticated?

For religious reasons and companionship

What was the ancestor of the modern cat?

African Bush Cat

When were cat breeds known?

In the mid 1800’s

What is a queen?

A female cat

What is a tom?

A male cat

What is the cat birth process called?

Queening

What is calling?

The sound the queen makes that is associated with mating

How long is the estrous cycle of cats?

Average: 13-15 days

Range: 10-22 days

What do the Tom’s spurs do?

Help stimulate the vagina and cervix during mating

What is induced ovulation?

A cat will not ovulate during strus unless they are bred by a tom

How does induced ovulation work?

• There are nerves that run from the vagina and cervix to the brain

• Once they are stimulated nerves send signals to the brain which release LH

When does can ovulation happen in cats?

At any time

Can cats always get pregnant?

No. They have periods where mating will result in pregnancy and periods it won’t

What are the auditions a dog makes?

• Bark

• Whine

• Howl

• Growl

What is a bark?

• A territorial call for most dogs

• Dogs will alter the tone and amplitude of a bark to mean different things

What is a whine?

• A care soliciting sound

• Signifies pain, fright, or mild frustration

What is a growl?

Aggressive or distance increasing call

What is a howl?

Believed to be how dogs verbally communicate with each other

What is a dog neutral position?

• Tal down

• Ears down

• Standing upright

What is a dog aroused/interested position?

• Tail up

• Ears up

• Standing upright on toes or with a front leg raised

What is a dog play soliciting position?

• Tail up and wagging slightly

• Ears erect

• Standing upright and moving or gesturing slightly with front paws

What is a dog active greeting position?

• Tail wagging over a wide range

• Ears erect

• More exaggerated motion with front paws

What is a dog aggressive posture?

• Tail up

• Ears erect

• Weight on front feet

• Exposed teeth

What is a dog fear posture?

• Tail tucked

• Ears back and down

• Weigh ton rear feet

• Exposed teeth

What is a dog submissive behavior?

• Tail tucked

• Ears back and turned down

• Crouching on all four legs or rolled over to expose belly