APSC Dr. Dickinson/ Canine & Feline Behavior

3 components of Dr. Dickinson’s formal education

• PhD in applied animal behavior — VT

• Canine physical fitness & conditioning at University of Tennessee

• Applied Animal Behavior at University of Washington

3 components of her occupational education

• NREMT Paramedic

• Professional Firefighter

• USAR & Wilderness K9 Handler & Trainer 

2 historic milestones in the history of SAR dogs

• St. Bernard Hospital in the Swiss Alps (1700s)

• Use of dogs in WWII (1939-1945)

2 challenges SAR dogs face in austere environments

• physically demanding conditions

• infrequent reinforcements and high frustration

examples of SAR deployments

• 2021 Haiti Earthquake

• 2016 Hurricane Michael

• 2014 Oso Mudslide

• 2013 KC-135 Explosion (Krygyzstan)

major steps in the SAR dog training process

1. understand reinforcement

2. create value in the target

3. train the indication

4. develop the search

5. evaluate

why is reducing the stress response important in SAR dogs?

many stressors are unavoidable, so mitigation is necessary to maintain performance and welfare

what model is used to understand conditioning of SAR dogs?

tactical athlete model

how many SAR dogs participated in the experimental study and how were groups assigned in week 1?

11 dogs; Phys group: canimetric training; control group: no additional activity

what data was collected during the initial and final assessments?

• body condition score 

• sprint test performance 

• canimetric assessment

• search engagement and latency  

what was measured during weeks 3-9?

Fi Collar step counts and rest averages weekly 

what does the sprint test evaluate?

• overall strength

• aerobic capacity

how many sprint runs were performed and how were scores processed?

• 3 runs

• mean and standard deviation calculated

what is included in the canimetric warm-up and cool-down?

• trotting

• weaves

• paws up

• bow

what exercises are included in circuit 1 of the canimetric protocol?

• posture sit

• squat

• back up

what exercises are included in circuit 2?

• posture down

• pivot right and left

• plank

what does the “posture sit” and “squat” exercise measure?

isometric rear-end strength 

what does the “back up” exercise measure?

proprioception

what do the pivots (R&L) measure?

lateral hip strength

what two measurements are taken for the plank score?

• maximum hold time at 50 cm

• maximum distance held for 120 seconds

what does the canimetric assessment calculate for each exercise?

• change in performance

• Z-score transformation

what is measured during Search Engagement & Latency testing?

• latency to TFR (trained final response)

• willingness to access the target

name the three search areas

1. standard 3-Object search

2. obstructed path with varied surfaces and angles

3. additional task interrupters (unstable surfaces, tunnel, sound ~95 dB)

what additional metrics are included during search evaluation

• willingness to cross obstacles

• false negatives

• latency of TFR

what are the 3 major categories of animal behavior?

1. innate/instinctual behaviors

2. learned behaviors

3. imprinting

examples of innate behaviors

• fixed action patterns

• sexual behaviors

examples of learned behaviors?

• mimicry

• habituation

• operant conditioning

• associative learning

imprinting definition

learning shaped by innate constraints — an interaction between instinct and learning

what are the main communication channels used by dogs?

1. Olfactory (urine, feces, anal sacs, pheromones)

2. auditory (vocalizations)

3. visual (body language)

common types of canine marking or scent behaviors

• sniffing

• urine marking

• ground scratching

• vomeronasal organ use (flehmen-like responses)

key elements of canine visual communication

• ear position

• tail carriage

• posture (forward, crouched, relaxed)

• eye contact or avoidance

what is the stress escalation ladder?

model showing how a dog progresses from mild stress signals (lip licking, yawning) to severe aggression (biting) as stress increases

what is the basic feline social structure?

matriarchal social structure 

do cats have strict hierarchies?

no — they show affiliate behaviors like allogrooming and allorubbing

what feline behavior may indicate a lower-ranking cat?

tail-up approach during a greeting

what are olfactory communication behaviors in cats?

• rubbing

• scratching

• urine marking (spraying)

• middening (feces marking)

• anal gland secretions

what are feline visual communication signals?

• body posture

• facial expression

• tail position (upright, puffed, swishing, tucked)

epimeletic behavior definition

caregiving behavior such as licking pups, grooming, carrying puppies, guarding, and regurgitating food

et-epimeletic behavior definition

care-seeking behavior by puppies, such as whining, tail wagging low, licking mother’s face, following closely 

what are allelomimetic behaviors?

• eating together

• sleeping together

• playing as a group

• howling/barking as a group

major categories of normal behavior

• social

• resting

• ingestive

• elimination

• sexual

• maternal

• agonistic

examples of behavioral problems in pets

• separation anxiety

• nocturnal activity

• pica

• spraying

• mounting

• maternal aggression

stereotypy definition

a repetitive, ritualistic behavior with no obvious purpose, often linked to stress or restrictive environments

examples of stereotypic behaviors in animals

• licking (acral lick dermatitis)

• tail chasing

• light/shadow chasing

• fly snapping

• pacing 

flycatcher’s syndrome

stereotypic behavior where the dog appears to snap at imaginary flies; may be linked to neurological disorders