Canine and Feline Husbandry, Behaviour, and Reproduction

Comprehensive practice flashcards covering domestic animal groups, canine/feline nutrition, operant training quadrants, working dogs, reproduction, and the stages of whelping.

What are the three main groups of domestic animals?

Companion animals (pets), livestock (production or agricultural animals), and working animals.

What is a female canine called?

A bitch.

What is a male canine called?

A dog (or stud dog if used for breeding).

At what age do puppies and kittens begin to eat solid foods?

At approximately $3\text{ to }4\text{ weeks}$ of age during weaning.

What could be a sign of stress in a canine?

Lip-licking, yawning, panting when not hot, pacing, whining, trembling, or holding the ears back.

What behaviors are clear signs of aggression in canines?

Growling, snarling, showing or baring teeth, rigid body posture, lunging, and snapping.

What is a sign of a happy or content canine?

A relaxed body posture, soft eye contact, a loosely wagging tail, and a relaxed, slightly open mouth.

What factors influence a canine's behaviour?

Genetics, early socialization, environment, physical health, and previous training or life experiences.

What is a puppy farm?

An intensive commercial dog-breeding facility that prioritizes profit over the welfare of the dogs, often keeping them in substandard, crowded, and unhygienic conditions.

What is a common sign of a canine being bored?

Destructive chewing, digging, pacing, repetitive barking, and whining.

What is an obligate carnivore (canivor)?

An animal that strictly requires animal meat in its diet because its digestive system cannot synthesize certain essential nutrients from plant sources.

What is an example of a FAD diet in canines and felines?

Raw meat-based diets (e.g., BARF diets), grain-free diets, or strictly vegetarian/vegan diets for carnivores.

What foods are toxic for canines?

Chocolate, grapes, raisins, onions, garlic, xylitol (artificial sweetener), macadamia nuts, and alcohol.

What are the 4 quadrants of operant training?

Positive Reinforcement ($R+$), Negative Reinforcement ($R-$), Positive Punishment ($P+$), and Negative Punishment ($P-$).

When a dog learns a behaviour by observation & mimics this behaviour, what is this training type called?

Observational learning (or social learning / modeling).

What is a training technique that uses positive punishment in canine training?

Applying an aversive stimulus immediately following an unwanted behaviour to reduce that behaviour, such as a vocal reprimand or a leash correction.

What kind of aggression can cause animals to guard food, objects, and people?

Resource guarding (possessive aggression).

What syndrome causes canines to panic when left alone?

Separation anxiety.

What is a canine called that offers a person emotional support?

An emotional support animal (or emotional support dog).

What is a canine that has been trained to assist people with a disability called?

An assistance dog (or service dog).

What breeds of dogs are the most common police dogs?

German Shepherd Dogs, Belgian Malinois, and Dutch Shepherds.

What are canines called that are used for detection, protection, tracking, scouting, and search and rescue?

Working dogs (or operational service dogs).

True or False: A detection dog can detect more than drugs and substances, and are also known to detect cancer in people.

True.

What are canines commonly used after a natural disaster called?

Urban search and rescue (USAR) dogs (or disaster search and rescue dogs).

True or False: All canine bred for working purpose will become working dogs.

False. Not all puppies meet the physical, health, drive, or temperament requirements needed for active service.

True or False: Canines are able to be trained to detect and assist with controlling sezuring in humans.

True. Seizure alert and seizure response dogs are trained specifically for this role.

At what age do dogs reach puberty?

Between $6\text{ to }12\text{ months}$ of age on average, depending on breed size (ranging up to $18\text{ to }24\text{ months}$ in giant breeds).

What are the primary reproductive organs in a female canine?

Ovaries, uterine horns, uterine body, cervix, vagina, and vulva.

What are the primary reproductive organs in a male canine?

Testes (testicles), epididymis, vas deferens, prostate gland, and penis (including the bulbus glandis).

What is the definition of out breeding?

The mating of unrelated or distantly related individuals within the same breed to increase genetic diversity.

At what age can a female canine ethically be mated?

Not before $18\text{ to }24\text{ months}$ of age (after she has reached physical and behavioral maturity and passed relevant health screenings).

How long does a female canine's gestation period go for?

Approximately $63\text{ days}$ (typically ranging between $58\text{ and }68\text{ days}$).

How long can whelping (welping) take?

Typically between $6\text{ and }24\text{ hours}$, depending on the number of puppies in the litter.

What symptoms may a female canine display during her first month of pregnancy?

Mild lethargy, slight decrease in appetite (morning sickness), enlarged/pinker nipples, and subtle behavioral changes.

The majority of canine fetal development occurs during which month?

During the second month of pregnancy (specifically the final third or weeks $6\text{ to }9$).

True or False: A female canine will drop in body temp before she goes into labor.

True. Body temperature typically drops by approximately $1^\circ\text{C}$ (to below $37^\circ\text{C}$ or $99^\circ\text{F}$) within $12\text{ to }24\text{ hours}$ before labor begins.

Whelping consists of how many stages?

$3\text{ stages}$.

Birthing of puppies occurs in which stage of whelping?

Stage 2.

The placenta is passed in which stage of whelping?

Stage 3.

True or False: You must obtain a breeding registration to legally breed and sell puppies in SA?

True. In South Australia (SA), breeders must register with the Dog and Cat Management Board (DACO) to legally breed and sell puppies.

At what age is socialization of a puppy most crucial?

Between $3\text{ and }14\text{ weeks}$ of age.

What is a domestic animal?

An animal species that has been selectively bred and genetically altered over generations by humans to live alongside humans for companionship, work, or agriculture.

What is an induced ovulator (enduced ovulator), and what animal is an induced ovulator?

An induced ovulator is an animal that ovulates only in response to the physical act of mating; the feline (cat) is an induced ovulator.

What does socialization mean and why is it important?

Socialization is the process of exposing an animal to varied environments, people, noises, and other animals so that it develops into a confident adult, preventing fear, anxiety, and aggression.

How can you mentally enrich your canine when they are home alone?

By providing puzzle feeders, frozen stuffed chew toys (e.g., KONGs), snuffle mats, and safe natural chews.

What are the 4 stages of digestion in cats and dogs?

1. Ingestion, 2. Digestion, 3. Absorption, and 4. Egestion (elimination).

What is the difference between a herbivore and a carnivore?

A herbivore feeds entirely or primarily on plant matter and has a digestive system adapted to break down fiber/cellulose, whereas a carnivore consumes animal tissue and has a shorter, less complex digestive tract.

Why is a feline classified as an obligate carnivore?

Because felines have strict dietary requirements for nutrients only found in animal tissues (such as taurine, arachidonic acid, and preformed vitamin A) that their bodies cannot synthesize from plant sources.

How does positive reinforcement work in canine training?

It adds a desirable reward (such as a high-value treat, toy, or praise) immediately after the desired behaviour occurs, increasing the likelihood that the behaviour will be repeated.

What is a displacement (or distribution) behaviour in canines?

A normal behaviour performed out of context (e.g., lip-licking, sudden scratching, or yawning) when a dog experiences conflict, stress, or indecision.

Describe Stage 1 of whelping (welping).

Stage 1 involves cervical dilation and the start of uterine contractions; the female exhibits restlessness, nesting behaviour, shivering, panting, and loss of appetite, typically lasting $6\text{ to }12\text{ hours}$.