Canine BehaviorVet Science

How Dogs CommunicateVocalizationsBody PosturesDirect ContactScents or Smells

What to ObserveEar Positions

Neutral ForwardAlertBack

Pricked ears www.caninetofivedetroit.com Floppy ears- frightened or relaxedCropped ears- hard to read

What to ObserveTail Positions

High tail carriage- alert Lower tail carriage- fearful, defensive (tucking) Wagging tail- NOT ALWAYS FRIENDLY! Motionless- alert

When observing: How does the tail position change overtime? Is the hair fluffed up? Is it stationary or wagging? If wagging, is it quickly or slowly? How does the rest of the dog look?

http://www.vetstreet.com

What to ObserveOverall Body Carriage

Relaxed or at easeAlert

Stand erectLean forward

Crouched or coweringAfraid

Play bow

en.wikipedia.org 

What to ObserveGaze

WideNarrowedRelaxedFocus of gaze- Direct? Avoidance? Scanning?

Direct/prolonged- threateningAvoidance- fear, submissionScanning- blinking, relaxedScrunch- threatening

www.world-science.net 

What to ObserveDilated pupils-

fearhigh arousal scanning environment nervous

Extra WideUnwavering gazeHow open are the eyes?

Scrunched look- attack modeFixated gaze- attack mode

laweekly.blogs.com 

What to ObserveStance or Positioning Behavior worksheet

www.operationsports.com 

www.ohmidog.com

www.vetstreet.com

What to ObserveMouth Position/Baring Teeth

Closed- Low arousalBarring teeth- attack modeSubmissive grin

Licking lips- panting, cool downShow teeth but eyes wide open

Panting- worked/happyHappy Face- tongue out, relaxedYawning- bored, displacement behavior

blog.dog-and-bone.co.uk

BitingNot touching targetTeeth touching (no mark)Inhibited bitingFull bite (injury)Threats may or may not lead to aggression

What to ObserveVocalizations

Barking GrowlingWhining

Displacement BehaviorsYawning- tired or boredLip Licking- conditionalGroomingRedirected aggression

animalconnectionac.wordpress.com 

Observations vs. Interpretations

Observing: short timedescribe what you see

Interpreting: take time not always accurate

Threatening gesturesDirect eye contactFacing the dogLeaning over the dogReaching for the dog

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHLnjiISsOo

Agonistic BehaviorAgonistic Behavior- threatened or challenged

behaviorEscape behaviors- body crouchedSubmissive or appeasement behaviors

Tail tuckEars floppy

Threats, either offensive or defensiveAggression, either offensive or defensive

Threatening BehaviorOffensive threat/Aggression

Ears forwardTail between ears

Defensive threat/AggressionEars backTail tucked

www.ccrnatacna.org

AggressionMixed motivationTerritorial

Ears back Tail wagging

http://www.dog-behavior-tips.com

AggressionFear- submissivePossessiveProtective

Member of social group Hand shake, playing, hugging, etc.

MaternalDominance- directed toward unfamiliarPredatory

Not aggression Caused by cats, small child

Important Social Behaviors

Greetings among dogsGreetings between dogs and peopleFriendly and playful behaviorDisplacement behaviors

Application Activity Get out a piece of paper. Number the paper 1-8. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LIqQI57lA3w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RtT9X4eT_Ss http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X3OamWUFCtE http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oxnAZcRXE1w http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C7QxVfYccA http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZMlfrtmkds http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w_2qnI9e4CM http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6jUuj4YYzns

QUIZ9. What is agnostic behavior?

A. unexplained behaviorB. Resting, comfortable behaviorC. Threatened, challenged behaviorD. None of the above

10. Which of the following is a characteristic of a defensively threatening dog?

A. A submissive grinB. Play bowC. Tucked tailD. Excessive licking

Quiz11. What should you look for when observing a dog’s behavior?

A. Ear positionsB. Tail positionsC. Overall body carriageD. All of the above

12. Which of the following is a characteristic of aggressive behavior?A. Dilated pupilsB. Eyes opened extra wideC. Unwavering gazeD. All of the above

Quiz13. A bored dog will show a __________ behavior.

A. AggressiveB. YawningC. TerritorialD. None of the above

14. An aggressive dog will tend to have ______ ears.A. Pricked B. FloppyC. CroppedD. None of the above