DOG BEHAVIOR
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Social Behavior
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Exploratory Behavior
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Ingestive Behavior
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Eliminative Behavior
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Comfort Behavior
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Resting & Locomotion
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Sexual Behavior
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Maternal Behavior
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Developmental Behavior
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Learning Behavior
Sensory Capacities:
a)
Hearing
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 4 x more acute than man
 hears pitches 3 x higher than man
 (man 18-20,000 c/s dog 38,000-58,000 c/s)
b)
Sight
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c)
poor vision up close but good at distance
light sensitivity equal to man (night vision)
10 x more sensitive to peripheral motion
color blind can distinguish hues
70% broader angle, 20% narrower binoculr vision
Taste
 Dogs taste is poorly developed to man
 palatability based on odors, mouth feel and taste, the reverse
 importance in man
d)
Touch
 well developed a potent reward
 touch masking effect of sound
e)
Smell
 1000 x greater than man (nasal surface area 15 times greater in the dog:
7000 mm2:500 mm2)
 Vomeronasal organ (orifice in nose and mouth)
 sense of smell is very sensitive, can detect odors in concentrations as low as
10-15 molar or 600 million molecules per liter
 discrimination between many thousand different odors
 olfactory memory is very prolonged
 odors have a powerful influence on physiology and behavior
f)
Balance
 equal or superior to man
g)
Time
h)
Direction
 superior to man
i)
Heat
 infrared receptors well developed even in puppies which are able
 to find the bitch following birth
Social Behavior
Communication:
Dogs communicate by exhibiting multiple signs simultaneously (e.g. sound, visual, facial
expression and body positions).
Smell:
 highest developed sense (a major means of communication)
Pheromones:
 Pheromones are signalling chemical substances which are excreted or
secreted and result in a specific behavioral or physiological (endocrine)
response in the recipient, usually of the same species, however, dogs can be
trained to detect estrus in cows.
 These chemicals are perceived by the olfactory system (nasal cavity and the
vomeronasal organ) and activate or inhibit the Central Nervous System.
Types of pheromones:
a)
Releaser:
changes
Signalling pheromones induce immediate behavioral
b)
Primer:
Induce a prolonged endocrine change (inhibiting or
stimulating)
Sources of pheromones: Feces, urine, vaginal secretions, preputial excretions,
skin and scent glands
Functions of pheromones: Recognition (i.e., individual identity, territory, estrus,
fear...); induces or suppresses (i.e., puberty, ovulation, sex drive, population density,
aggression); indicates (i.e., social status, fears, physiological and reproductive state).
Sound:
relative minor means of communication
warning-bark, commands to puppies indicates emotional state, whining and cries
of puppies
Territoriality:
 male dogs develop territoriality at puberty
 confident on own territory
 defends members of pack and territory
Concepts of Space:
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individual distance
home range
flight distance
intimate distance
Visual:
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stare-dominance
stare avoidance-submission (e.g. expose neck)
dogs watch human eyes
observation of facial expressions and body positions
Body Language:
 emotions of a dog can usually be accurately identified from body signs and facial
expressions
 signs constantly change as stimuli increase or decrease, eg. fear
 to aggression or aggression to submission, or play to submission
Greeting:
 highly ritualized
Exploratory Behavior
Cause:
inherited drive to satisfy curiosity as maintain a certain level of sensory input
deprivation of exploratory behavior leads to over-reaction to stimuli
learned-rewarded by exercise, food, social contact and sex
learns details of its environment (what is food, escape pathways,
location of nest, food, water)
Signs:
alerting reflex
chase reflex
exploratory reflexes
social
objects
environment
may have a fear component
Ingestive Behavior
Puppies:
inherited sucking reflex when born
become bonded to one nipple, based on odor
best breast is owned by dominant animal
mechanism of finding breast (heat, hair swirls, smell, position)
Dogs:
are natural hunters (predators) prey chase, kill, shake, eat
and bury
may become scavengers (garbage)
normally eat one large meal every few days
(if deprived of food, will gorge themselves)
Drinking:
dogs lap and scoop (rodents lick, cattle suck)
dogs deprived of water and then allowed to drink will stop drinking
when the exact amount required for hydration is obtained and
before any is absorbed
Feeding Facts:
eating reduces tension and anxiety
eating is a powerful stimulus
carnivorous animals eat chunks of food in a hurry, wolves eat
large volumes every 3-4 days. Most dogs can be conditioned
to eat by free access, especially dry food.
food guarding indicates a dominant animal
dogs are not strictly carnivorous
hunting-prey killing is accentuated in packs not necessarily related to hunger
grass eating in dogs is normal
bones should not be given to dogs
roaming and garbage eating is normal hunting behavior
dogs do not tolerate rapid changes in diet
most dogs can't tolerate milk as adults
dogs should not receive table scraps or tidbits (maximum of 10% of diet)
eating too much can cause diarrhea more likely seen in puppies
eating too fast can induce vomition and gulping of air
feed at regular intervals aids house training
dogs may eat well, then stop for 1 or 2 days
food may stimulate competitive dominance
dogs often eat better in groups
confinement, hospitalization can cause fear, anxiety, depression and result in
anorexia
compulsive eating and compulsive water drinking can be conditioned
palatability depends on odors, mouth feel and taste
the major taste receptors are sweet, salt, sour and bitter
increasing the palatability of a diet by adding
a) heat to body temperature
b) moisture
c) cooled meat
d) cooked onions
e) garlic
f) sweets (ketchup)
Eliminative Behavior
Eliminative behavior includes: defecation, urination, postures for same, preand posteliminative behaviors (smelling, exploring for a location, circling and scratching ground).
Elimination in Puppies:
bitches stimulate puppies to urinate and defecate by licking the
perineal area and ingesting the excrement
puppies begin to eliminate on their own from 10-14 days of age,
and bitches continue to ingest excrement for several weeks longer
at three weeks puppies leave the nest and over the next few weeks
gradually develop a defined spot for defecation outside the nest
Urination Postures:
a) Males
by approximately 2 months, males lean forward, at 6 months occasionally leg lift
and gradually this increases infrequently until 2 years of age
castration before puberty delays the expression of leg lifting
castration of adults or juveniles does not change the frequency of leg lifting
outside the house
leg lifting may be stimulated by environmental influences but not by imitation
opposite sex hormones given to adult dogs does not affect urination postures
puppies given testosterone at 3 days of age, lift legs at 40 days
juvenile males castrated and given testosterone, lift leg in a few days
b) Females
female puppies and most adults squat to urinate. Adult females may show
greater variation in urinary postures than males.
female puppies given testosterone before or just after birth, half of the time lift
leg to urinate as adults
it is speculated that female adults that lift their legs to urinate and show
masculine behaviors may have been sensitized by testosterone in utero
Defecation Postures:
great individual variation and males show a greater variation in defecation
postures than females
Location:
adults select specific locations and surfaces for defecation, i.e. grass
Stimuli Inducting Urination and Defecation:
exercise after resting or sleeping
eating and drinking gastro-colic reflex (± 10-15 minutes later)
smell or previously soiled area
rectal irritation such as a suppository
Ground Scratching:
is a visual and perhaps odor territorial mark, not an attempt to bury stool
may use front, hind or all feet
males scratch more frequently than females, and more frequently
following urination than defecation
Comfort Behavior
Grooming:
self
body cleansing
parasite removal
social licking is a submissive behavior
stimulates attachment
Scratching
Bathing and Swimming
Thermo-regulation
Resting and Sleep Behavior
sleeping dogs lie in a characteristic posture with their hind legs
tucked up and their heads turned caudo-laterally. Their eyes
may be open or closed.
dogs show short periods of activity interspersed with periods of
rest when free ranging, tethered or caged
pet dogs appear to sleep at night, but their behavior may be
entrained to that of their owner
Locomotory Behavior
Sexual Behavior
Facts:
 testosterone masculinizes the male fetus females have no sex hormone until
puberty
 males may show mounting as early as 5 weeks, pups may clasp, mount and pelvic
thrust
 most males are sexually mature by 9-12 months
 females are sexually mature at 6-9 months
Precopulatory Behavior:
 ritualized behavior before copulation
 more extensive in cat than dog
Female stimuli for male
olfactory
auditory
visual
tactile
Male stimuli for female
olfactory
auditory
visual
tactile
Male response (involves brain)
pursuit
investigation
may urinate
mounting
pelvic thrust
intromission
turn and tie swelling of gland
Female response (mostly spinal)
proestrus:
plays with male but
avoids mating
estrus
receptive position
urination rare in dogs
mounting occassionally in dogs
vocalization occassionally
aggression
increased activity
if male dismounts, female
investigates genitals
Copulatory Behavior Intromission and Ejaculation
 spinal reflex
 female does not allow mating until receptive (near ovulation)
 if the male does not mount, she will present her hindquaters to him and even back
into him and deviate her tail
 male courtship behavior is extremely variable
 males may show extreme interest or indifference to females
 the male mounts to female immobility
 engorgement of the bulbus glandis and contraction of the vaginal muscles following
intromission result in the copulatory lock or tie (the lock may last 10-30 min)
 the male dismount and turn around so that male and female are facing opposite
directions while ejaculations occurs
 mounting between dogs of the same sex is usually an expression of dominance
Castration
 there is a great variation in effect of castration between individual dogs
 sexual interest is reduced after 6-12 months
 many castrated males mount and copulate normally with bitches in heat
 ejaculatory reflex is lost
Maternal Behavior
Normal behavior as parturition approaches
 increased time licking nipples and genital area
 restlessness increases 12-24 hrs before parturition
 appetite decrease 24-48 hrs before parturition
 nest-building important to supply box, favourite nesting site, dark, secluded and
warm increased aggression to strangers, especially a few hrs before whelping
Parturient Behavior
 average time between births is 1/2 hour
 disturbances can cause delays from 1-6 hrs
 very little movement of bitch untill all born
 usually 2 puppies are born close together then a longer period of rest
Parent-Offspring Behavior
a)
b)
care soliciting
 vocalization, rooting, approach and contact (licking, suckling) are all
care soliciting behaviors which stimulate mothering
postpartum grooming
 bitch licks, tears and eats fetal sac (placenta)
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each bitch bites the cord at different times and leaves different lengths
removes fluid from head and mouth of puppy
cleans her body, box and bedding
intermittently licks her own anogenital area, box and other pups
dead pups treated the same as live ones until they become cold then
ignored and pushed to far corner
 bitch eats membranes because of sanitary reasons
 first 2-3 weeks elimination of puppies is stimulated by licking anus
c)
activities of puppies
 the bitch rarely lifts or pushes pups
 puppies travel few inches, then change direction
 attracted by heat and repelled by cold
 no cooperation of dam to find teat except 1/2 hr after parturition
d)
vocalization of puppies
 vocalize (1-4 min) after birth
 whines decrease when warm or nursing
 dam insensitive to whines during whelping
 silent active pup receives most attention
 if dam sits on one, ignores cries unless feels or sees it
 grunt means comfort and contentment
 puppies eat and sleep only, for the first 2 wks
Play Behavior
 mostly observed in young dogs
 mechanism for learning and muscular development and coordination
 play fighting occurs as early as 5-6 wks of age and leads to a stable social hierarchy
Developmental Behavior
Stages of behavioral development
a)
Prenatal (conception to birth)
 influenced by visceral stimuli, drugs and hormones
 severe stress in the 3rd trimester may result in increased emotional states,
extremes of behavior reduced learning abilities later in life
b)
Neonatal (birth to 2 wks)
 sleep necessary for emotional stability if hungry, cry and sleep if cold cry
continuously or show an uneasy sleep should not cry more than 2 hrs
 mostly sleeping activated sleep decreases over first 4 wks quiet sleep
(shallower sleep) develops at about 3 wks
 nursing time if lacking may induce non-nutritional sucking
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imprinting to mothers breast nest one another
do not start movement until licked and muzzled by mother
separation leads to distress calling, pivoting, rooting (especially if cold)
handling (some stress) is very good for puppies
mothering effect: physical contact, grooming, nursing
lack of mothering effect results in less weight gain, loss of disease resistance
and increased mortality and emotional stability
c)
Transitional Period (2-3 weeks)
 acquire sensory systems vision: @ 14 days
hearing: @ 24 days
sitting: @ 15 days
standing: @ 21 days
walking: @ 24 days
d)
Socialization Period (4-6 weeks)
 sozialization to other dogs (4-6 wks)
 sozialization to man (6-12 wks)
 principal of attachment (6-8 wks plus)
 emotional stress facilitates attachment to owner
 fear period (8-10 wks plus), adverse stimuli may result in: extremes of
behavior, fearfulness, difficulty in training, antisocial behavior as adults
e)
Juvenile Phase (3-8 months)
 secondary socialization, another fear period but with less importance
 gradually developed territoriality
 problem behavior should be recognized and changed
 during the juvenile phase one must reinforce dominance over the puppy,
socialization and sensitivity to fearful stimuli
f) Adult Behavior (8-12 months sexual maturity)
 territoriality is established
 castration or spaying
 leg lifting gradually develops in males
 gradual increase in dominance expression
g) Emotional Maturity (1-1/2 2 years)
 maximum expression of dominance
 Learned Behavior
 Learning is the process by which a behavior is acquired, omitted, or changed as a
result of experience.
 Learning behaviors (other than early experience) are constantly changing.
 Learning shapes and perfects most behaviors.
 Most behaviors have both an inherited and learned component.
 Predominantly inherited behaviors are difficult to change.
 Learning can modulate inherited reflexes and temperament.
 Learning can occur at any age, but the animal is programmed to learn certain
environmental facts at sensitive periods of development.
 Learned reflexes can be trained very intensely.
 Learning can occur very rapidly.
 One event learning is common.
 Dogs have incredible memories.
 Dogs have a great ability of association learning (paired stimuli).
1.
Early Experience Learning (sensitive periods)
 Imprinting or bonding (4-6 weeks of age)
 Stimuli perceived early in life (3 weeks)
 Socialization at sensitive periods
2.
Habituation
 Response to a novel, neutral stimulus weakens due to repetitious exposure to
the stimulus.
 Utilized by systematic desensitization (gradual) or flooding (prolonged).
3.
Classical Conditioning (Pavlovian Conditioning)
 Involves involuntary visceral responses such as salivation, milk let-down,
vomition and emotion (blood pressure, heart rate).
 Repeated presentation of a neutral stimulus (e.g. bell) immediately prior to
the unconditioned stimulus (e.g. food) results in the previously neutral
stimulus alone inducing the visceral response (e.g. salivation). The neutral
stimulus has now become a conditioned stimulus, the response has become
a conditioned response.
 Neutral stimuli can be paired with aversive stimuli (pain or emotional fear)
and elicit a fear response, or with pleasant stimuli (food, touch) and elicit
appetitive behavior.
 One event learning can occur.
 The contingency between conditioned and unconditioned stimuli is essential
for learning (i.e. how good a predictor is the conditioned stimulus for the
unconditioned stimulus).
 If two neutral stimuli are presented simultaneously previous to the
unconditioned stimulus, the animal becomes conditioned to only one of them.
 If a neutral stimulus is presented at the same time as the unconditioned
stimulus, the animal does not become conditioned. The neutral stimulus
does not assume any predictive value, i.e. it is redundant.
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a)
Generalization
Animal responds to stimuli similar to the conditioned one.
b)
Discrimination
Animal learns not to respond to a stimulus which is similar to the
conditioned one.
c)
Taste Aversion Learning
Special case of classical conditioning. If ingestion of a novel food
is paired with sickness several hours later, the animal will avoid that
food thereafter. This is an instance of one event learning.
d)
Counter Conditioning
Procedure to change the meaning of previously conditioned
stimulus (e.g. a previously fear evoking, but harmless stimulus) is
paired with food, and thus becomes a conditioned stimulus for
food.
e)
Extinction
Repeated presentation of a novel stimulus without unconditioned
stimulus (e.g. presentation of a bell alone) results in gradual
weakening and eventually disappearance of the conditioned
response.
f)
External Inhibition
Presentation of a novel stimulus after the conditioned stimulus
inhibits the conditioned response. This is used as an aid in counter
conditioning.
g)
Latent Learning
Learning without evidence of the knowledge at the time of learning,
but the information is stored for future use (e.g. learning the
environment so that rapid escape is possible).
4.
Operant Conditioning (Instrumental Conditioning)
As behavior changes in form and/or frequency depending on the consequences
it produces. If behavior is constantly followed by a pleasant stimulus, it is
reinforced and thus increases in frequency. If behavior is followed by an
unpleasant stimulus or termination of a pleasant stimulus, its frequency is
reduced. The behavior is called operant response, the stimuli is called reinforcer
and punishment, respectively.
a)
Shaping (training by successive approximation)
 Reinforce a naturally occurring behavior which resembles most closely
the desired behavior.
 Change your criterion for reinforcement in direction of the desired
behavior. Shaping takes advantage of the variarility of behavior.
 During the learning process, you have to reinforce every time the
behavior meets your criterion.
b)
Conditioned Reinforcement
 Reinforcer (unconditioned or primary reinforcer, e.g. food, touch) is
consistently preceded by a neutral stimulus (e.g. voice, touch).
 The neutral stimulus assumes reinforcing properties, i.e. it becomes a
conditioned reinforcer.
 The conditioned reinforcer needs now only intermittently be paired with
the primary reinforcer.
 The conditioned reinforcer can also be used to reinforce other
behavior.
c)
Extinction
 When a learned response is not reinforced, the behavior will gradually
be lost. Extinction is an active process (unlike forgetting) in which
responses are made, but not reinforced,
 thus the frequency of the behavior occurring will decrease to the
natural operant level.
d)
Discrimination Training
 Behavior is only reinforced while a stimulus (i.e. discriminatory
stimulus) is presented. e.g. a dog is only rewarded for sitting after the
command "sit" was given.
e)
Counter Conditioning
 With operant conditioning, this refers to changing the meaning of a
discriminatory stimulus.
 The aim is to replace undesirable behavior with desirable in a given
situation (discriminatory stimulus).
 Use the situation, in which undesirable behavior usually occurs (e.g.
approach of mail carrier) as discriminatory stimulus for good behavior.
 The "good behavior" should be incompatible with the undesirable
behavior (e.g. dog going into its cage instead of attacking mailman).
f)
Chaining
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g)
Conditioning the dog to perform a sequence of behaviors.
Condition last behavior in sequence first with primary reinforcement.
Use discrimination training for this last behavior.
Now condition second last behavior in sequence by using
discriminatory stimulus for last behavior as a reinforcer. Give primary
reinforcement only after last behavior is performed.
Types of Reinforcers
 Touch, sound, food, physical activity and play, mouth activity,
attention, pain avoidance, punishment.
10 Rules for Training Dogs
1.
Normal dogs of any age can learn if one uses patience, praise and rewards.
2.
Rapid learning results when a reward is given immediately (1/2 second) after
every desired response (continuous reinforcement).
3.
Once a behavior is learned, it is rewarded intermittently. This behavior then
becomes more resistant to extinction.
4.
Spend 10 minutes 2 or 3 times daily. Ideally, training sessions should be
separated by 4 hours.
5.
Train the dog in a quiet environment and once the responses are learned, move
to increasing complex environments (e.g. house, back yard, street, plaza, etc.) in
this order. If the dog fails to any level, stop and don't reward and start over at
this level.
6.
Use the valued rewards it may be necessary to deprive dog of food, touch, etc.
for some time.
7.
Use voice as a teaching tool, not reprimand but firm. Deep tones are better.
8.
Train to come, sit, stay, down, down stay and leash train in this order. Be
progressively more demanding. If the dog fails at any level, stop and don't
reward and start over at this level.
9.
Make learning fun do not punish.
10.
Once the animal has learned the commands from one person, generalize to all
family members.