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Animal Behavior

Learn about animal behavior and restraint techniques to effectively prevent and manage common behavioral problems in animals. Topics include classical and operant conditioning, prevention of aggression and destructive behavior, and house training methods.

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Animal Behavior

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  1. Animal Behavior Veterinary Assisting Textbook Chapter 6: Animal Behavior and Restraint Pages 140-153

  2. Behavior • Any act done by an animal. • Reason may not be obvious to humans • Must be a stimulus: some internal or external change that exceeds a threshold and causes stimulation of the nervous and/or endocrine systems • Ethology: study of animal behavior • Animal behavior is instinctive (genetically programmed) and learned (conditioned response) • Two categories of conditioned responses • Classical conditioning • Operant conditioning

  3. Operant Conditioning Association of a particular activity (operant) with a punishment or reward Used to reinforce a desired behavior or punish an undesirable one

  4. Types of Operant Conditioning • Positive Punishment • Add an undesirable occurrence to decrease behavior • Example- invisible fence collar- adding a shock to prevent dog from running thru the fence • Negative Punishment • Remove a desirable occurrence to decrease behavior • Example- taking away a toy every time they try to shred it • Positive Reinforcement • Rewarding for the desired behavior • Example=-giving the dog a treat for sitting • Negative Reinforcement • Taking away something to reach the desired behavior • Example- hold the collar tightly till the dog sits, then release

  5. Preventing Behavior Problems • Easier to prevent behavior problems than fix them • Vital that veterinary staff be able to instruct owners correctly • Common behavior problems • Aggression • Damage to household • House-soiling • Anthropomorphism: attribution of human characteristics and emotions to pets

  6. House Training Dogs • Take outside frequently • After waking • After eating • After playing • If sniffing and circling • Crate training • Proper size • No longer than 4-6 hours for puppies • Teach desired location for elimination • Reinforce desired behavior immediately • NO physical punishment after “accidents”

  7. House Training Cats • Trained to use litter box • Instinctual • Litter box must be… • Clean • Easily accessible • Litter (type of substrate) should be soft and fine • Privacy • Not in high traffic area • Near loud/startling noises • 1 box per cat plus one extra • NO surprise attacks

  8. Destructive Cat Behavior • Scratching posts can prevent destructive cat behavior • Why cats scratch • Mark territory • Stretch muscles and tendons • Remove worn outer sheaths from claws • Scratching objects • Proper location • Proper height, orientation, texture

  9. Scratching Objects • Height: tall enough for full height stretch • Weight: sturdy enough to hold cat’s weight • Orientation: horizontal or vertical • Texture: depends on cat’s preference • Location: where cat likes to scratch • Attach a toy or spray with pheromone or catnip

  10. Destructive Dog Behaviors • Are self-rewarding • Are shown for a variety of reasons • Underlying cause (more difficult to manage and prevent) • Separation anxiety • Noise phobia • Disease • Normal development process (easier to manage and prevent) • Teething, playing, investigating • Behaviors seen as destructive: • Digging • Chewing • Tearing • Scratching • Getting into trash

  11. Preventing Destructive Dog Behavior Plenty of exercise Appealing toys Provide a digging area Keep in crate when not home or supervised

  12. Appealing Toys Reward when toy is played with Elicit preferred play action Take away unacceptable items and replace with acceptable toy Booby trap unacceptable items or areas

  13. Digging Provide a specific area to dig Loose soil or sand Bury items to encourage digging in area

  14. Aggressive Behavior • Aggression towards people is most commonly reported behavior problem in dogs • Aggression towards other cats is most commonly reported behavior problem in cats • Aggression: behavior that is intended to harm • Agonistic Behavior: behaviors that animals show in situations involving social conflict (submission, avoidance, escaping, offensive and defensive threats, offensive and defensive aggression) • Common types of aggression: • Conflict-related, fear-induced, predatory, pain-induced, inter-male, territorial, maternal, redirected, resource guarding • Dogs must be socialized and taught how to behave correctly

  15. Preventing Aggression • Determine type of aggression • Puppy tests • Very subjective • Best to match breed/personality with activity and lifestyle • Castration • Aids in reducing aggression • Reduces overpopulation • Lessens health problems • Socialization • Dogs: 3-12 weeks • Cats: 2-7 weeks • PLEASANT EXPERIENCES

  16. Providing Problem Prevention Services Information vs. time Provide extra examination time for new puppy/kitten appointments Written materials to enhance verbal information

  17. Providing Problem Resolution Services • Make a behavioral diagnosis for problem • Excessive barking, house-soiling, aggression, etc. • Obtain complete behavioral history • Observe animal in its own environment • Owner’s log of animal’s behavior • Behavior modification plan • Possible referral to behavior specialist • Medications or nutritional/herbal supplements • No simple solution

  18. Referring Cases to Behavior Specialists • Referral resources: • Range from dog trainers to veterinarians certified by American College of Veterinary Behavior • Animal Behavior Society certification • National Association of Dog Obedience • Instructors (NADOI) membership • Association of Pet Dog Trainers (APDT) certification • Obedience training is not behavior modification

  19. Referring Cases to Behavior Specialists • Ask behavior specialist for referral preferences • Have medical and behavior history prepared • Give client information about what to expect from referral • Be professional to client about needing psychological help for the patient • Provide ancillary materials about behavior specialists

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