Phase 2 Catch Canine

Are dominance and aggression the same thing? Explain the reason for your answer.

No, Dominance is a trait all dogs have all the time, some care about certain items more then others and will present dominance over them while others submit in differentt situations, this may lead to harmful squabbles and corrective actions that are necessary communication to establish boundaries. Aggression is when a dog is pushed passed their threshold out of fear or discomfort and lashes out to try to create harm.

Is an aroused dog always in an aggressive state? Why or why not?

No, a dog can be aroused for many things, including both distressing and fun situations. An aroused dog simply means an excited state, not just sex.

Is a wagging tail always a sign of a happy dog? Explain your answer.

No, in order to look at it properly you need to look at the whole dog. If the dog is crawling toward you, whining or peeing, the wagging tail is a "wet flag" trying to calm you down

Does all tail-wagging mean a dog is happy and friendly? What type of tail-wagging clearly signifies friendly intentions?

No, tail movement does not mean happy and friendly. look at overall context of the dogs body and the situation A high fast wagging tail with relaxed body tension and a lulling tongue would be friendly

Can the tail all by itself tell you everything a dog is feeling?

No, you have to look at the whole dog and the overall situation

List 3 ways you can hone your observational skills with dog behavior.

Observe your dogs behavior at home observe the behavior of other dogs decide on one signal you are able to identify, focus on studying that 1 signal everytime you see a dog

What is the difference between observing behavior and making judgments (interpretations) about a dog's intention or feelings? Give an example of one situation, listing only the observations first, and then the judgment about intention or feelings separately.

Observing and listening to behaviors, without interpreting what your dog is "saying" or feeling. Ex. A dog is "starting a fight" is an interpretation, vs, a dog is growling with leaning forward posture, direct stare, raised tail, and slow stiff steps towards another dog.

What ear position might indicate uncertainty or a state of conflict?

Out-to-the-side or Airplane ears (Looks like airplane wings)

What is a good way to greet a dog if you want to find out whether she's interested in being petted or not? How would you know one way or the other?

People stop their approach long before the dogs become uncomfortable. They should allow the dog to greet them, and try to stop any signs of being rude

Bows can have several meanings, but what is the most common type of bow we see in friendly off-leash dog interactions? What is another reason that dogs go into the bow position?

Play Bow and bark, with parry/loose movements Dogs can also play bow when in fear or submit, just like humans, dogs can feel multiple emotions at the same time. Play bow is also referred to as a ready position, because dogs can easily go in any direction from that postion

List 3 metasignals you have commonly noticed when you watch dogs play.

Play Bow, Loose fluid and inefficient movements, soft and harmless biting

Choose all signs that play should be interrupted.

Poor bite inhibition No metasignals One dog being pinned Competition over resource

Choose 3 major differences between socially acceptable primate greetings and socially acceptable dog greetings.

Primates make direct eye contact, for dogs that is considered rude Primates approach directly, dogs take a curved approach Primates utilize touch more than dogs

What are at least three alternatives to using forceful corrections in training and behavior modification?

Reinforcing the desirable behavior, avoiding the reinforcement of undesirable ones. Assess Underlying emotional state and motivations, including medical and genetic factors, that are driving undesirable behavior Create an environment set up for success, where good choices are safe and easy for the animal to make, minimizing stress

Give 3 clear differences you might see between ritualized aggression vs. fights with intention to do harm.

Ritualized aggression includes metasignals such as feint and parry, and side to side head movements like jaw sparring loud vocalizingg Serious Fights Dogs are very balanced poised on all fours, facing eachother forntally trying to do harm include serious bites and puncture wounds much quieter usually

What did Saga "say" to the two dogs off leash in story four? How did they react?

Saga turned her back to them to encourage a calmer apporach, and indicate she did not like what they were doing

Use no more than 3 sentences to give a quick description of a method to test if both dogs are enjoying a questionable play interaction.

Seperate the dogs from the interaction. If the dog that appeared uncomfortable rushs to play some more you know they are fine.

What could a tail raised straight up suggest?

Signifies high confidence and/or high arousal

What kind of effect can sitting or lying down have as a social signal?

Sitting down can be used when another dog is making him feel uncertain, or you yell at him to come, If your dog is stressed sitting down can help it relax Lying down is an even stronger signal, Lying down with belly up is a sign of submission, belly down is calming

If you see height seeking behavior continually escalating between 2 dogs, what might you want to do?

Split the two dogs and calm them

When dogs greet, they display body language that signifies their social status. Choose 4 signs you might see in the body language of a dog who is signaling higher status than the other dog.

Standing tall/height seeking Body forward Ears forward Paw lift

List all emotional states that can evoke arousal.

Stress, Caution/fear, excitment, joy, anger

Imagine a dog being threatened by another dog. The one being threatened is lying on his back with his head slightly turned to the side, his lips pulled up to show his front teeth, and urine streaming from his penis. Is this dog likely snarling or displaying a submissive grin? Why? Is this dog having a housetraining accident or performing submissive urination? Why?

This dog is likely displaying a submissive grin, as all other body language is submitting/showing appeasement, to try to calm down the threatening dog. This includes showing front teeth not canines, turning head to the side. The dog is also performing submissive urination, the dog is trying to state he means no harm and is peaceful

How could a butt sniff be considered "rude?"

A butt sniff could be considered rude for a variety of reasons including the other dog just does not tolerate investigative butt sniffing, if its to invasive, or goes on for to long

Could a chin over lead to an aggressive interaction? Why or why not?

A chin over can be to assert status or control over another dog, this can be intended to initiate play but if the recipient dog is not tolerant, this could lead to aggression

Why might a dog do a displacement signal where he suddenly interrupts play to scratch his ear or sniff the ground?

A displacement behavior is a way to calm the interaction that was taking place

Why might a dog begin to ignore both verbal language and body language communications from its owner? A)Along the same theme, why might a dog bond very quickly with a skilled dog trainer and want to continue interacting with that trainer thereafter?

A dog can get confused when an owner is super inconsistent with body and verbal cues, or multiple people in the same household use different cues, which leads to frustrations in dogs. They may get along with a trainer as they feel like its someone who can finally understand them.

Describe a Snarl? A) What does it signify

A snarl is if the upper lips by the nose are pulled back to reveal the teeth. This is known as a snarl. It signifys a threats. the wider the mouth the more threatning

How do domestic dogs establish hierarchies with other dogs? What factors might create a disturbance within the hierarchies?

Dogs communicate through body language, harmless growls or snaps can communicate preference/dominance and the other one can submit. Once they understand what the usual tendency is the social hierarchy is established for that situation. All situations are fluid, and who is being dominant in each can change. Interuptions can happen when a new dog or situation is introduced were a social hierarchy is not established already, or if there is equal want for a particular item (raw bone)

When a dog engages in "showing" behavior, to communicate the hidden location of a toy for example, what behaviors are you likely to see?

Dogs use their eye gaze and facial expression to point things out, this is called "showing"

What behavior during play (or sometimes ritualized aggression) looks similar to humans who are playing at fencing?

Dogs will have feint and parry moves (little lunges forward and backward)

Why is bite inhibition so important for a dog to be able to continually play with others, and to fit into all social situations in general - with both humans and dogs?

Dogs with poor bite inhibition are a danger to other dogs, even during ritualized aggression, as they can inflict deep bite wounds or flesh tears on an opponent.

Using the two position statements available in your Student Center, write a definition of dominance in your own words.

Dominance is the establishment of an understanding between animals of certain resources/mates by force and submission decided by desire for the resource in each dog.

What 3 states do raise hackles most commonly convey?

Excitment, fear, suprise

List 3 behaviors that say, "move away."

Grwoling/Snarling, ears flat back eyes and heads turned away, hard stare, tail tucked, head turning away, walking away, biting or snapping

How do you know if a dog's eyes are hard or soft? What does each of these different eye states signify?

Hard- Can be a frozen, lifeless stare, always accompanied by tension in the body, either frozen or moving away slowly. Soft- Relaxed, partially closed or even squinty, not wide, with relaxed facial features

What are 3 parts of your body (or a dog's body) that can be turned away or averted to the side in order to produce a "calming signal?"

Head, side/back (body), Eyes

How is hugging interpreted differently by dogs than by humans? Why is this?

Humans express affection through hugging dogs can view a hug as a rude, domineering threat display Paw overs can be done but they arent polite, and can be used to display social hierarchy

When is fear most likely to lead to a dog performing a threat display, or even attacking?

If flight is not an option due to leash or other barrier, and submission or defense threats are ignored, a fearful dog will likely attack to defend itself

What does it signify if lips go from longer to shorter?

If lips go from long to short this often signifies tension and a threat.

Humans and dogs typically perform three possible behaviors if their social distance comfort zone is violated. What are these 3 behaviors?

If they are comfortable, they respond with friendly signals, if they are uncomfortable they will respond with submission, threat, or flight behavior.

If a 12-week-old puppy is the recipient of a similar age pup placing a paw over her back, how might she react to the dog that is placing his paw there? Explain your answer. (Think back to Phase 1 information about differences in the social behavior of pups and adults.)

Little pups are like little kids, do not understand nuance of communication. Everything is practically play. As they get older they might assume this is more a serious thing, but as a pup its all viewed as play.

Why did McConnell want strangers to toss treats to Mitsy, rather than hand them to her?

McConnel wanted strangers to toss treats to misty, so she could see strange men as face and treat bearing. The toss allowed for the dog to feel more safe, and not reinforce that yes indeed strange men are scary.

When was the last time you saw a dog experiencing stress? Which of the signs of stress shown in the photographs did you see in that dog? Would you say that dog was mildly stressed, moderately stressed, or extremely stressed?

When my girlfriend and I argue my dog experiences high level of stress, he freezes, closed mouth,, looks away or turns away, and walks away slowly I would say hes is near the top, he is not being pushed to the point of aggression more appeasement, but fear is higher when there is yelling

List 4 behaviors that may be performed as appeasement during greetings.

Wiggly groveling with ears back muzzle nudging and body twisting tongue flick lowering head/body averting eyes

Why are metasignals so important during play?

Without metasignals it could be hard for dogs to play because many of their actions would lead to conflict, this signals allow dogs to tell eachother, this is not serious, we are just habing fun.

Do different breeds have different play styles? If yes, what determines the elements of different breeds' play styles?

Yes, Some breeds prefer a lot of contact with wrestling and body slamming, while others prefere a lot of chase with little physical contact. Plays style will often relate to what the breed was originally bred for.

Is demeanor shifting (role reversal) a sign of good play? Why or why not? Why might a dog do this?

Yes, demeanor shift is a sign of good play, as no dog os being over controlling over the other dog. They do this to keep eachother comfortable

When interacting with other dogs, can a dog act submissively in one situation and be status seeking in another? Give an example that you might observe in a multi-dog household.

Yes, dogs relationships are fluid, one dog might care more about a bone, another more about a toy, where the other cares less. So the one who cares more can act dominantly, and the other one who dont will likely submit .

At any given moment, can more than one feeling state be present in a dog? How would you know if this is the case?

Yes, just like humans, dogs can have more then one feeling or intent. It is shown by a dog showing conflicting signals. Such as him jumping for joy but ears back and tail tucked.

If a huge retriever moves her body slowly and carefully while playing with a Mini-Poodle, would you call this self-handicapping? Explain why or why not.?

Yes, the dog is moving slowly and carefully to "level the playing field, by seeming gentler

Where is a dog's weight centered if it is in a state of caution?

back

Which cues are dogs more readily able to understand from humans - body language cues or vocal cues?

dogs are more readily able to understand visual body/language Cues as it what occurs naturally, vocal cues although work, are not as affective, especially with certain breeds.

How does a dog's body react to stressful situations? What is the effect on their defensive behavior?

dogs use calming signals to try to ease the stress. they will be more likely to get stomach problems, allergies, and heart trouble Their defensive behavior will be faster and more violent

List 3 of the most common signs of low-level stress that you have noticed in the dogs you see often in your home or neighborhood.

ears back, yawning, sneezing

Why might dogs engage in mounting and humping? Choose 3 possible reasons.

Assert status Play Sexual encounter

According to research conducted at the University of Pennsylvania, what was a common effect for aggressive dogs who were trained using harsh methods?

"violence begets Violence, agression begets aggression". The most aggressive dogs experienced the harshest training styles.

What are 2 states that "ears up" or forward can convey?

Alertness - usually investigating whatvever the dogs head is oriented too Confidence

What does McConnell say that all dogs are brilliant at? Therefore, what do dogs assume about human movements?

All dogs are brilliant at perceiving the slightest movement we make, therefore dogs will assume all human movements have meaning

Choose all signs of good play.

All dogs willing to participate Good bite inhibition Metasignals Self-handicapping

What part of the tail should you look at to judge the height of the tail?

Always focus on the base of the tail- the thickest part where the tail meets the rump, not the tip. Looking at the base of the tail to the topline (the line made by the silhouette of the dogs back. will give you a good indicator of the message the dog is sending

What are 2 different states that "ears back" could convey?

Appeasing or submissive - letting others know im harmless lets be peaceful Far back but not flattened is caustioneess

What are 2 signals that a face off is about to turn into an aggressive encounter?

Body language is stiff and threatening

What are 2 signals that a face off is about to turn into a non-aggressive encounter?

Body language looks relaxed and is peaceful

What is the most commonly seen behavior during greetings? What 3 body parts are most commonly associated with this behavior?

Disinterest, play, or conflict. The most common seen behavior during greetings is sniffing each others muzzles, butts, and genital areas

If a confident, assertive-type adult dog is the recipient of another adult dog placing a paw over his back, how might he react to the dog that is placing his paw there?

Confident assertive dogs when interacting with eachother can often lead to aggression. Often times you need boundarys to be set and neither dog will set them they will push the issue.

How could curved body lines help greetings to stay calm and non-aggressive?

Curved body lines are an appeasement signal which shows the other dog that it means no harm and is friendly. Its a sign inviting the other dog to come closer.

What would be a normal, natural reaction for a dog that is forced into submission by a human who pins her to the ground and yells at her?

Defensive aggression

Choose 3 reasons why play skill deficits put a dog at risk for getting into fights?

Ignore signals from other dogs Cannot communicate metasignals properly play to rough

What are the four possible outcomes when two dogs greet each other? Choose one of the four and describe an example of the behavior you might see.

Ignore, mirror, play, conflict Ignore-dogs with low sociability and low willingess to engage will often seem to ignore the other dog, avoiding interaction, turning away or sniffing the ground

How is standing tall different from height seeking? How are they similar?

In standing tall, the dog has all four paws on the ground. They are trying to maximize height by straightening his legs, standing on toes, and holding head high and stiff. Standing tall can often be seen as a threat Height seeking behavior, that does not have four paws on the ground, he. may be jumping up with just his back legs to try to "stand" higher then his counterpart. This can be offensive threat or playful.

Could a physical, forcible discipline attitude work well with some dogs, but not others? Choose the best answer. A)If an initial painful or scary "correction" works to stop certain behaviors, what is a possible association the dog may make and how might that impact their relationships with people?

It could work with "tougher" dogs, but is still not recommended or needed A) some dogs might become sensitive and shut down, some slink away to a corner, a lot suppress many behaviors in the same situation in the future, some respond defensively, and you can even lose complete trust in the owner.

Do raised hackles (piloerector reflex) always signify an aggressive dog?

It is a biological response to an emotional state of arousal (excitement), fear, or surprise. This is a better tell for overall arousal then aggression, but raised hackles can lead to aggressive behavior which is why its associated

Why is it valuable to be able to observe and understand dog body language?

Its important to know these signals yourself and understanding them wel;, you can identify dog signals when they happen, communicate better, and help them relax

Why is appeasement behavior valuable to dogs? Why do you think greeting is a good time to use appeasement behavior?

Keeps dogs out of conflict It shows the new dog there is peaceful intentions.

Based on what you learned in phase 1, what is the main reason a dog would have play skill deficits?

Lack of socialization as a puppy

Choose 4 things that are different about the behavior of dogs when they are in a state of heightened arousal. Is this a good time to teach new training cues or expect strong trained responses? Why or why not?

Less responsive to cues Can't calm down Incapable of new concepts Less control over themselves No, during high states of stress, similar to high states of arousal, a dog has less control over themself and is not in a good state of learning

Think of a dog (or dogs) that you know well. What are 3 things that create stress for the dog you are thinking of? For each dog you listed, how do you know these things are creating stress for that dog?

My dog shadow is stressed by shoes, nighttime, and when my girlfriend and I argue

If two dogs are biting each other a lot during their play interaction - how would you know that they both have good bite inhibition? Choose 2 ways you would know. (This is not direct from your studies, think of your own answers based on all you have learned so far.)

No dog is displaying cut off signals, or stiff body language, to state they are uncomfortable. No wounds or damage is being displayed

Do all dogs like to have body slams in their play interactions? Why or why not?

No not all dogs like body slams in play interactions, even if playful. Just like if a human pokes you or pushes you, even if friendly, could feel rude. Its about how its received.

List 3 calming signals that Rugaas says you, as a human, cannot use effectively? List 3 signals that she believes you can use effectively?

TLDR; Cantt licking nose, sniffing, "wagging your tail Can: Bow, sit down/lie down, headturn/bodyturn, yawning Humans can use head turning, if you approached them impolitely, turn your head to one side. Humans can also soften eyes, by lowering your lids and not staring in a threatening way, you can also stand up above the height of the dog and the angle will make your eyes smaller Humans can also turn away, you can use this signal when dogs show nervousness or aggression toward you, If he jumps at you to turn away and more often then he will stop. Dogs and humans movement that becomes slower sometimes so slow that there is hardly any movement at all, a very calming effect Dogs can lick their nose, or a quick tongue movement your dog may freeze: stopping, sitting, or lying still without moving a muscle. Dogs and humans movement that becomes slower sometimes so slow that there is hardly any movement at all, a very calming effect Bowing can be an invitation for play, if he stands still in a bow it can be a calming signal.Usually when they are meeting something new they are not to sure about.

Choose 5 behaviors you will see in a fearful dog.

Tail tucked Zoomies (dog starts "fooling around"), only if they are uncomfortable f Ears flat back Tongue flicks Attempting to flee Freeze

Why is knowing bite history important?

The best predictor of future behavior is past behavior

Describe 2 degrees to which the ears can be back, and what each represents.

The ears can be far back but not flat- meaning submissive or cautious it can also be back and flat- indicating fearful or offensive

What is likely to happen if cut-off signals are ignored?

The signaler is likey to threaten or defend themself

What does Rugaas believe are the many functions of calming signals?

The signals are used at an early stage to prevent things from happening, avoid threats from people and dogs, calming down nervousness, fear, noise, and unpleasant things. They are used for calming themselves when they feel stressed or uneasy. They are used to make others involved feel safer and understand the goodwill the signals indicate

Is this fight or play? Give 5 reasons to support your answer.

This is ritualized aggression, this is moreso play then fighting, you can see ears are low on both dogs, the brown dog continuously bows. They are both open mouth jawwing at eachother not clenching. They are also take side approaches not direct line and are having vocalizations There is time when the white dog gets tense but it did not escalate.

Why is a system of social ranking beneficial to dogs (and many other species)?

To prevent escalation of conflict and fighting (particularly when resources are scarce)

What are the key points of Rugaas' main argument against using violent or threatening punishment with a dog?

Violent or threatening punishment creates stress within the dog, heightened stress in time makes dogs ill, become reactive more quickly showing aggression to dogs and more people, and because he has a higher defense mechanism he may end up biting someone.

List 3 pieces of information you may be able to gain by looking at a dog's orientation.

What the dog is focused on (oriented towards)? What is the priority motivator for the dog right now? What is the dog going to do next? An animals orientation (direction they are facing) and orientation response (turns to face something that has caught attention sight sound or smell. To tell general orientation where their nose is pointed, but sometimes. little differences in eyes, ears, and nose can allow you to pickup extra information

Choose two situations during play which are risky and should be closely supervised.

When arousal levels are to high, dogs who are overexcited can easily get out of control and end up hurting eachother. Any off leash play needs to be closely supervised, especially if one dog is larger then the other.

Choose behaviors you will see in a cautious dog.

leaning away from something or someone, or while approaching doing so slowly. They may also perform displacement behaivors Weight centered back Averted eyes Displacement behaviors Moving slowly Airplane ears Lowered head

Do dogs intend to hurt each other during ritualized aggression?

no, ritualized aggression is a way for dogs to carry out an argument or a status competition without seriously risking injuring eachother

List 3 behaviors that say, "come closer."

relaxed open mouth, play bow with bark, loose,a rced lunhe forward then backward, walk towards with indirect eye contact or curved approach, slow medium wagging tail at a medium height or wide/circular motion

List 3 of the most common signs of medium level stress that you have noticed in the dogs you see often in your home or neighborhood.

repeated tongue flicks, lowered tail, whining

Rugaas believes that whenever you are together with, or meeting, a dog - your body language is either: ______________ or _______________ to the dog.

threatening or friendly

List 3 of the most common signs of high-level stress that you have noticed in the dogs you see often in your home or neighborhood.

tucked tale, stiff muscles, trembling

Can the state of arousal be distressing to a dog? If you think yes, give 2 examples of situations where this would be the case.

yes, dogs can experience Eustress which is a state of excitement such as when a dog runs an agility course, and a distress which is more similar to stressed when excitement, tension, or fear become overwhelming or upsetting. A big difference between distress and arousal is distress the dog feels emotional pain similar to humans. Example 1) a dog visits the groomer and doesnt want to be touched for up to an hour after 2) When another dog comes running at him.