B5 Dog and Cat Behaviour

8/3/2019 B5 Dog and Cat Behaviour

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Dog and cat behaviour

Basic level Pet ScienceBasic level Pet Science

Module B5Module B5


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Aims and objectivesAims and objectives

To provide an understanding of how dogs andcats behave and why. i.e. what makes a cat a catand a dog a dog?

Main areas to be covered:

Domestication and breeds

Communication Training and socialisation

Other aspects of behaviour an owner may see


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DomesticationDomestication

and breedsand breeds


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Wild relativesWild relatives

Dog domesticatedfrom the wolf (Canis

lupus)

Cat domesticated

from African wildcat(Felis sylvestrislybica)


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DomesticationDomestication

Domestication = to tame or bring undercontrol

Tameness/reduced fear of humans

Increase in juvenile characteristics in adult(eg more playful)

Dogs are not just tame wolves; cats are not tame wildcats. There are many similarities but generations ofselection by man has resulted in lots of differences


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ExerciseExercise

On your learning log list as manydifferent uses of dogs as you can think

of (2 minutes)


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Variety of dog breedsVariety of dog breeds

Huge variety in appearance andbehaviour among the various dogbreeds

Many different functions of breeds

Different types of breeds and theirusesThe domestic dog is the most varied singlespecies on the planet


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ExerciseExercise

Look at the breeds on your Learning Logand put them into the correct groupingson the following pages

Remember that this list of groupings isnot exclusive and certain breeds may not

fit well into any of these groupings.Some breeds may fit into more than onegrouping.


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Hunting breeds (hounds)Hunting breeds (hounds)

Bred to hunt and catch prey using either sightor scent

Sighthounds - greyhounds, salukis - very swift.M

ay chase small animals Scent hounds - eg beagles very persistent,

great stamina. Like to follow scents

Greyhounds can run up to 57km/hr


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RetrieversRetrievers

Bred to hunt and flush out gameand/or retrieve shot game

Playful, intelligent, easy to train

Very common as family pets


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Guarding breedsGuarding breeds

Originally bred for guarding, huntinglarge dangerous game or fighting

Make lots of noise when intruder

approaches to scare it away Often less active


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TerrierTerrier--typetype

Originally bred to go down holes to fight, driveout vermin, ratters

Highly reactive/assertive

Very active breeds

Intelligent

Often quite dominant


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Herding breedsHerding breeds

Highly intelligent Need lots of stimulation to prevent them

getting bored

Many have a herding instinct (e.g. bordercollies)

(Also driving breeds, e.g. corgies, heelers - nip atheels of cattle to keep them moving)


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Companion breedsCompanion breeds B

red as companions only Lots of variety but most are very small Big personality

The smallest breed is the chihuahua which canweigh just 1kg!


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CatsCats

Cat - only animal domesticated from asolitary species

Domestic cats do sometimes live in

groups with complex socialrelationships

NOT a typical domestic species

Cats are usually seen as freeagents, not dependant on man forsurvival


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ExerciseExercise

We have learned that dogs are keptfor many purposes. On your learninglog list any purposes to keep a cat. (2minutes)

What breed are the majority of cats?


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CatsCats

Few purposes - Mainly pets andratters

Probably originally tolerated byman due to their rodent killingbehaviour


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Cat breedsCat breeds

Most cats are mixed breed (domesticshorthair)

2 most well known breeds - Persian and Siamese

Other breeds also exist

Much smaller size range than dog breeds (2-10kg)

Less variety of breeds than dogs


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ExerciseExercise

On your leaning log write down whatcharacteristics an owner might see intheir cat. (2 minutes)


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Communication


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Dog and cat senses: SmellDog and cat senses: Smell

A cats sense of smell is approximately 10 timesmore sensitive than a humans

A dogs sense of smell may be up to 1000 times

more sensitive than a humans


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VisionVision Better adapted for low light conditions

than human vision

More sensitive to movement than human

vision Less good at seeing fine detail than humans

It is not true thatdogs can only see in

black and white. Dogsare thought to havesimilar colour vision tohumans who are red-

green colour blind

What ahuman sees

What a dogmay see (redand green are

similar)


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HearingHearing

Cats ears can move to locate source of sound

Much higher frequencies than humans & dogs (3

times as high compared to humans) Pitches of mice and other small rodents

Higher frequencies than humans

Little difference between breeds (no effect ofsize)

Cats

Dogs


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Cat & Dog communicationCat & Dog communication

Can be affected by breeding (eg floppy ears) or

cosmetic changes (eg docked tail)

Vocalisations

SmellBody language

eye contact, tail,posture

Less easy for humans to understand cat communication- possibly because less social species than dogs


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DogsDogs

Very social animals

Effective communication is important

in social species


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Dog body languageDog body language

Dominant behaviour

stiff, tall stance, ears up orforward, tail up, staring

Subordinate behaviour

crouched posture, ears flat,tail low, averting gaze

Discuss with the person next to you what is happeningin this picture


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ExerciseExercise

Look at the following slides and thinkabout what the cats behaviour shows

How are these cats feeling?


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Fearful or aggressiveEars flat

Mouth open showing teeth


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Relaxed

Ears more relaxed

Body more relaxed

Tail away from body

Feet tucked under body


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Fearful/startledTail down

Back arched

Eyes and ears wide and alert

Hackles up


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Really relaxedexposing vulnerable underparts


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Training andsocialisation


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Animals learn the same way as we do

If behaviour has a good result it will be repeated

Need to find animals motivations

But they may come to the wrong conclusions

How animals learnHow animals learn


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Importance of positive training - punishmentoften leads to further problems and is lesseffective

Any attention maybe good attentionto a dog

Reward good behaviour

Ignore bad behaviour

It is essential that good behaviouris frequently rewarded through thedogs life or it will start to forget!


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Early socialisationEarly socialisation

Puppy classes/parties Need to learn appropriate behaviour

Need to experience anything theywill experience in life

Best time for socialisation:Puppies 3-10 weeks old (approx)

Kittens 2-7 weeks old (approx)

If introducedat the right agedogs and cats

can becomefriends!


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Owner influence on behaviourOwner influence on behaviour

Dogs and cats can understand a lot ofhuman gestures and body language

Dogs and cats can read very subtlesignals that we may not even know weare giving


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Other behavioursan owner will see


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ExerciseExercise

On your Learning Log tick the boxes on the table forthe species to which the statements apply

Dog Cat Both

1) Need a quiet safe place to rest and

sleep2) Often prefer to sleep higher up where

they feel safer

3) Encourage play with others using a

distinctive play-bow posture

4) Hunting behaviour is often displayed by

pets as play

5) Not truly nocturnal. They are very

active at dusk but generally most of their

sleep is at night

6) Hunt by stealth then chase

7) Hunt by stealth and ambush. Prey

caught with claws, then teeth used to kill


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ExerciseExercise

Thinking back to what has been discussedwhat can an owner do to enrich the life of

their pet? Fill in your answers for dogs and cats on

your Learning Log


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Enriching the environmentEnriching the environment

What can an owner do... Toys, play, companionship, games, training, exercise

Dogs and cats are intelligent animals and needs thingsto stop them getting bored

Especially important for animals left alone for longperiods


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Behaviour problemsBehaviour problems

May be normal behavioursthat are sociallyunacceptable

May occur as a result ofpoor socialisation, training or

miscommunication


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So what is normal behaviour?So what is normal behaviour?

Think about...

the species

the breed the individual

lifestyle and environment

Owners need to understand the normalbehaviour of their pet to tell it is happy and

healthy


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ExtendingExtendingyour learningyour learning

Waltham intranet - Dog and Cat Behaviour section(www.waltham.mars)

Turner, D. C. & Bateson, P. (2000) The DomesticCat: the biology of its behaviour.

Serpell J.A. (1995) The Domestic Dog: itsevolution, behaviour and interactions with people.

Documents

B5 Dog and Cat Behaviour