Aggression Assessment & Management Flashcards
7 cards from real CDT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Aggression Assessment & Management flashcards as text
A dog growls when a stranger reaches over its head to pet it. This behavior is best classified as which type of aggression?
Answer: Fear-based aggression
Growling in response to a stranger reaching over the head is a classic sign of fear-based aggression triggered by a perceived threat.
When conducting an aggression assessment, which tool provides the most standardized framework for evaluating bite severity?
Answer: Ian Dunbar Bite Scale
The Ian Dunbar Bite Scale (Levels 1–6) is the most widely used standardized tool for evaluating and communicating bite severity.
A dog that shows aggression only toward other intact male dogs is most likely exhibiting which form of aggression?
Answer: Inter-male aggression
Inter-male aggression refers to aggression between intact males, often driven by hormonal influences and social competition.
Which management strategy is most appropriate as an immediate safety measure when a dog has bitten a household member?
Answer: Use a muzzle and implement strict confinement protocols
Muzzle use combined with confinement protocols prevents further bites while a behavior modification plan is developed.
Maternal aggression in a dog is MOST likely to diminish as:
Answer: Puppies are weaned and become more independent
Maternal aggression is hormonally driven and typically resolves naturally as puppies are weaned and the mother's hormonal state normalizes.
A trainer notices a dog displaying 'cutoff signals' such as lip licking and yawning during an introduction. This indicates the dog is:
Answer: Experiencing stress and attempting to de-escalate
Lip licking and yawning are appeasement or stress signals (calming signals) used to de-escalate social tension.
Which of the following is the MOST important factor to assess when determining if a dog with a bite history is safe to place in a home with children?
Answer: The Dunbar bite level, context, and predictability of the aggression
Bite level, context (what triggered it), and whether the aggression is predictable are the most critical factors for accurate risk assessment.