Canine Behavior & Psychology 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 Canine Behavior & Psychology flashcards as text
A dog that has been punished for growling at strangers and now bites without warning is an example of which behavioral concept?
Answer: Suppression of warning signals
Punishing growling removes the dog's warning signal, making biting more likely and more sudden since the dog skips earlier threat displays.
Which developmental period in puppies is characterized by the greatest sensitivity to social bonding with humans?
Answer: Socialization period (3–12 weeks)
The socialization period (3–12 weeks) is the prime window when puppies form lasting social attachments to humans and other species.
A dog circles and sniffs extensively before eliminating. This behavior is best explained as:
Answer: An instinctive pre-elimination ritual tied to ancestral den safety
Pre-elimination circling and sniffing are ancestral instincts related to checking the environment for threats and selecting an appropriate spot.
In the context of canine stress, what is 'calming signal' theory primarily associated with?
Answer: Turid Rugaas's observations of dog-to-dog communication
Turid Rugaas coined the term 'calming signals' to describe subtle dog-to-dog and dog-to-human communication behaviors that reduce tension.
Which of the following best describes 'resource guarding' from a behavioral science perspective?
Answer: A behavior maintained by positive reinforcement when guarding succeeds
Resource guarding is maintained by positive reinforcement — the dog's behavior (guarding) is rewarded when the threat retreats, increasing future guarding.
A dog that learned 'sit' in the kitchen but does not respond in the park is displaying a lack of:
Answer: Generalization
Generalization is the process by which a behavior learned in one context transfers to new environments; lack of it means the cue is context-specific.
What is the primary neurochemical implicated in a dog's 'seeking' or exploratory behavior system, as described by affective neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp?
Answer: Dopamine
Dopamine drives the SEEKING system, motivating exploratory, foraging, and anticipatory behaviors in mammals including dogs.