Puppy Socialization & Development 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 Puppy Socialization & Development flashcards as text
A breeder uses 'Bio Sensor' or Early Neurological Stimulation (ENS) exercises on neonatal puppies. Which outcome does the research most consistently support?
Answer: Improved cardiovascular efficiency and stress tolerance in adulthood
ENS research, originally from US military dog programs, found that mild early stimulation improved cardiovascular performance and stress hormone regulation.
What is the most accurate description of 'latent learning' as it applies to puppy socialization?
Answer: Information acquired during exploration that is stored and expressed later without direct reinforcement
Latent learning occurs when a puppy explores and encodes environmental information that influences future behavior without explicit reinforcement at the time of exposure.
A 12-week-old puppy from a high-volume commercial breeding facility shows extreme fear of humans. What factor most likely contributed to this outcome?
Answer: Insufficient positive human contact during the 3–7 week sensitive sub-period for human socialization
Research suggests the window for primary human socialization peaks before 7 weeks; commercial facilities that minimize handling during this period produce fear-reactive dogs.
Which of the following environmental enrichment strategies is LEAST appropriate for a 4-week-old puppy?
Answer: Off-leash exposure to a busy dog park with adult dogs
A 4-week-old puppy is too developmentally immature and physically vulnerable for off-leash exposure to a busy dog park; controlled, gentle enrichment is appropriate.
How does a dog's primary socialization period differ from that of wolves, and what is the behavioral implication?
Answer: Dogs have an earlier and more extended socialization window with reduced fear, facilitating human bonding
Domestic dogs have evolved an earlier onset and broader socialization window with reduced neophobia compared to wolves, enabling cross-species bonding with humans.
A trainer recommends 'structured puppy playdates' rather than open dog-park visits for socialization. What is the primary rationale?
Answer: Controlled play with known, vaccinated dogs of appropriate play style prevents traumatic interactions
Structured playdates reduce the risk of overwhelming or traumatic interactions by controlling the intensity, numbers, and temperament of play partners.
At what age does research suggest the canine primary socialization period effectively closes, after which novel stimuli are met with increasing caution?
Answer: 12–14 weeks
Most research places the closure of the primary socialization window at approximately 12–14 weeks, when neophilia shifts to neophobia.