CDT Canine Behavior & Psychology 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: A dog that has been punished for growling at strangers and now bites without warning is an example of which behavioral concept?
- Learned helplessness
- Suppression of warning signals (Correct answer)
- Operant extinction
- Counterconditioning failure
Correct 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.
Question 2: Which developmental period in puppies is characterized by the greatest sensitivity to social bonding with humans?
- Neonatal period (0–2 weeks)
- Transitional period (2–3 weeks)
- Socialization period (3–12 weeks) (Correct answer)
- Juvenile period (12 weeks–sexual maturity)
Correct 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.
Question 3: A dog circles and sniffs extensively before eliminating. This behavior is best explained as:
- A displacement behavior indicating anxiety
- An instinctive pre-elimination ritual tied to ancestral den safety (Correct answer)
- A sign of compulsive disorder
- Attention-seeking behavior directed at the owner
Correct 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.
Question 4: In the context of canine stress, what is 'calming signal' theory primarily associated with?
- Ivan Pavlov's classical conditioning research
- Turid Rugaas's observations of dog-to-dog communication (Correct answer)
- B.F. Skinner's operant conditioning principles
- John Watson's Little Albert experiments
Correct 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.
Question 5: Which of the following best describes 'resource guarding' from a behavioral science perspective?
- A dominance-based aggression syndrome
- An adaptive behavior maintained by negative reinforcement
- A behavior maintained by positive reinforcement when guarding succeeds (Correct answer)
- An anxiety disorder requiring medication only
Correct 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.
Question 6: A dog that learned 'sit' in the kitchen but does not respond in the park is displaying a lack of:
- Stimulus control
- Generalization (Correct answer)
- Extinction
- Shaping
Correct 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.
Question 7: What is the primary neurochemical implicated in a dog's 'seeking' or exploratory behavior system, as described by affective neuroscientist Jaak Panksepp?
- Serotonin
- Cortisol
- Oxytocin
- Dopamine (Correct answer)
Correct answer: Dopamine
Dopamine drives the SEEKING system, motivating exploratory, foraging, and anticipatory behaviors in mammals including dogs.
CDT Canine Behavior & Psychology 2
A dog that has been punished for growling at strangers and now bites without warning is an example of which behavioral concept?