CDT Canine Behavior & Psychology 3

Question 1

A dog shows intense excitement at the sight of the leash but freezes and refuses to walk once outside. Which concept best explains this pattern?

Accepted Answer

Approach-avoidance conflict

Answer

Approach-avoidance conflict occurs when the same stimulus elicits both desire and fear, causing ambivalent behavior like excitement followed by freezing.

Question 2

According to the Ladder of Aggression model, which behavior typically appears EARLIEST as a warning sign?

Accepted Answer

Yawning and blinking

Answer

Yawning, blinking, and lip licking are among the earliest, most subtle displacement and stress signals on the Ladder of Aggression.

Question 3

Which type of aggression is most likely when a dog bites a child who approaches its food bowl and then immediately retreats and wags its tail?

Accepted Answer

Resource guarding aggression

Answer

Guarding a food bowl and biting when approached is classic resource guarding; tail wagging afterward reflects conflict, not friendliness.

Question 4

The concept of 'learned irrelevance' in dogs refers to:

Accepted Answer

Reduced responsiveness to a stimulus after it has been repeatedly presented without consequence before training begins

Answer

Learned irrelevance occurs when a stimulus is pre-exposed without significance, making it harder to later use that stimulus as an effective cue.

Question 5

A certified dog trainer notices a dog constantly licking its paws, spinning, and chasing its tail despite no medical cause. These are most consistent with:

Accepted Answer

Compulsive/stereotypic behaviors

Answer

Repetitive, seemingly functionless behaviors with no medical cause are classified as canine compulsive or stereotypic behaviors, often stress-related.

(CDT) Certified Dog Trainer Practice Test

(CDT) Certified Dog Trainer Practice Test

CDT Canine Behavior & Psychology 3