CPS CPS Pet Behavior & Handling

Question 1

A dog that repeatedly licks its lips, yawns, and turns its head away during grooming is most likely displaying:

Accepted Answer

Calming signals indicating stress or discomfort

Answer

Lip licking, yawning, and head turning are recognized canine calming signals that indicate the dog is stressed and trying to communicate discomfort.

Question 2

When a dog growls during grooming, the safest immediate response is to:

Accepted Answer

Pause the activity, assess the trigger, and reduce pressure before continuing

Answer

Growling is a warning signal and should be respected — pausing to assess and reduce the trigger prevents escalation to biting.

Question 3

Which restraint technique is most appropriate for a small, anxious dog during nail trimming?

Accepted Answer

Gentle towel wrap to minimize movement and reduce visual stimulation

Answer

A gentle towel wrap (sometimes called a 'burrito wrap') minimizes movement and reduces visual stimuli, helping calm anxious small dogs during nail trims.

Question 4

A cat that is flattening its ears, dilating its pupils, and lashing its tail during grooming is signaling:

Accepted Answer

Increasing agitation and readiness to scratch or bite

Answer

Flattened ears, dilated pupils, and tail lashing are clear feline stress and aggression warning signs indicating the cat may scratch or bite if handling continues.

Question 5

The 'fear free' grooming approach primarily focuses on:

Accepted Answer

Reducing fear, anxiety, and stress through positive associations and low-stress handling

Answer

Fear Free grooming centers on minimizing fear, anxiety, and stress through positive reinforcement, gentle handling, and creating positive associations with the grooming environment.

(CPS) Certified Pet Stylist Practice Test

(CPS) Certified Pet Stylist Practice Test

CPS CPS Pet Behavior & Handling