Canine Ethology - Understanding Dog Behaviour

Original Editor - Ansi van der Walt Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Kim Jackson, Tarina van der Stockt and Olajumoke Ogunleye

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Introduction

Ethology refers to the study  of animal behaviour. It is essential that animal physiotherapists have an in-depth understanding of animal behaviour in order to:

• Ensure safety of the therapist, bystanders and the animal
• Better anticipate how an animal may react to fear / anxiety / pain / discomfort

Human-Dog Bond

The human-animal bond is defined by the American veterinary medical association as: “A mutually beneficial and dynamic relationship between people and other animals that is influenced by behaviors that are essential to the health and well-being of both.”

Dogs were the first animal to be domesticated and have had many roles in human society over time including:

• Guarding and herding livestock
• Guarding homes and castles
• Pulling sleds and carts
• Finding criminals
• Searching for victims
• Hunting

Positive Effect of Dogs on Humans

There are various benefits associated with the human-canine bond, such as:

• Lowered heart rates, blood pressure, and anxiety
• Decreased depression and improved self-esteem
• Increased physical activity among dog owners

The use of animal assisted therapy has also been found to be beneficial for children and older adults and psychiatric service dogs are growing in popularity for veterans with PTSD.

Negative Behaviour Issues in Dogs

However, the relationship between dogs and humans is not always positive. Certain negative canine behaviours are common and behavioural problems, particularly aggression, are the main cause for owners to give up their dogs to animal shelters.

Behavioural problems tend to be adaptive behaviours by dogs in response to stressful environmental factors or illness and pain. Not all unwanted behaviours are maladaptive. Some are actually normal canine behaviours, but they are behaviours that are not considered socially acceptable by people. They can be instinctive or learnt and include:

• Aggression
• Destructive behaviour
• Urinating / defecating in the home
• Unwanted barking
• Self-mutilation
• Fear-avoidance and appeasement behaviours

Aggression

Aggressive canine behavior is classified as either directed towards:

• People known to the dog (familiars)
• Strangers
• Towards other dogs

Key types of aggression documented in domestic dogs are:

• Territorial aggression
• Protective aggression
• Irritable aggression
• Maternal aggression (displayed during pregnancy or false pregnancy)
• Predatory aggression (towards other animals - it is rare for dogs to kill / eat humans)

Aggression in dogs has been found to develop over time and is caused by a stimulus-response situation. Dominance-based aggression is the most common form of aggression for dogs to display towards members of their household.

Outward signs of dominant conduct in dogs are:

• Rigid posture
• Prolonged direct eye contact
• Aversion to discipline from, or control by owners
• Aggression

Owners, however, often are unaware of early signs of aggressive behaviour in dogs, so attacks may appear sudden or unprovoked. Dog owners are more likely to be bitten by their dogs than other people. Dominant dogs (regardless of gender, neutered status, pure vs mixed-breed) have been found to cause the worst bites.

The following video shows some typical canine communication signs.

Causes of Unwanted Behaviour in Dogs

Pain or Illness

Certain illnesses can cause unwanted behaviour in dogs. Similarly, if dogs are in pain / experiencing illness, they may be less able to deal with stress. Therefore, any dog with behavioural problems (particularly aggression) should firstly be examined by a veterinarian to rule out illness.

Normal Behavioural Needs Not Met

Although dog behaviour is affected greatly by experience and learning, there is also an innate element to canine behaviour. Understanding normal canine behaviour can help us to understand what domestic dogs might like to do in a day. The daily ‘time budget’ of a wild dog roughly follows the following schedule: DOG TRUST

• 12 hours sleeping (not all in one go – but in bouts over a 24-hour period)
• 3 hours exercising (hunting and scavenging for wild dogs)
• 3 hours eating (including plenty of time chewing)
• 1.5 hours of play
• 1.5 hours of resting
• 1.2 hours of other social contact
• 1.2 hours other behaviours
• 0.6 hours of grooming

Fear and Safety

Unwanted behaviour, especially aggression, may occur in response to a threat to the dog's physical safety, as well as a threat to valuable ‘resources’ (toys, food, attention or a favourite sleeping or resting area).

Common expressions of fear for dogs include:

• Freezing
• Fleeing
• Inappropriate / strange appeasement behaviours
• Fight (aggression)
• Panting
• Hiding
• Escape attempts
• Destructiveness
• Self-injury

Chronic fear or stress may cause problematic behaviour even in response to very minor triggers. In these instances, the owner may not even be aware of what has caused the dog’s behaviour.

Causes of fear and stress in dogs may include:

• Social isolation
• Lack of proper socialisation and habituation
• Use of punishment and negative reinforcement (see below)
• Inadequate resources (space, food, and water, toys, attention and comfortable sleeping areas)