Exam 1 - Aggression in Pets

Question 1

how are dogs on a leash related to dog-dog aggression? how can this be managed?

Answer 1

2x more threats to a dog if they are on a leash because they can’t escape - owner typically tightens the leash when they see another dog which can trigger a reaction from the dog

owner needs to learn to keep slack in the leash

Question 2

how are dogs of the same sex related to dog-dog aggression?

Answer 2

particularly with males - threaten each other 3x more than the opposite sex & bite 5x more

significantly more likely to threaten & bite other dogs if both owners are male

Question 3

T/F: castration helps prevent most types of aggression in dogs

Answer 3

false - it helps minimize the risk in the gene pool but doesn’t prevent it

Question 4

T/F: intact male dogs show 2x more aggression than castrated male dogs

Answer 4

true

Question 5

how does punishment for showing aggression relate to being a predictor of aggression in dogs?

Answer 5

it escalates the amount of fear & increases the likelihood of more aggression where the animal may drop the warning signs in favor of an attack

Question 6

what is the most common type of aggression seen in dogs?

Answer 6

fear-induced aggression

Question 7

what is fear-induced aggression?

Answer 7

fear appears due to an apparent threat associated with attempts to avoid interaction & sneak attacks

Question 8

how is fear-induced aggression managed in dogs?

Answer 8

manage the pet better - avoid fearful situations & confine pet away from visitors

reduce the amount of threat - avoid cornering the dog, direct eye contact, & hugging

Question 9

what are some examples of non-threatening behaviors that can be used for dogs with fear-induced aggression?

Answer 9

squatting posture, soft/higher pitch tone of voice, & let dog do the approaching

remove a fear biter safely from a cage

Question 10

what medications may help in managing a dog with fear-induced aggression?

Answer 10

alprazolam, trazodone, & fluoxetine

Question 11

what are some other names of status-related aggression?

Answer 11

competitive aggression, dominance aggression

Question 12

when do we see the onset of status-related aggression?

Answer 12

5 months to 3 years - age of social maturity

Question 13

what dogs most commonly have status-related aggression?

Answer 13

intact male dogs

Question 14

what are some likely causes for human victims of dogs with status-related aggression?

Answer 14

poor socialization/social skills where the dog never learned that the human was the leader & mismatched personailities

Question 15

what are some triggers for status-related aggression in dogs?

Answer 15

approaching food/special object

physical manipulation - okay with some people but not owner, grooming/petting especially over the head & shoulders, & disturbed when resting (make sure to protect children)

Question 16

what is the most important component of management for dogs with status-related aggression?

Answer 16

prevention!!!!! avoid known triggers - never do an alpha roll

Question 17

why should you keep a dog with status-related aggression off of furniture?

Answer 17

being on furniture puts them at human height

Question 18

what is the collar of choice for aggressive dogs? why?

Answer 18

gentle leader - controls their weapon

use a drag leash - can reach the dog safely & can reinforce any command

Question 19

what is the ‘nothing in life is free’ aspect of managing a dog with status-related aggression?

Answer 19

dog must obey a command for ANY REWARD

Question 20

why are reward based obedience classes good for addressing status-related aggression in dogs?

Answer 20

teaches the owner how to give commands & must have multiple classes over time to reinforce control

GENTLE LEADER HEAD HALTER MUST BE ALLOWED

Question 21

T/F: in dogs with status-related aggression, the owner must understand that these are PERMANENT changes & triggers that are too concerning must be avoided while others can be counter-conditioned against/desensitized to

Answer 21

true

Question 22

what are some likely causes of dogs being victims of status-related aggression from other dogs?

Answer 22

poor social skills where the dog is unable to give/understand other dog’s communications

challenged by #2 animal

trying to reinforce their position

Question 23

T/F: when dogs are seen as the victim of status-related aggression from another dog, the owner needs to side with the highest ranking dog

Answer 23

true - can be bothersome to owners & they need to be able to walk away from potentially threatening situations

Question 24

how are dogs with status-related aggression that attack other dogs managed?

Answer 24

prevent incidents of aggression with good management

avoid dogs that may trigger attacks, poor social skills means avoidance is best, & avoid punishment

Question 25

what is protective aggression in dogs (resource guarding of food)?

Answer 25

aggression is directed at the person or animal approaching the food or food bowl

Question 26

when do we see the onset of food (resource guarding) aggression in dogs?

Answer 26

onset as a puppy or young adult - can be associated with status-related aggression

Question 27

what is material resource guarding in dogs?

Answer 27

dog guards favorite toys or objects such as rawhides/stolen items

Question 28

how is food aggression treated in dogs?

Answer 28

use small amounts at a time - if the animal threatens you, walk away without giving food & make them sit before giving them more give them the meal & leave the area DO NOT TOUCH/PET THE DOG LEAVE IT ALONE

Question 29

how is material resource guarding aggression treated in dogs?

Answer 29

ignore the dog when it has the object unless leaving it may be life threatening where you can use bribery remove the object when dog is not around - may never get access to it again teach the animal to drop - start with low value objects & reward the animal when the object is given up

Question 30

what is purposefully learned aggression?

Answer 30

think police dogs/working dogs - handlers know how to work with the dog, so not generally an issue

Question 31

what is unconsciously trained aggression?

Answer 31

reinforcement of the wrong behavior - such as tightening the leash on a walk & no controls over the behavior

Question 32

how is unconsciously trained aggression treated in dogs?

Answer 32

obedience classes with the use of a head halter with emphasis on the heel command when walking & making sure to keep slack in the leash

Question 33

what is redirected aggression in cats? when do we see it occur?

Answer 33

aggression directed towards a person, animal, or object that triggers a stimulus in situations of high arousal

Question 34

how is redirected aggression in cats treated?

Answer 34

leave the cat alone until it reacts prevent access to cause if known - bath, bothersome person, & roaming cats (confine to certain areas where they are less likely to see roaming animals) follow vet visits with temporary confinement

Question 35

what is feline asocial aggression?

Answer 35

seen when a cat doesn't want social contact with other cats

Question 36

what is feline pariah aggression?

Answer 36

lowest ranking cat's behavior towards the highest ranking cat - extremely submissive & wants to escape

Question 37

what are some examples of medical causes of aggression in dogs & cats?

Answer 37

epileptic aggression, hormone imbalance aggression, hydrocephalic aggression, pain-induced aggression, senile aggression

Question 38

what is predatory behavior seen in dogs & cats?

Answer 38

it is normal behavior directed against unacceptable victims (prey animals or chasing cars)

Question 39

how is predatory behavior treated in dogs & cats?

Answer 39

impossible to eliminate the internal drive - have to do environmental management instead to prevent access, punishment is rarely successful can use toys as acceptable inanimate prey increase their exercise

Question 40

what is intermale aggression?

Answer 40

intact male vs. intact male or neutered male vs. neutered male or if it 'looks, smells, or acts male' - therefore, it hates your guts recent connections made with GI microbiome

Question 41

T/F: intermale aggression is related to dominance & social orders

Answer 41

false - not related

Question 42

what recent connection was made with the gi microbiome & intermale aggression in dogs?

Answer 42

aggressive dogs had more lactobacillus non-aggressive dogs had more fusobacteria

Question 43

how is intermale aggression treated in dogs?

Answer 43

keep the animals separated!!

Question 44

what is territorial aggression?

Answer 44

animal protects a specific space & they are less defensive near the edges, stronger near the center & in small territories

Question 45

what is seen in cats with territorial aggression?

Answer 45

territorial cats often pin others down

Question 46

what aggression is being displayed here?

Answer 46

territorial aggression

Question 47

what dog breeds do we commonly see territorial aggression in?

Answer 47

terriers