Pet Partners® Team Evaluator Resources Dog Behavior Packet

Version 1 June 2013

Pet Partners 875 124th Avenue NE, Suite 101 Bellevue, WA 98005-2531

Website: www.petpartners.org Email: [email protected]

Contents

Contents ...... 2 Dog Behavior Suppliment ...... 3 Basic Postures and Things to Keep in Mind While Evaluating Dogs ...... 3 Possible Behaviors for Various Dog Situations ...... 6 Relaxed / Friendly...... 6 Happy / Excited ...... 7 Submissive ...... 7 Worried / Fearful / Stressed ...... 7 Fear ...... 7 Anger / Aggression ...... 8 Dog Behavior Pictoral ...... 9 Resources ...... 12 Team Evaluation Score Sheet ...... 12 Practical Exam Guide - Dogs ...... 12 Practical Exam Guide - Small Dog & Cat ...... 12

(Pet Partners greatfully acknowledges the assistance provided by Carol Ouhl and the Therapy Animal Program Advisory Team in revising these supplimental materials.)

Dog Behavior Suppliment

Basic Postures and Things to Keep in Mind While Evaluating Dogs

Canines are omnivores, pack animals and a predator species. Therefore, the basic tendency of canines is to chase prey animals when they move. Lack of movement can stop their movement. This can carry over to toys and humans. When confronted with stress factors, they are much more likely to act out rather than freeze or hide as a prey species would. They do have the basic fight or flight response to strong stimuli. But even this most basic of stress responses comes in hugely varying degrees individual to the animal. Puppies in the same litter can have a very broad range of responses to the same stimuli. That range within a litter can be all the way from very shy and retiring to bold and confident in different littermates.

Dogs are non-verbal but have a wide range of communication skills with each other (and other species). They use their eyes, facial expression, various body parts, body position, scent, hair positioning (erect, relaxed, etc) and vocalizations. Handlers need to be familiar enough with their pet to recognize these variations in behavior.

Additionally, dog's behavior and communication can be impacted by the "equipment" they are wearing. Many of the collars and leashes on the market today are designed to modify behavior or responses to stimuli.

There are over 300 dog breeds in the world. Most breeds were created for specific purposes and most, if not all, originated by breeding different dogs or breeds with specific characteristics together to create a new breed. As a result of that, some breeds are more sensitive to sound, some to sight, some to smell, some to territory, some to strangers, etc. Within these characteristics, some dogs will be more or less sensitive than others. Some breeds have been further physically altered after birth to provide some perceived heightened working or psychological result not existing with their natural appearance. Some have higher energy levels than others; some have more of a preference for human interaction than others. While all of this comes into play when working with the behavior of dogs, the overriding requirement for therapy dogs is that the basic obedience training and stable temperament/behavior control the actions of the dog.

A sight hound may be beautifully obedience trained, very social with people but cannot contain itself from diving after a rolling IV stand or birds in a facility aviary because of the sight stimulation. Or, a scent hound may do the Out for Walk exercise with its nose along the floor most of the time. While these may be typical responses for a particular breed, they do not satisfy the criteria for being a therapy dog.

Dogs being pack animals live in social groups. Those groups can contain several dogs or they may contain a dog and a human. Dogs can be naturally weary of beings outside their own pack. Within the pack various dogs take a leadership role depending upon the circumstances. Being pack animals means they prefer not to be alone, to have companionship most of the time, and to watch and learn behavior from their leaders. They rely on each other for safety and watch their pack mates for signs of danger. They frequently operate as a collective unit rather than individuals loosely hanging out together.

Because they are pack animals, their survival depends to some degree on their ability to get along with other pack members. They may feel the need to scuffle for resources (food, toys, attention) within their pack depending upon the importance to them of a particular item. They may need to hide an illness or injury as much as they can to be able to keep up with pack movement and their stature and safety within the pack.

As such, dogs are acutely aware of their handler's emotions and attitudes. Dogs like and need structure and leadership. It is not uncommon for a dog to prefer being with someone else if the dog's handler is ill or very nervous. All of these things require the handler to be exceptionally watchful for subtle changes in their dog's behavior. All of these things can also play a part in being able to recognize the existence of, or the level of, stress in a dog. The cues dogs give each other can be very obvious or very subtle.

There is a huge amount of information on the internet on dog behavior, body language, and even videos showing body movement and capturing various vocalizations. All one has to do is do an internet search on these various terms.

Eyes: The look, size and shape of the eye along with position of eye brows can convey the entire range of "emotions" - fear, pleasure, anger, aggression, excitement, playfulness, illness, etc. Wide open eyes can be alertness or watchfulness. Wide open eyes with the whites of the eye showing around the outside of the pupil, called whale eye, depicts stress that can display as fear or aggression. However, a dog with its head facing straight forward can show the whites of the eye on one side if it looks to the side without turning its head. This is not "whale eye" but it may be a precursor to some acting out. Narrow, squinting eyes can be a result of the change in light. But if they occur along with eyebrows tight, pulled together and downward facing in the corners, this can be anger or aggression. Droopy upper eye lids can be exhaustion or illness. Long hair hanging over the eyes impedes both dogs and humans from being able to clearly see or read the eyes. Many dogs raise the "eyebrow" above the eye out of which they are looking. Dog's have vision that can see some colors, can see about 280 degrees from one side to the other on a horizontal plane and approximately 180 degrees from ground to above their head.

Ears: Dogs ears move many different directions regardless of whether they have prick ears that stand up, straight or drop ears that hang down the side of their head or anything in between. The ears can move independently from each other moving in different directions. Ears can rotate to angle the inside sideways, backwards, forward and up and down. They can stand up or raise up higher than the normal position. Relaxed prick ears typically do not stand up perfectly straight or forward but angle out from the head sometimes being on the same plane as the top of the skull. Drop ears appear to dangle without any muscle control. Alert or excited ears rotate forward and up; angry ears rotate back and lay down close to the head. Submissive ears rotate to the side and lay down. Dogs have an acute sense of hearing; many times more acute than a human.

Nose / muzzle / lips / mouth: The nose can be used to find anything from food to toys to other animals. The tip of the nose, called the nose leather, can move sideways independently the way a rabbit wiggles its nose. Dogs have a high volume of scent receptors and are born with the ability to use their nose to find objects and their way. The nostrils can open wider to take in more air which does not necessarily mean stress. The degree of moistness and temperature of the nose leather can be an indicator to physical distress or response to the environment but does not necessarily mean a dog is ill. Dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, many times more acute than a human's nose.

The muzzle can wrinkle up at the smell or taste of something distasteful. It can also wrinkle up to display warnings and anger. The whiskers on the muzzle move. They are carried to the side and slightly back when relaxed. When aroused or preparing for action, the whiskers can be popped forward to stand out rigidly and towards the front of the muzzle.

The lips are generally relaxed and stay down. Lips can be drawn back with a wide open mouth and lips wrinkle in the corner of the lips. Lips can be drawn back tautly to show teeth in either a warning or a friendly greeting. They can be raised on one side due to some agitation or something stuck in the teeth. Lips can also be held closed at the front and open at the back end of the mouth. Dogs forming a "C" with their lips at the back of the mouth and closed in the front are usually preparing to bite. This should not be confused with dogs that can "smile" with the lips open in the back and closed in the front. In this case the corner of lips rarely form a "C" and the rest of the lips and body are more relaxed.

The nose and mouth (tongue) are where the dog expels body heat (sweats). Water will drip from the nose and run off the tongue. The color of the tongue and mouth mucus membrane can be a barometer to heat stress, emotional stress and physical health. Pink is normal; cherry red or purple are signs of serious distress; grey is dangerously ill.

Tail Tails provide a great deal of information to other dogs and other species. Even dogs with docked tails use them to communicate. (A docked tail is one that is surgically cut off when puppies are approximately 3 days old. The surgery heals quickly without stitches. The length of the tail after being docked varies by breed and their required appearance according to the official breed description from its registering kennel club. But generally a docked tail is no more than 4 or 5 inches long and ends abruptly without a taper.) It can be more difficult for humans to read a docked tail from a distance. We don't know if other dogs find it more difficult to read docked tails.

A dog's natural tail carriage varies by breed(s). Regardless of carriage and length, dogs are all capable of raising, lowering, wagging and holding their tails rigid or relaxed. Generally speaking, a tail: down and loose is relaxed; tucked tightly under the body touching the stomach is stress of fear; held up and out behind but level with, or slightly lower than the back is alert and aware; down and wagging is friendly; up at wagging could be excitement or it could be alert and taking charge. Standing up and rigid can be aggression if the rest of the body language matches. Two dogs greeting with tails raised and slightly wagging will generally show one dog's tail wagging slower than the other. The dog with the slower wagging tail is taking charge. Even breeds with tails that naturally tuck between their legs or under their body will do so in varying degrees. Those tails when relaxed can hang loosely without tucking and can be relaxed and easy to move out even when tucked. Dogs with curled tails will frequently let them drop straight down towards the ground when they are stressed. When relaxed the tails curl loosely. When alert or aggressive, the tail that curls over the back can still be held rigid and more erect than lying on the back or can raise up and wag stiffly or slowly.

Voice Dogs have a wide range of pitch and volume in their vocalizations. They bark during play, to alert, declare territory (guard), warn, attract attention from their owners, display defensive fear, and display aggression, display distress or a myriad of other reasons.

Generally the lower the tone, the more aggressive the bark. This is relative to the size of the dog. Large dogs will have a deeper natural tone than a small dog's deepest natural tone. The deeper pitched bark is relative to the dog's natural bark - not another dog's natural bark. Growls can be play, practicing predation, a warning, guarding or aggression. People usually recognize a play growl if a toy is involved. But if a person or another dog is involved, people almost always interpret that as a threat. Vocalizations such as groans, grumbles, warbles in multiple pitches whether in play,

communication with their owner or other dogs is also almost always perceived as a threat. Dogs are usually better able to decipher these vocalizations using other body language for more detail. Higher tones of growling or barking are less frequently aggressive in nature. However, they still are perceived by humans as growls or threats of aggression.

Body - weight primarily on back legs, legs crouching, shoulders dipping down, head ducking down are all signs of submission or fear or both. Weight primarily on front legs and toes, stiff legs, neck extended, head raised, ears forward are all signs of alert, ready to respond or attack or aggression. Hackles (hair) on the back of the neck and over the shoulders stand up when unsure of situations, annoyed, angry, threatened or scared. If excessively threatened or aggressive, hackles may also appear down the middle of the dog's rump

Paws and Legs Dogs will use their paws and legs to reach for things or people, or push people away to avoid them, or get attention by touching, or push dogs away in play like a cat on its back but not as intense. They use their paws in play, in boredom by digging or ripping, in fright and flight by destroying whatever is in their path. While dogs do not express extensive heat through their paws, the paws can sweat a little. Leaving a damp paw print on a floor is a sure sign of some stress in the animal.

Legs are generally relaxed and easily moved, or stiff and rigid in stress or aggression, or shaking in fear or response to a temperature too cold for the dog. Legs can also be stiff if the dog has some distress in its back or hips. Legs can also be stiff when asking a dog to lift a leg or paw (as in hand shake) if a dog does not know how to shift its weight properly to a remaining paw. It is not uncommon for a dog that does not know how to shift its weight to fall over when a paw is picked up for shaking hands as this is not a normal dog behavior.

Legs can be a good sign of stress, being unsure of surroundings or of fear. This occurs when the dog is standing and looking at something usually a distance away. In these situations a foreleg is lifted slightly off the ground, the elbow is bent and the paw from the pastern to the tip of the foot is bent or curled slightly under the leg. Dogs also hold their leg and feet this way in play to avoid the other dog from grabbing it. They can hold it this way to avoid humans clipping their nails. In these last two situations the leg is slightly more angled sideways under the chest as opposed to straight down from the shoulder or angled out from the body slightly. Possible Behaviors for Various Dog Situations

Relaxed / Friendly Ears - Perked up or floppy out to the side Eyes Wide open. Soft Expression. Alert look, Bright, Mouth/teeth Relaxed, possibly slightly open, wide open "smiling" mouth, possibly tongue hanging out, lips and muzzle smooth. Body Weight evenly balanced, standing, sitting or lying. Movement quiet or possible wiggling of whole rear end. Tail Hanging down and loose or lying on back loosely. Could be out straight - not above line of the back. Possibly wagging slowly Vocalization Quiet, Whining, Yapping, or Short, High Pitched Bark

Happy / Excited Ears Perked straight up or dropped ears more stiff and raised on side of head. Eyes Wide open and bright or partially closed. Alert look, Bright, Mouth/teeth Wide open "smiling" mouth – lips pulled back in folds, possibly tongue hanging out, lips and muzzle smooth Body Weight evenly balanced standing, sitting or lying. Movement bouncing, or wiggling, or fidgeting, prancing on feet Tail Could be out straight or raised, stationary or wagging slowly or furiously Vocalization High Pitched - Barks, Yelps

Submissive Ears Flattened against head and held down lower on side of head. Eyes Narrowed to slits or wide open, Mouth/teeth Lips pulled away back from teeth in a "grin". Nuzzling or licking other animal or person on face. Body Lowered to ground, front paw may be raised, elbow bent. Lying on back, belly up. Possible urine leaking/dribbling. Possible emptying of anal scent glands. Wiggling with belly touching the ground, squatting as if to urinate Tail Down, between legs, tucked tightly or tentatively wagging slightly Vocalization None or soft, worried whining, whimpering

Worried / Fearful / Stressed Ears Flattened against head and held down lower on side of head, possibly bent in the middle to point down 90 degrees. Eyes Usually wide open and frequently looking up at top of eye; iris high up under top eye lid, glancing away Mouth/teeth Mouth closed, teeth not visible Body Lowered to ground, compactly pulled together in hunched position. Front paw may be raised, elbow bent. Legs and feet may be pulled in close to body. Weight mostly on back 1/3 of body, Tail Down, between legs, tucked. Tighter the tuck, the more worried the dog. Vocalization None or possible soft growl from closed mouth

Fear Ears Flattened against head Eyes Wider open, direct eye contact, watching intently, may see white of the eye either when looking directly or when head is turned away and looking out of corner of the eye Mouth/teeth Mouth may be closed tightly Body Lowered to ground, front paw raised, elbow bent. Lying on back, belly up. Possible urine leaking/dribbling, or full. Possible emptying of anal scent glands. Wiggling with belly touching the ground, squatting as if to urinate Tail Down, between legs, tucked tightly or tentatively wagging slightly Vocalization None, or strong deep pitched growl; loud, rapid barking

Anger / Aggression Ears Flattened against head or rigid and forward Eyes Narrower, tight hard eyes, direct eye contact, watching intently, Mouth/teeth Mouth usually open slightly, or closed in front and rear lips open in shape of a “C”. Front teeth may be visible or lips retracted and muzzle wrinkled to show all front teeth Body Rigid, weight on front legs, may be leaning forward, rear may be dropped to provide forward propulsion Tail Rigid – may be point up high or may be straight out Vocalization Loud deep pitched growl; loud barking, snarling

Dog Behavior Pictoral

Dropped Ears and Tail in Alert Dropped Ears Forward - Alert Dropped Ears - Relaxed Body Stance

SUBMISSION: EARS & WEIGHT AGGRESSION - NOTE THE “C” BACK & DOWN - CROUCHED OF THE DOG’S MOUTH - EARS ANGER - THREAT FURROWED BODY BACK BUT HIGHER ON SKULL TIGHT EYEBROWS

PLAY - CURVED BODY, RELAXED EARS, MOUTHS PLAY - WIDE MOUTHS, NO CONTACT, RELAXED EARS, LIPS

BIG = COMPACT, BOUNCY, PLAY, BODY BOUNCY PLAY GAIT SMALL = RIGID STRETCHED DEFENSIVE

TOOTHY SMILE GREET OR GUARD?

WRINKLED MUZZLE DIRECT STARE – TIGHT EYES FURROWED TIGHT BROW TIGHT NARROW MOUTHED GROWL

EARS BACK, NECK STRETCHED OUT TIGHT EYES, WRINKLED MUZZLE MUZZLE SMOOTH – WARNING BARK LIPS RETRACTED TO SHOW TEETH

Natural Squinty Eyes Not Stare - Challenging Confused, Curious, Quizzical Aggressive Deceptive Body Position

Adult - Non Threatening Greeting Relaxed, Alert, Natural Moving Carriage of Submissive Puppy Normal Dropped Tail

Resources Team Evaluation Score Sheet Find this sheet in the members-only section of the Pet Partners’ website. https://www.petpartners.org/EvaluatorResources Practical Exam Guide - Dogs Find this sheet in the members-only section of the Pet Partners’ website. https://www.petpartners.org/EvaluatorResources Practical Exam Guide - Small Dog & Cat Find this sheet in the members-only section of the Pet Partners’ website. https://www.petpartners.org/EvaluatorResources