Animal Behaviour - Dog Social Behaviour
Research based on dogs’ ancestral species shows that dogs can live in packs, pairs, or solitarily, depending on resources and environment. They have a family-based social system, where young may remain with parents to help raise new offspring instead of breeding themselves. This cooperative breeding benefits the group through kin selection and provides valuable learning experiences that improve survival.
According to research based on the ancestral species, how do dogs live?
Can be pack or solitary or pairs
family based social system
not necessarily ‘cooperative’ hunters but may hunt in groups
young choose to remain with pack to help parents and do not breed themselves - co-op breeding
> counterintuitive genetically
> kin selection means genetics of new siblings still v similar to own so still feasible genetically
> allows life skills to be learnt ^ survival rate
Key Terms
According to research based on the ancestral species, how do dogs live?
Can be pack or solitary or pairs
family based social system
not necessarily ‘cooperative’ hunters but may hunt in groups
young ch...
What was most research on “wolf behaviour” done on?
Zoos - artifical packs
- incompatible and unknown individuals
> separate dominance hierarchies for male and females
> aggre...
Which animals make a better model for ethological behaviour of dogs? What have studies shown in these?
Feral dog packs eg. In India
dogs have freedom to choose pack members
are genetically more similar to each other
packs are free r...
Why is research on feral dog packs limited?
Culling eg. India
What has been found about breeding in feral dog packs?
All adult females breed
- competition between males from several packs for oestrus females
- similar to primitive canids
> NB:...
How do the social relationships of pet dogs work?
Little function of dominance in reproduction/hunting
- hierachy (or apparent hierachy) probably based on activity levels ie. youngest male ad...
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| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
According to research based on the ancestral species, how do dogs live? | Can be pack or solitary or pairs family based social system not necessarily ‘cooperative’ hunters but may hunt in groups young choose to remain with pack to help parents and do not breed themselves - co-op breeding > counterintuitive genetically > kin selection means genetics of new siblings still v similar to own so still feasible genetically > allows life skills to be learnt ^ survival rate |
What was most research on “wolf behaviour” done on? | Zoos - artifical packs - incompatible and unknown individuals > separate dominance hierarchies for male and females > aggression/submission based hierarchy NOT a true representation of social interactions! |
Which animals make a better model for ethological behaviour of dogs? What have studies shown in these? | Feral dog packs eg. In India dogs have freedom to choose pack members are genetically more similar to each other packs are free ranging, unsupervised and BREED packs form around male/female pairs communal territory usually based around food sources little discernible hierarchy except adults>young |
Why is research on feral dog packs limited? | Culling eg. India |
What has been found about breeding in feral dog packs? | All adult females breed - competition between males from several packs for oestrus females - similar to primitive canids > NB: would not happen in wolves, would fight off other males - females leave the pack to rear litter so pups not attacked - rarely cooperative breeding occours - LITTLE relationship between dominance aggression and reproductive success |
How do the social relationships of pet dogs work? | Little function of dominance in reproduction/hunting - hierachy (or apparent hierachy) probably based on activity levels ie. youngest male adult is alpha - NO evidence that dominance is a “goal” > contrary to many training regimes |
How does behaviour differ between artificial wolf packs and natural wolf packs? | artificial - aggression greatest between breeding and subordinate females natural - most behaviour submissive/affiliative > licking muzzle - cue to regurgitate food > becomes ritualised to reinforce family bonds in zoo pack means “don’t hurt me!” |
Why is negative reinforcement in training bad? Eg. of trainer? | Ceasar milan - weakens human/animal bond |
Would electric shock collars ever be advocated? | Only extreme situation where dogs life is at risk eg. sheep chasing |
What does the RHP model explain? | Interactinos between dogs - RHP is based on strength (although dogs do not respect this, especially wrt size) experience and agonistic behaviour (themselves v the other dog, who wants it more? intentions) - very subjective value of resource, but fits observations - compare RHP (would they win the encounter) to V (how much do they want it) > Applies to first encounters as well as established relationships > also applicable to dog/human interactions |
Why is dominance not relevant to many dog encounters? | Relies on previous interactions - is not applicable to first time encounters |
Do dogs differentiate between humans and conspecifics? | YES! - are more cooperative with people |
What is dominance aggression usually actually caused by? | Fear/anxiety - usually become very affiliative after aggressive outburst - not attempting to manipulate people! “Dominance” over people is usually just a learned response that reduces cause of negative emotion, usually situation specific |
How do dogs interact differently with humans and other dogs? | If 2 dogs given two toys will take one each and leave If human and dog given two toys will pick one up and make you play |