" It isn ’ t just about behaviorism ( operant and classical conditioning ). Ethology , the study of such behaviors as feeding , reproduction , territorial defense , and social interactions from a biological perspective , is an important way animal care professionals gather information . Much of the focus in ethology is on instinctual or innate behaviors that are not a result of learning , evaluating proximate and ultimate causes of behavior : the “ how ” and the “ why ” of behavioral responses . If we understand which behaviors are more strongly innate , deviations from normal can signal illness ."
" It isn ’ t just about behaviorism ( operant and classical conditioning ). Ethology , the study of such behaviors as feeding , reproduction , territorial defense , and social interactions from a biological perspective , is an important way animal care professionals gather information . Much of the focus in ethology is on instinctual or innate behaviors that are not a result of learning , evaluating proximate and ultimate causes of behavior : the “ how ” and the “ why ” of behavioral responses . If we understand which behaviors are more strongly innate , deviations from normal can signal illness ."
learned behaviors . Breland and Breland described unwanted behaviors that can crop up during training . For example , after successful conditioning , raccoons that had learned to pick up a coin and put it in a piggy bank would start to rub the coin between their paws for seconds to minutes at a time . This ‘ misbehavior ’ of the raccoons was actually an expression of food manipulation behavior . The Brelands attempted to use hunger as a motivator , thinking that the hungrier the raccoons were , the faster they would seek food reward . In fact , the hungrier they were , the more coin-rubbing behavior was exhibited , further postponing food delivery .
We take species- or breed-typical behaviors and work within their limits , such as having lowered expectations of successfully training a Great Pyrenees to herd sheep . Sometimes behaviors are determined by physiological constraints of the animal , as function follows form in this case . Not only is this related to their physical structure , such it being a bigger request for a Greyhound to ‘ sit ’ compared to a Dachshund , but it is also related to underlying painful conditions , such as it being more difficult for a Dachshund with Intravertebral Disc Disease to ‘ sit ’ compared to a healthy Greyhound .
Changes in innate behaviors can signal an underlying medical condition or pain . An example is a Jack Russell Terrier pouncing onto a rodent ; if there is a change in this behavior , it could signal cognitive decline , osteoarthritis , or sensory loss . Alternatively , of course , it could be related to that dog having learned a different response , perhaps nosing the rodent into the air with the outcome being a successful hunt .
Environmental optimization ( enrichment ) also relates to the ethological basis of a particular species . For instance , an optimization strategy can be offering a dog a food toy so that it can contra-freeload , which is when an animal prefers food that requires effort to obtain versus just being provided with that food . Welfare improves when an animal is able to perform desired behaviors and have control in its environment . Improved welfare is positively correlated to lowered stress levels , resulting in improved immune function and improved health . However , it ’ s important to take species-typical behaviors into consideration … we published a study a couple of years ago showing that cats don ’ t contra-freeload like dogs !
Veterinary professionals also should evaluate an animal ’ s social needs when delivering a treatment plan . While it is standard to recommend confinement after surgery , it also should be standard to discuss with the owner how to safely provide for the necessity of social contact . It is also important to sift through incorrect information , such as the now-debunked theory that dogs are wolves , and that humans need to be ‘ alpha ’.
To conclude , ethology , along with behaviorism , plays in important role in the care of our companion animals , as it provides understanding and awareness that can guide veterinarians and other animal care professionals to identify changes that can signal underlying illness . This holistic approach should be a cornerstone in providing for the needs of the animals under our collective care .
Dr . Melissa Bain is a Veterinary Behavior Specialist and Professor of Clinical Animal Behavior , and is board-certified by both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American College of Animal Welfare . She received a Master ’ s degree in Advanced Clinical Research from the UC Davis School of Medicine in 2007 . She is a past president of both the American College of Veterinary Behaviorists and the American Veterinary Society of Animal Behavior . In 2016 she was selected as the Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year , awarded by the American Veterinary Medical Association , and in 2019 she was selected to receive the Companion Animal Welfare
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