Читать книгу Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff - Группа авторов - Страница 21

While genetics provide the blueprint for life, experiences—particularly those early in life—can impact dog behavioral development. Increased early life plasticity allows a growing dog to be affected by and responsive to environmental inputs, which in turn has the ability to affect immediate and future behavior. Understanding early life developmental periods goes hand in hand with identifying environments and experiences that support normal development and those associated with the development of pathological behaviors (behavior problems) and behaviors expressed out of context or excessive in terms of frequency, duration, or intensity (Dietz et al. 2018; Hammerle et al. 2015).

“Critical” or “sensitive” periods are specific weeks or months where behavior patterns emerge and environment, stimuli, and social exposure support development (Scott and Fuller 1965). Additionally, events during the prenatal period—such as in utero exposure to maternal stress—as well as subsequent dam care styles can influence puppy behavioral and cognitive development and later coping (Santos et al. 2020). While developmental periods have a clear progression (dogs will not play bow before opening their eyes), transitions between stages are more gradual than initially thought (Bateson 1979). The following periods are therefore guidelines—without hard‐and‐fast beginning and end points. Rates of development (heterochrony) can also differ among breeds. As well as among individuals.