Читать книгу Animal Behavior for Shelter Veterinarians and Staff - Группа авторов - Страница 22

In less than a month, pups move from complete dependence on the mother (zero to two weeks) to increasing autonomy (two to three weeks). Dogs enter the world without vision, hearing, or coordination, and they rely on tactile and simple olfactory sensations. They are unable to self‐regulate temperature and spend most of their time sleeping, nursing, and in physical proximity to the dam and littermates. Newborns display “kneading” or “swimming” behavior directed at the teat or milk source to attain food, and the dam initiates elimination by tactile stimulation. If isolated they make high‐pitched calls—whines or yelps—that indicate distress and are frequently described as care soliciting (Elliot and Scott 1961). These early vocalizations transform into high‐pitched, high‐frequency “alone barks” that are contextually similar and also elicit attention (Yin and McCowan 2004). At around two to three weeks, eyes and ears open, and characteristic “dog” qualities begin to emerge such as walking and tail wagging, rudimentary elements of play, and a startle response (Case 2005). An interest in solid food may begin, and anogenital licking is no longer required for elimination.

Dam maternal care styles throughout these early periods vary in quantity and quality and contribute to pup development (Dietz et al. 2018). Experiencing brief mild stressors beginning from birth—such as human handling and brief separations from conspecifics—could have long‐term beneficial effects on stress resilience (Gazzano et al. 2008). Brief, gentle exposure to social (human and non‐human animals) and asocial (auditory and visual) stimuli can further support physical and cognitive development.