Course Title: Domestic Dog Behavior - 103
Credits: 2 (Approx. 36 work-hours)
Instructor: James O'Heare, CABC
Course Objectives:
Domestic Dog Behavior is a 3 month exploration of domestic dog behavior. This course is designed to cultivate in the student a foundational comprehension of the evolution, domestication, behavioral development, senses and social behaviors of the domestic dog. Students will learn how evolution by natural selection works and explore the prominent hypotheses regarding the speciation event and domestication of the domestic dog. The senses of olfaction, touch, vision, hearing and scent are explored as well as species typical social behaviors. The sensitive periods in dog development are covered and social systems examined.
Students should emerge from this course with able to analyze and discuss the following topic areas:
- Theories of the evolution and domestication of the dog
- Senses of the dog:
- Olfaction
- Touch
- Vision
- Hearing
- Scent
- Species typical social behaviors
- Sensitive periods and behavioral development of the dog
Course Evaluation:
This course will be evaluated by short essay assignments that will reflect and demonstrate competency in analyzing and discussing the course topics. The final grade will be the mean average of the assignment grades.
Course Texts:
- Course Notes
- How Dogs Think: What the World Looks Like to Them and Why They Act the Way they Do by Stanley Coren
- (Recommended but not required): Language of Dogs by Sarah Kalnajs. DVD
Enrollment Package Includes:
- Coursework document with assignments and course notes
- Student Handbook
- Access to Classroom, with transcripts from Guest Visits and handouts
- Free membership with AABP and to all issues of its journal JACAB
- Access to your Instructor for one-on-one guidance
Schedule:
The course begins as soon as your enrollment is complete and you receive your enrollment package. Although we allow 4 months for this course, you are free to complete the course sooner if you can, and we do allow extensions if need be.
Prerequisites: Principles of Learning and Behavior 104
CCPDT Credits: 6.5
Tuition:
$350 Cdn. (Currency Converter). Textbooks not included in tuition. They may be purchased through http://www.dogwise.com, http://www.amazon.com, http://www.abebooks.com or http://www.half.com in most cases. Also check the Student Library. Canadian Residents 5% GST.