Course Description
Exploration of the process of domestication for five different companion animals: the cat, dog, horse, rabbit, and parrot. The student will learn the behavior of the wild ancestors and the current domestic animals and explore various aspects of the human-animal bond and human-animal relationship, as well as the place of animals in various human religions. Introduction to the training techniques and tools used for the training of dogs and horses. Students will use the information they have learned and engage in discussions of the welfare of these five species when under human care, both as general concepts and as specific issues.
Athena Title
Companion Animal Behavior
Pre or Corequisite
(BIOL 1107 or BIOL 1107E or BIOL 2107H) and (BIOL 1108 or BIOL 2108H) and BIOL(WILD) 3700W
Semester Course Offered
Offered spring
Grading System
A - F (Traditional)
Course Objectives
By the end of the course, the student will 1. Be able to describe the process of domestication both in general and for the cat, dog, horse, rabbit, and parrot. 2. Be able to describe the normal behavior of the cat, dog, horse, rabbit, and parrot. 3. Be able to understand and interpret the communications, both visual and auditory, of the cat, dog, horse, rabbit, and parrot. 4. Be able to identify and describe the various training tools used on horses and dogs and discuss their potential benefits and potential harm to the animal. 5. Be able to describe the various types of work that humans use dogs and horses for. 6. Be able to describe and discuss the welfare of cats, dogs, horses, rabbits, and parrots, both as a general concept and specifically, using scientifically sound reasoning. 7. Be able to discuss the importance and relevance of companion animals to humans on an individual basis, a societal basis, and within the context of human religions.
Topical Outline
General concepts How animals learn Cognition Domestication as a process Cat History of domestication and behavior of wild relatives Importance of cats to the expansion of human farming Normal behavior in the feral state Behavior of cats as pets, including reproductive behavior, maternal behavior, developmental behavior, affiliative and agonistic social behavior, and types of bonds formed with owners Behavior of cats as mousers Welfare of cats Dog History of domestication and behavior of wild relatives Normal behavior in the feral state Behavior of dogs as pets, including reproductive behavior, maternal behavior, developmental behavior, affiliative and agonistic social behavior, and types of bonds formed with owners Behavior of dogs as working dogs, including scent work, sheep herding, protection, and hunting Training tools and techniques used on dogs Welfare of dogs Horse History of domestication and behavior of wild relatives The place of the horse in the expansion of humans around the globe and the advantage horses provide over infantry during wars Normal behavior in the feral state Behavior of horses as pets and companions, including reproductive behavior, maternal behavior, developmental behavior, affiliative and agonistic social behavior, and types of bonds formed with owners Behavior of working horses, including flat racing, steeple chasing, barrel racing, cutting, show, conformation show, pack horse, carriage and cart horse, and many others Introduction to equipment used with horses, including saddles, bridles, martingales, bits, spurs, dropped nosebands, full harness (to pull vehicles) Welfare of horses Rabbit History of domestication and behavior of wild relatives Normal behavior in the feral state Behavior of rabbits as pets, including reproductive behavior, maternal behavior, developmental behavior, affiliative and agonistic social behavior, and types of bonds formed with owners Training of pet rabbits Welfare of pet rabbits Psittacine birds History of domestication and behavior of wild relatives Behavior of parrots as pets, including reproductive behavior, maternal behavior, developmental behavior, affiliative and agonistic social behavior, and types of bonds formed with owners Training of pet parrots Welfare of pet parrots