AAHA AAHA Guidelines Quick Reference Tables Table 4

Table 4

Key behaviors used in clinical settings to identify fearful dogs and cats

Behavior patterns associated with normal development

Behavior patterns associated with problematic development
Approaches unfamiliar people Will not approach/actively avoids unfamiliar people
Approaches and/or plays with other friendly and/or solicitous animals Doesn’t interact or play with other solicitous animals, avoids them or responds aggressively to their solicitations for play
Not fearful of most noises and recovers quickly from exposure to loud noises Fearful of many noises and does not immediately recover from exposure to loud noises
Takes treats and explores exam room Doesn’t take treats, hides, freezes, or panics in the exam room
Uses litter box/eliminates outside when taken out and does not soil the house if otherwise given reasonable access House/litter box training is either not progressing or regressing
Table adapted from Manual of clinical behavioral medicine for dogs and cats