Animal Behavior & Handling Techniques Flashcards
7 cards from real AAT practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Animal Behavior & Handling Techniques flashcards as text
Which of the following is considered an 'appeasement gesture' in canine communication?
Answer: Licking another dog's or person's face
Face licking is an appeasement and social bonding behavior rooted in puppy-to-parent communication.
What is the most appropriate action if a therapy animal becomes ill during a session?
Answer: Remove the animal from the session immediately and seek veterinary guidance
Animal welfare is paramount; any sign of illness requires immediate removal and professional veterinary assessment.
In AAT, 'desensitization' of a therapy animal refers to:
Answer: Gradually and repeatedly exposing the animal to a stimulus at low intensity until it no longer provokes a stress response
Systematic desensitization uses gradual exposure at sub-threshold levels to reduce fear or reactive responses.
Which factor most directly determines the appropriate session length for a therapy animal?
Answer: The individual animal's behavioral stress indicators and stamina
Session length must be driven by the animal's welfare, using behavioral stress indicators to determine when the animal needs to stop.
A therapy rabbit repeatedly thumps its hind legs during a session. This behavior most likely signals:
Answer: Alarm or perceived danger in the environment
Thumping is a rabbit's instinctive warning signal used to alert others to perceived danger or express strong displeasure.
What does 'trigger stacking' mean in the context of therapy animal behavior?
Answer: The accumulation of multiple stressors that together push an animal over its stress threshold
Trigger stacking occurs when several stressors compound, causing a reaction that no single trigger alone would produce.
Which of the following best practices protects the emotional welfare of therapy animals over a long-term career?
Answer: Monitoring behavioral wellbeing over time, providing adequate rest, and retiring the animal when needed
Long-term welfare requires ongoing behavioral monitoring, regular rest, and humane retirement when the animal shows sustained stress.