This is the first article in a series about animal behavior: Part I | Part II | Part III | Part IV

Let me preface the following by noting that a fundamental in ethology (i.e., animal behavior from a biological perspective) is that we can say nothing about what a behavior means unless we know the context in which it occurs. For every animal in which the human-animal interactions described below contribute to stress-related medical or behavioral problems, there will be other animals that can handle these.

To begin: Imagine yourself interacting with an adorable but apprehensive puppy brought in for a first examination. Ask yourself if what you see and hear communicates your total confidence in yourself and the animal to deal with whatever life dishes out. Or does it communicate something else?

When some people interact with an animal they perceive as fearful for some reason, their entire demeanor changes. Their body language become soft and mushy, i.e., more submissive. The tone of their verbal speech becomes higher pitched and more infantile.

Such human displays have become so common that some people consider not doing so unloving and even mean to the animal. That, in turn, may cause veterinarians and other animal-care professionals to behave in this manner to please their clients even if they personally feel foolish doing so. And naturally, if you combine treats with this, you run the risk of reinforcing the animal's fearful response.

From the time they’re very young, puppies from strong companion dog breeding that received quality maternal care automatically will orient toward those they consider more fit if unsure of the proper response. Initially this meant their moms, but other dogs also may have fulfilled this teaching function. When the puppies move to new homes, one effect of long-term domestication is it enables young animals belonging to domestic species to form similar relationships with people.

Now, let's put a naturally more subordinate puppy — a normal condition for many puppies for multiple behaviorally sound reasons — in the kitchen of her new home where she's exploring while her owner prepares dinner. Suddenly, the wind catches the open door and slams it shut, and the pup instantly whips around a looks at her owner with dilated pupils. Perhaps the startled pup even trembles a little.

At that point, most owners will display one of two responses. One group will feel sorry for the puppy, scoop her up and murmur soft reassurances such as, "Don't worry, Mommy (or Daddy) is here and will take care you." Dog-kisses, treats and even the shedding of a few human tears may accompany this. Those in the second group smile confidently and say something like, "Not a problem, I got it covered" and go back to preparing dinner.

If we analyze these interactions in terms of human body language and physiology, those in the first group inadvertently are communicating the exact opposite of what they intended. They are every bit as upset by this event as the puppy is.

The take-home message for the puppy is that counting on them for protection may be an iffy proposition. Meanwhile, those people in the second group communicate a consistent mind-body and verbal message: "I'm capable of protecting myself and you."

In such a seemingly insignificant way, the stage is set for future human-animal interactions. When people inadvertently or deliberately communicate with puppies in a manner that communicates a more subordinate orientation, some of those puppies will assume a more protective role by default as they mature. What they'll do then depends on their ability to physically and behaviorally handle any stress created by the human-canine role reversal.

When the stimulus load stays within their limits of acceptance, no problems arise. But if it exceeds their thresholds, they may opt for one of the four possible fear responses. Needless to say, the veterinary clinic or hospital setting may supply more than enough novel stimuli to take these animals to their tipping points.

In the next column, I'll discuss what these fear responses are, how they manifest and how they may affect animal-client-practitioner-staff interactions.