Page 140 - Zoo Animal Learning and Training

124 Tasks for the Veterinary Assistant

FIGURE 8.3 Flight and fight response. Source: Wikimedia Commons. Used under CC‐BY‐SA 2.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/
File:This_was_a_timely_capture_(3926001309).jpg.

Blind spot Both eyes

Field of vision Field of vision
Field of vision Field of vision

Blind spot

Binocular FIGURE 8.5 Dog’s field of vision.
vision
FIGURE 8.4 Rabbit’s field of vision. Most of the dogs we deal with are friendly towards
people and are easy enough to approach without too
Dogs, cats, and ferrets are carnivores and so their eyes much concern. However, if you don’t know the dog it is
are more forward on their faces. This gives them slightly best to consider them to be potentially aggressive and
less peripheral vision than the prey animals (Figure 8.5). approach with caution. We can use our body language to
Their blind spot is also bigger. They cannot see much avoid stimulating aggressive dogs and to calm nervous
past their shoulder when looking straight ahead but use dogs when approaching. We will want to use what the
both eyes to see right in front of them, thus not having fear free initiative calls the “considerate approach” such
much of a blind spot to the front. Knowing the field of as kneeling on one knee and offering a treat for all
vision of animals allows a handler to approach safely. friendly, nervous, or scared dogs. Speak kindly, avoid
As the handler approaches an animal it is important to direct eye contact, and reach under their chin to give a
assess their behavior. Animals use body language to com- bit of a gentle scratch as the other hand is offering a
municate with each other and by learning what that body treat. If the contact is accepted in a friendly manner pro-
language is saying we can assess behavior and approach ceed to either picking the animal up or moving it into
the animal safely. Let’s discuss dogs and cats separately. position on the floor.