BG 202: Canine Biology & Behavior
Prerequisites: None
Course length: 6 lessons
Purpose: To provide the information needed for a critical discussion concerning the relevance of biology on canine behavior.
Course Info: This course covers basic canine biology (with a focus on the nervous system) and behavior (both natural and learned). The student will become knowledgeable about canine biology (anatomy and physiology) and appreciate how this biology affects behavior. Both the general-common and breed-specific canine behaviors will be explored. Students will understand the science behind behavioral studies, as well behind the behavior modification, including current trends. Participants will read, critique research and training methods, perform and report on activities, including write observations, analyses, and reflections. Students will come away with a broad new understanding of the canine species in a scientific, social, and practical perspective.
Course Cost :
For Credit: Live and OnDemand=$236.50.
Audited (no Certificate or Credits applied toward any CEU's or the CP Certificate):
Live and OnDemand=$150.00.
TEXTBOOK:
Dog Behavior, Evolution, and Cognition by Adam Miklosi (Paperback - Feb 15, 2009)
Online Resource PowerPoint and word Documents
What you can expect to learn from this Course:
●The topics covered in biology and its effect on behavior includes the following:
- The Domesticated Canine Life in Society
- Canine Biology: Anatomy and Physiology
- Canine brain and its development
- Central Nervous System including the special senses
- Anatomy, focused on impact on mobility, language, and behavior
- Individual development and species Evolution (and co-evolution with humans)
- Hormonal influences on Canine Biology/Behavior
- Taxonomy (classification) of the canine in the animal kingdom
- General Genetics
- Genetic differences
- General and breed-specific behavior
- Behavior
- Common Behaviors (instinctual, stereotypical, and learned)
- Modifying Behavior: Why and How Learning Occurs
- Learning Theory: Classical and Operant Conditioning
- Focus on Why Positive Reinforcements work and the variables involved.
- Current Trends in Canine Biology and Behavior
Instructor: Sean C. Senechal, M.S., combines a strong intuition and curiosity with a science background. She earned a Bachelor's at UC Berkeley, and a Master's at CSUSF in biology, with both a
physiological and behavioral emphasis. Next, she attended UC Davis graduate school in the Animal Physiology Department, where she earned a NIH Training Grant and the PhD candidacy. Later, she became a credentialed K-12 teacher focusing on mathematics and life sciences. Passionate about teaching, she now focuses on instructing humans in college and animals at her facility.
A life-long learner she continues to expand her own education and included linguistics and American Sign Language. She actively keeps up with the new research on animal behavior, cognition, and neuroplasticity, especially focusing on intelligence and language development.
Previously, she researched exercise physiology, cognition and attention in humans, and learning in non-human primates in a Primate Center Lab (UCD). As Director of Research and Education at her AnimalSign Center, she researches and teaches methods of enhancing the ability of animals to communicate. She works primarily with dogs, horses, and cats, though birds and other animals have been approached. She with her team are involved in the new project of studying and raising signing dogs from birth. Their language and cognitive development will be tracked and reported on in various media.
An author, in 2006, she published her first book--AnimalSign To You. Imagine! Signing Is Not Just for Primates Anymore. In December 2009, her next book 
exclusively for dogs will be available—Dogs Can Sign, Too! This will be followed by a book exclusively for horses—EQUINESIGN To You. Cats are coming are next! She writes regularly for Canis Familiaris (a new Canadian Dog Journal) on her own work on AnimalSign and the Canine Intelligence.
Ms. Senechal has lectured and/or been a guest speaker on animal and human biology/behavior topics at a variety of colleges: UC Davis, CSUMB, Gavilan, and Hartnell, in the biology and Animal Health Technology Departments. Most recently, she offers college courses on Physiology at Gavilan, Animal Learning and Language at Hartnell, and Human Biology and Behavior, and her course Canine Wellness through AnimalSigning at CSUMB.
At her AnimalSign Center, she offers tele- and live seminars, group and private tutoring, as well as workshops on expanding humanimal communication focusing on AnimalSign® Language. Contact her at www.animalsign.org.
