- Eating
- Drinking
- Urination
- Defecation
- Rest & Sleep
- Mobility
- Pain
Functional Behavior
Specifics Assessed
Basic bodily functions reflect wellbeing, and can provide important warnings.
Basic bodily functions give us a wealth of information about a dog. In addition to being the representatives of overall wellbeing, physiological functions can also be our best early warning system that something is going awry. Top quality care depends on a keen eye for even the smallest changes in basic functions.
How a dog learns, works and plays is highly individual
- Learning
- Work & Performance
- Play with People
Cognitive function is highly individual, with no “normal”that can be defined. Instead, FAT uses “typical” for the individual’s cognitive style.
Cognitive scores reflect the complex factors involved in learning, performance and play: arousal; focus & distractibility; persistence; and sensitivity to handler, environment, and other dogs and animals.
The companionship of others is key to the wellbeing of social animals.
- People – Familiar & Unfamiliar
- Absence of Preferred Person(s)
- Dogs – Familiar & Unfamiliar
Sharing our human world, dogs face many expectations about their social interactions with people and with other dogs.
Humane, safe handling requires a detailed understanding of the dog’s social skills and social interactions, as well as his ability to function in the absence of a preferred person.
