Defensive Behaviour

Most domesticated animals will normally be no threat or danger to the person that handles them. When handled inappropriately, some animals will tend to behave defensively and pose a threat or danger to their handler.

As it is impossible to expect anyone learner to know everything about all animals and their behaviour, this module will allow learners to select the specie(s) (types of animals) of their choice and concentrate on them, however, some general principles in handling animals need to be upheld. This material will therefore only cover the generic aspects of animal behaviour. 

It is also very important that you understand that animals such as beef cattle that are normally kept on extensive grazing (open grazing) veldt are not as tame as dairy cows. You must therefore be careful when you approach such animals in the field especially when they have young calves.

A big part of this study will be undertaken as observation of animals in their environment. Herdsmen need to respect the animal’s territory and be careful when approaching them. Your presence can be the reason why the animal becomes defensive. Like humans, animals have a personal space within which they will become uncomfortable when approached. Experienced herdsmen know how to keep a critical distance/flight zone during herding and handling (Figures 1, 2 and 3).

Figure 1

This diagram illustrates the general flight zone of an animal. The actual flight zone of an individual animal will vary depending on how "tame" the animal is. An animal's flight zone will vary depending on how calm it is. The flight zone gets bigger when an animal becomes excited. The flight zone is also bigger when you approach "head-on". Calm cattle are easier to move. If cattle become excited, it takes 20 to 30 minutes for them to calm back down.

Figure 2

Handler’s movement pattern to keep cattle moving into the squeeze chute in a curved chute system.

Figure 3

Using the principles of flight zone behaviour, a handler is able to move cattle into a pen in a calm and orderly way. Using the positions shown on this diagram will enable the handler to control the flow of cattle through the gate. Cattle movement can be slowed or speeded up by moving forward or backwards.

Possible Responses to Defensive Behaviour

To study different species’ or animal types’ normal as well as the defensive behaviour you need to study them in their natural environment. Therefore, you must choose species that are easily found in your area. In order to understand what constitutes "defensive behaviour," it is important to have a very clear idea of what constitutes "normal" behaviour and how this varies during the different lifecycles of the animal.

For the purpose of this study "defensive behaviour" is defined as any animal behaviour that may pose a threat or risk to another animal or human being. Animals will thus display defensive behaviour to humans and other animals within and between species. The "Kiewiet" that makes a noise and runs around to distract the intruder from its eggs or young expresses defensive behaviour but does not pose a threat to anything.

Knowledge of animal behaviour is not something that is picked up overnight from books. It is therefore important for you to expose yourself to different situations of dealing with animals as often as possible.

Long-term observation will help with future identification of abnormal behaviour patterns. 

Ways of Responding To Defensive Behaviour

The first would obviously be – Get out of the way!! Get out of the camp, or the pen, or the crush, or the corner, or the room, or the space that you are in with the animal. Get out of the animal’s way! The reason is to avoid injury to yourself, a bystander or the animal. Getting out of the way will then give you a chance to think about the most appropriate next step.

The following assessment of the situation can then be done:

Is there something (other than yourself or a bystander) which is causing the animal to respond defensively? For example, there may be a barking dog or a snake in the animal’s space. Or, maybe there is a thorn between the animal’s hooves or the animal may be injured (internally or externally) and is in extreme pain.

Once you have determined what the problem is, you can then respond as follows:

• Remove that which is causing the defensive behaviour – For example the dog or the snake.
• If the animal is acting defensively because it does not want you to handle it, it may be necessary to subdue the animal.

Situations That Can Trigger Defensive Behaviour

Certain things have to happen to an animal for it to behave defensively. These have to do mainly with handling practices. Some of the things that stimulate defensive behaviour in animals are:

Shouting

Most domestic animals are irritated by shouting especially if they are not used to it. For example, dogs that are used to gentle handling can easily bite you because they are stimulated to defend themselves.

Stress

Animals can experience stress because of unpleasant environmental conditions. Stress can result in animals showing strange physical behaviour such as defensive behaviour because the animal will become very irritable. Causes of stress can be a pain, unfavourable living conditions such as very cramped housing and poor ventilation, and transportation (especially long-distance transportation can cause the animals to be very irritable). However, some animals are more tolerant than others, for example, sheep and cattle are more tolerant to painful stimuli than horses, dogs and cats.

Beating the Animal

Beating the animals painfully can immediately stimulate defensive behaviour, especially if the animal is a less tolerant animal such as a horse or dog.

Manipulation

This refers to stressful activities that include vaccination, castration, separation and transportation that can be very stressful to the animals such that their defensive behaviour is stimulated.

Threatening the Animal

When animals are purposely threatened, either by your body movements or shouting, it can be an immediate stimulus for an animal to defend itself.

Thus, if you avoid doing these things the chance of eliciting a defensive reaction will be reduced.

Click here to view a video that explains the flight zone.