Thigmotaxis describes which dog behavior?

Thigmotaxis describes which dog behavior?

• A. A wall-following or tactile seeking behavior
• B. A fear response causing the dog to approach contact
• C. A visual tracking behavior
• D. A digging behavior

Answer: (A)

Thigmotaxis is the tendency to seek tactile contact with the surroundings. In dogs, this shows up as wall-following or moving along edges, using surfaces to feel secure and orient themselves, especially in new or uncertain environments. That makes wall-following or tactile seeking the best description because the behavior centers on contacting and feeling surfaces rather than relying on sight or digging. It isn’t about visual tracking or digging, and while anxiety can accompany thigmotaxis, the defining feature is the preference for physical contact with the environment.

Thigmotaxis is the tendency to seek tactile contact with the surroundings. In dogs, this shows up as wall-following or moving along edges, using surfaces to feel secure and orient themselves, especially in new or uncertain environments. That makes wall-following or tactile seeking the best description because the behavior centers on contacting and feeling surfaces rather than relying on sight or digging. It isn’t about visual tracking or digging, and while anxiety can accompany thigmotaxis, the defining feature is the preference for physical contact with the environment.