Behavioral Assessment in Dogs

Question 1

Why is it challenging to assess behavior of dogs in a shelter?

Answer 1

• behavior is environmentally dependent
• stress and fear alter behavior
• short-observations are limiting - may need time to acquire trust
• need to test lots of dogs to get validity of test as well as place all dogs tested (even if you think they shouldn’t be placed)

Question 2

What is the purpose of behavioral assessments in shelters?

Answer 2

• assess saftey (shelter, home)
• adoptability of dog
• predict at home behavior

Question 3

Shelter Assessments

What does SAFER test?

Answer 3

It is used to help identify the risk of future aggression and individual support needed before adoption.

Question 4

Shelter Assessments

What does Match UP II test?

Answer 4

This test for behavior, automatic personality and triage score, outcome reports and recommended trainings or further action. This includes leash manners, possessive behavior, commands, toy reactions, reaction to running, and reaction to kids

Question 5

Shelter Assessments

What does Assess-A-Pet test?

Answer 5

This a test that assess temperament (sociability) to help make informed decisions on adoptability, euthansia, matching dogs with new families and surveyings owners after return.

Question 6

What has research indicated about behavioral assessments?

Answer 6

Behaviors like resource guarding and dog-dog skills can be more or less predicted with assessments however other behaviors like separation-related anxiety, fear/agression towards vets, other dogs and other poeple are less predictable.

Question 7

What are the issues surrounding formal behavioral assessments?

Answer 7

• historically used to cull dogs and make euthanasia decisions

Question 8

What do we use behavioral assessments for puppies?

Answer 8

• suitability for companion homes
• suitability for working homes
• Ex: CARAT (comprehensive tempreament profiling), Volhard puppy test (response to different stimuli)

Question 9

What do we use behavioral assessments adult dogs?

Answer 9

• Temperament testing - swedish dog mentality assessment (social contact, distance play), american temperament test
• working dogs - shyness-blodness score (predicative), selecton test (not predicative), rescues 2 the rescue (scent detection)

Question 10

What are other ways to get useful information?

Answer 10

Gather information during intake exams, feeding time, playgroups, field trips, and sleepocers

Question 11

What do we know about the predictive value of behavioral assessments?

Answer 11

We know that the older the puppy is the better behavior can be predicted, however, there are some test and behaviors that are predicative more than others