presents…

Dog Behavior Evaluation 101: Starting off on the

Right Paw

Introduction…

• Who is CJ?• Michigan Humane Society; Dir. Of Ops• Daily operations• Including evaluation

• APDT/CPDT• Dog Behavior Consultant• Pawsitive Start

Overview…

• A Brief History• Where we are Today• What the Future Could Hold• CJ’s Dream World• How do Asilomars Fit• MHS’s P.A.T.• How• Why • Where

The History…

• Very Few Rescue Groups • Shelters/ACs Had Time Limits• Too Many Black Ones, Old Ones, Big Ones• Return Rates and Revolving Doors• Perpetuate…Shelter Pets Are Damaged• Sue Sternberg in 1991• Kelley Bollen in 2008

Today…

• Sue Sternberg Assess-A-Pet• ASPCA’s S.A.F.E.R.• Dr. Amy Marder Animal Rescue League

MATCH-UP• Different “custom” versions• MHS uses our own P.A.T.

• Validation?• Should you validate/how?

• What do we WANT to accomplish?

Tomorrow…

• What’s the point?• Then…how do we get there• Validity/accuracy• Consistency• Owner info – where does that fit?• CBARQ2

• Is it possible to work together?• Is it a dream?• There are people out there…

If Dreams Were Real…

• Imagine if…• We all spoke the same “language”• Level 1 aggressive = growl, no bite• Friendly = loose waggy body, low tail wag• I.e. calm vs. fearful, exuberant vs. friendly

• Better transfer relationships• Better decisions on behalf of the animals

If Dreams Were Real…

And we don’t have to agree on what is adoptable!!!

Do we?

How do Asilomar’s Fit…

• Do you use them?• Developed 2004• Designed to create commonality• Healthy• Treatable• Untreatable

• Temperament Testing and Asilomar• TTs “feed” into Asilomar• Danger: garbage in…garbage out!

The Dream Continued…

• TTs were all done the same & validated• Resulting in common assessments/definitions• Creating better communication on animals’

behalves• Results in more accurate Asilomar definitions• Facilitate improved cooperation• And we still don’t need to agree on what is

adoptable!

It’s a Start…• MHS’s P.A.T. – Personality Assessment Tool• “Tweaked” Assess-A-Pet• Open Admission• High Volume• Do the very best with what we have• Revise every year

• Goals on the horizon• Validation – 30 day survey after adopt• Combine history, observation,

volunteers, P.A.T.

Basic Overview…

• Why• Make better matches – color code system• Determine safety of placement• Weigh risk factors – is it worth it• Determine rehab/placement resources

• Reduce returns, bites and days in shelter• How• Training/certification program• On-going training/testing• Videos…

The Details…

• Test for:• How social or “forgiving” is the dog• Kennel Test• Sociability Test• Teeth Check• Handling

• Excitability/Playfulness – play style• Arousal• Dog to Dog

The Details…

• Test for:• Aggression• Food bowl/Rawhide• Stranger• Dog to Dog

• Fearfulness• Stranger

The How…

• You determine the what (you’re testing for)• Then comes the “how”• Two people• In the “right” order• Rotties and food bowl!

• Proper technique/training• Capture it NOW• Consistency in “diagnosis”

Is There a When?…

• Right away, 3 days, can you win?• Time of day• Does “chill time” help or hurt

What About Where?• Same room for every dog• Quiet – is that reality?• Keep testers safe

The Bottom Line…• To determine how a dog will adjust to a new

home environment• To make great matches • Color Code• RIGHT DOG

• To help place safe animals• To place animals through the proper channels• No “one size fits all”

• Is there room for a universal/MI test?

Additional Resources…• CJ Bentley: cjbentley@michiganhumane.org• C-BARQ: http://vetapps.vet.upenn.edu/cbarq/• RIGHT DOG: http://

www.michiganhumane.org/rightdog• Sue Sternberg’s Assess-A-Pet: http://

www.suesternberg.com/00assess.html• ASPCA’s S.A.F.E.R.: http://

www.aspcapro.org/aspca-safer.php• Dr. Marder’s MATCH UP: http://

www.centerforshelterdogs.org/Home/DogBehavior/MatchUpII.aspx