presents…

1. presents… Dog Behavior Evaluation 101: Starting off on the Right Paw

2. Introduction… • Who is CJ? • Michigan Humane Society; Dir. Of Ops • Daily operations • Including evaluation • APDT/CPDT • Dog Behavior Consultant • Pawsitive Start

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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?

6. 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…

7. 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

8. If Dreams Were Real… • And we don’t have to agree on what is adoptable!!! • Do we?

9. 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!

10. 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!

11. 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.

12. 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…

13. 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

14. The Details… • Test for: • Aggression • Food bowl/Rawhide • Stranger • Dog to Dog • Fearfulness • Stranger

15. 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”

16. 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

17. 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?

18. 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