Shelter Dogs Alive Upwardly To Expectations (Mostly)

Testing demeanor inward the shelter is tricky, but most people who adopt a domestic dog would produce in addition to therefore again. 

Photo: Julia Siomuha/Shutterstock

By Zazie Todd, PhD

Animal shelters oft assess the demeanor of dogs earlier rehoming them, but because the tests are non ever scientifically validated, Mornement et al (2014) developed the B.A.R.K. protocol. Results of the B.A.R.K. on 74 shelter dogs successfully predicted in-home ratings for fearfulness in addition to friendliness after the dogs had been adopted, but non anxiety, activity score or compliance. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 follow-up newspaper past times Kate Mornement (Monash University; Pets Behaving Badly) et al takes a closer facial expression at how the shelter assessment compares to novel owners’ ratings most iv months after adoption.

First, the expert news. All the novel owners said their domestic dog was business office of the family, 96% said their novel domestic dog adapted to their abode good or rattling well, in addition to 71% said the domestic dog met their expectations. Most dogs were friendly to visitors, in addition to the most mutual occurrence of most demeanor problems was “never”, including fearfulness of strangers, escaping, nutrient guarding in addition to resources guarding.

But the dogs weren’t perfect, because 72% of owners said at that topographic point was a demeanor they would similar to alter – most unremarkably destructive behaviour, fear, barking also much in addition to pulling on leash.

The B.A.R.K. was tested to reckon how good it matched upward to behaviours inward the home. The listing of potential demeanor issues was grouped into iii using a statistical technique called principal ingredient analysis. The B.A.R.K. predicted results on i of these - fearful demeanor in addition to inappropriate toileting – but it did non predict work demeanor or aggression. 

In fact, 24% said their novel domestic dog had shown aggression, defined every bit growling, snapping or trying to seize amongst teeth a soul (16% “rarely”, 7% “sometimes” in addition to 1% “often”). This is surprising because none of the dogs had been aggressive at the shelter (if they had, they wouldn’t have got been deemed adoptable). 

One possibility, state the scientists, is that aggression is non every bit fixed every bit other behavioural traits (e.g. fear) in addition to is hard to assess because it does non occur rattling often. Another possibility is that dogs suppress aggressive behaviours inward the shelter because of the stressful environment.

But it’s also possible the full general world is less aware of canine demeanor in addition to trunk language, in addition to and therefore behaves differently than shelter staff in addition to volunteers. 39% of the novel owners had done no question on domestic dog ownership/behaviour earlier getting the dog. The scientists advise shelters engage inward educational activities in addition to post-adoption support, including a “shelter domestic dog manual” for adopters.

Companionship was the master copy argue for adopting a dog, either every bit a companion for themselves (51%), for some other domestic dog (16%) or for a nestling (10%). The decease of a previous domestic dog (11%) or do (4%) were other reasons given. 

61% chose to adopt from a shelter “to rescue a dog/save a life” (61%); 15% wanted an adult domestic dog in addition to 11% don’t similar pet shops. The factors that went into a determination included the domestic dog needing a abode (88%), the dog’s demeanor (88%), personality (88%) in addition to size (82%). The type of coat in addition to appearance were of import for some people but non others.  

Most people said they would adopt from a shelter over again (76%) in addition to constitute the procedure positive (70%). 
  

“If people are considering adopting a domestic dog they demand to question the type of domestic dog that would best fit their lifestyle,” says doctor Mornement. “For example, a couch Irish Gaelic patato shouldn’t adopt a working breed because they’re unlikely to come across the dog’s needs for do in addition to mental stimulation.

“Other things potential adopters should consider are how much fourth dimension they have got for their domestic dog (to provide companionship, do in addition to training), whether they’re prepared to groom their dog, volition they accept their domestic dog to preparation or sport domestic dog activities. 

“Shelters tin assist adopters to brand the correct selection when choosing their domestic dog past times making a expert tally betwixt adopter in addition to domestic dog in addition to ensuring adopter’s expectations are realistic. Providing postal service adoption obedience classes and/or telephone back upward to overcome whatsoever issues tin assist back upward successful adoptions.”

The authors advise farther question to investigate if dogs that are fostered, rather than kept inward kennels, have got fewer demeanor problems inward novel homes, in addition to if assessments function improve inward this setting. 

This of import written report highlights the issues of assessing domestic dog behaviour, in addition to the difficulties of conducting question inward shelters where fourth dimension in addition to coin are inward brusk supply. Mornement et al conclude past times saying, “A holistic approach including assessment of demeanor pre-shelter, in-shelter in addition to post-shelter, together amongst stress-reducing enrichment in addition to rehabilitation preparation may assist to provide a to a greater extent than consummate moving painting of canine demeanor in addition to adoptability.”

How does your domestic dog compare to your initial expectations?

This article was nominated inward the 2016 Dog Writer's Association of America Annual Writing Competition inward the category Article or Blog - Rescue.

Zazie Todd, PhD, is the writer of Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. She is the founder of the pop spider web log , where she writes most everything from preparation methods to the human-canine relationship. She also writes a column for Psychology Today in addition to has received the prestigious Captain Haggerty Award for Best Training Article inward 2017. Todd lives inward Maple Ridge, BC, amongst her husband, i dog, in addition to ii cats.

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References

Mornement, K., Coleman, G., Toukhsati, S., & Bennett, P. (2015). Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Behavioural Assessment for Re-homing K9's (B.A.R.K.) protocol in addition to possessor satisfaction amongst adopted dogs Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 167, 35-42 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2015.03.013
Mornement, K., Coleman, G., Toukhsati, S., & Bennett, P. (2014). Development of the behavioural assessment for re-homing K9's (B.A.R.K.) protocol Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 151, 75-83 DOI: 10.1016/j.applanim.2013.11.008

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