DO DOG BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS MATTER

Jennifer J. Barg MS, ACAAB, CDBC Director of Operations

Larimer Humane Society

OWNER REPORTED REASONS FOR SURRENDER

14.3 16.9

11.9 13.4

23.5

27.5

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

% Owner Relinquished Dogs Surrendered for Aggression

Including 2018 through October

14.3 16.9

11.9 13.4

23.5

27.5 26.8

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

% Owner Relinquished Dogs Surrendered for Aggression

CONFIRMED BITE REPORTS

621 625

690 699

739 726

600

650

700

750

800

850

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017

# Dog Bites Reported

CONFIRMED BITE REPORTS

621 625

690 699

739 726

830

600

650

700

750

800

850

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

# Dog Bites reported with 2018

projection

Unhealthy/Untreatable Dog Behavior Outcomes

347

599

760 850

2015 2016 2017 2018

Outcome Behavior UU by Year All live intake types

WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS …

• What do we have research to indicate?

• Assessments more predictive than staff opinion

(van der borg et al. 2010 )

• Hard to test for certain aggressive tendencies

(Christensen et al. 2006)

• Stranger-directed aggression correlation

(Serpell)

• Owners under-report aggression

(Serpell)

• Genetic basis of behavior is real

WHAT THE RESEARCH SAYS…

Behavior evaluation and demographic information in the assessment of

aggressiveness in shelter dogs, Bollen and Horowitz, 2007.

• 2017 dogs

• Open admission shelter

• Assess-a-Pet tool used

• Notable results:

• Dogs that failed the evaluation were aggressive in former

home

• 74% of dogs that failed the sociability component exhibited

aggression in 1 or more other components

• Assessment reduced return rate and returns for aggression

• 86% of dogs failed multiple components

…WHAT THE SHELTER WORLD HEARS

• Resource guarding isn’t a big deal and doesn’t repeat in the home, so don’t test for it

• Play groups can take the place of behavior assessments

• Don’t do assessments any more since they are “no better than a flip of a coin”

THE MAKE-UP OF A GOOD BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENT IN A SHELTER OR RESCUE

Behavior Assessment

Owner History Field

Observations Intake Staff

Observations Kennel Staff

Observations

Veterinary Team

Observations

Volunteer Observatons

On-Leash Behavior

Evaluation

WHAT IS THE REAL ARGUMENT HERE?

Validity

Risk

PROPOSED RISK ASSESSMENT FACTORS TO CONSIDER FOR MODELING

I. Historical Behavior a) Level of Aggression b) Context of Aggressive Events c) Aggression Threshold d) Target(s) of Aggression e) Duration of Aggressive Issue(s)

II. Signalment of the Dog III. Abilities of Owner(s) IV. Living Environment in the Home V. Manipulative ability of the Living Environment VI. Community Structure (urban, rural, etc.)

Number of Dogs Entering Larimer Humane Obtained from a Shelter or Rescue

302 282 305 316

343 336 364

0

70

140

210

280

350

420

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

# Dogs Surrendered by Owners Originally Obtained from a

Shelter or Rescue Group

Number of Dogs Entering Larimer Humane Obtained from a Shelter or Rescue

302 282 305 316

343 336 364

0

70

140

210

280

350

420

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

# Dogs Surrendered by Owners Originally Obtained from a

Shelter or Rescue Group

41.6 41.5 39.5

50.7 49.4 51.4

62

0 5

10 15 20 25 30 35 40 45 50 55 60 65 70

2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018

% of All Dogs Surrendered which were Originally Obtained from a Shelter or

Rescue Group

LET’S PANEL!