Three Things to Know
While commonly used, behaviour assessments are controversial due to the potential influence of shelter stress. Australian researchers sought to determine the predictive validity of standard assessments by comparing them to post-adoption behaviours.
The study found that while the standardized tests could predict friendly, anxious, and fearful behaviours, they were less effective at predicting more complex behaviours like aggression and separation anxiety.
Researchers recommend using the BA as one tool among many, including pre-surrender information, veterinary checks, and ongoing monitoring. Shelters should consider foster care programs to provide a less stressful environment for dogs and obtain a more accurate assessment of their behaviour.
The Full Picture
Behaviour assessments (BAs) are commonly used in shelters to identify potential behavioural issues, providing valuable insights for potential adopters. However, the reliability of BAs in predicting long-term behaviour in a home environment remains controversial. Shelter stress can significantly influence a dog’s behaviour, potentially leading to inaccurate assessments. Research on the B.A.R.K. assessment in Australia has shown that only friendliness and fear are reliably predictable, suggesting that kennel observations might be a more accurate indicator of a dog’s adaptability to a new environment.
This study, “Do Behaviour Assessments in a Shelter Predict the behaviour of Dogs Post-Adoption?”, aims to determine the predictive validity of standard BAs conducted shortly after shelter intake in forecasting a dog’s behaviour one month post-adoption.
Study Methods
Study Subjects
Researchers collected data on 955 dogs from RSPCA Queensland Animal Shelter at Wacol. All dogs underwent a veterinary health check. For owner-surrendered dogs, behaviour profiles were provided by their previous owners. Five days post-admission, each dog was assessed by an RSPCA behaviour assessor using the RSPCA Queensland behaviour assessment tool. Post-adoption surveys were completed by 123 qualified adopters, representing a 14% response rate.
Behaviour Assessment (BA)
The RSPCA Queensland conducted standardized behavioural assessments on all dogs during their stay. Two staff members, a Handler and an Observer/Rater, evaluated each dog’s rehoming suitability across various behaviours, including room exploration, leash handling, sociability, tolerance, play, possessiveness, reactions to toddlers and strangers, time alone, and interactions with other dogs. The 15-minute assessment comprised 11 tests.
The Rater assessed each dog’s behaviour during the assessment, rating most behavioural states, such as playfulness and fear, as either present or absent. However, resource guarding was evaluated on an 8-point scale. The overall behaviour score was calculated based on the results of all 11 tests.
Following the assessment, dogs were categorized as suitable for rehoming (772 dogs), requiring behaviour modification (133 dogs), or scheduled for euthanasia (50 dogs). A professional review panel made the final decisions.
Post-Adoption Phone Interview
A month after adoption, RSPCA customer service staff conducted a 10-minute phone survey with adopters to assess their dog’s behaviour at home and in various everyday situations. The survey consisted of 36 multiple-choice questions with space for additional comments. Adopters rated their dog’s socialization with owners, children, and unfamiliar individuals, as well as their reactions during play and interactions with other dogs and cats. Responses were scored on a 5-point scale, ranging from playful approach (1) to concerning behaviour (5)
Study Results
The study sample consisted of 123 companion dogs (61 males and 62 females) aged between 1 and 10 years. The dogs’ intake sources were primarily owner surrenders (45%), with others coming from transfers (17%), RSPCA officer intakes (13%), strays (12%), returns (6%), lost (5%), emergency ambulance intakes (3%), and pounds (1%). Most dogs were mixed breeds (45%), and their median shelter stay was 55.5 days, ranging from 3 to 114 days.
Behaviour Assessment (BA)
The assessments revealed a high incidence of friendly behaviour among dogs, with low occurrences of anxious, fearful, and aroused behaviours when exploring a room or encountering unfamiliar stimuli. Most dogs exhibited friendliness towards the assessors, strangers, toddlers, cats, and other dogs. While avoidance, fear, and arousal were more common in response to startling stimuli, 68% of dogs recovered within 5 seconds. However, approximately half of the dogs displayed separation-related behaviours.
Post-Adoption Behaviour
The post-adoption survey indicated that most adopters reported positive behaviours and smooth integration of their dogs into their homes. When exposed to various stimuli, such as unfamiliar people or other dogs, most dogs responded playfully, though a few displayed avoidance or signs of concern. The dogs also interacted playfully with cats, exhibiting minimal negative behaviours. Regarding resource guarding, over 90% of owners reported no issues with food, treats, or toys, with fewer than 10% observing mild concerns.
In response to startling events, 25% of dogs showed a mild startle response, while 9% ran and hid, and 4% exhibited a pronounced reaction. Most dogs were accustomed to being left alone, with 55% of participants leaving their dogs alone for 5-12 hours at a time. Behaviour changes when owners prepared to leave were rare, with only 28% noticing any difference. Overall, 80% of participants reported no concerning behaviours.
Comparison between BA and Post-Adoption Behaviours
The researchers found that only certain assessed behaviours were predictive of post-adoption traits.
- Friendly and social behaviours in shelter tests, such as interactions with the assessor during room exploration and responses to unfamiliar stimuli and other dogs, were significant predictors of playful and friendly behaviours at home.
- Anxiety indicators in shelter tests, like responses to the assessor, unusual stimuli, and the fake toddler doll, predicted owner-reported concerns, such as overly protective behaviour or discomfort around unfamiliar dogs.
- Fear behaviours, assessed through interactions with the assessor and the fake toddler doll, predicted avoidance behaviours at home.
However, the remaining surveyed behaviours did not correlate with the standardized shelter assessment. This suggests that the standardized BA, while useful as an overall measure of dog behaviour, may require supplementation with other information sources to accurately predict post-adoption behaviours.
Limitations of Behaviour Assessments (BAs)
The study highlights the limitations of standard BAs in accurately predicting post-adoption behaviour. Several factors contribute to these limitations:
- Influence of the Owner’s Environment: The owner’s personality, behaviour, other animals, and household dynamics can significantly impact a dog’s behaviour post-adoption, making it challenging to predict how a dog will adapt.
- Complexity of Canine Behaviour: The standardized BA protocol may not fully capture the complexity of canine behaviour, particularly regarding aggression, which can be context-dependent and challenging to assess.
- Timing of Assessments: Conducting assessments within a few days of shelter admission may not provide an accurate picture of a dog’s behaviour, as stress and anxiety can manifest over time. The stressful environment of a shelter can further exacerbate behavioural issues and mask underlying problems, making it difficult to assess a dog’s true temperament.
Recommendations for Improving Assessments
To improve the accuracy of BAs, the following recommendations are suggested:
- Recognizing Limitations of BAs: Recognizing that no single BA protocol can predict every future behaviour with certainty, assessments should be used alongside ongoing behavioural and health monitoring to create an overview of each dog’s behaviour and identify those needing further evaluation or intervention.
- Comprehensive Monitoring: Continuously monitoring dogs’ behaviour, both in the shelter and post-adoption, can provide valuable insights into their development and identify potential issues early on. Employing qualified behaviourists to conduct in-depth assessments can help identify specific behavioural issues and develop tailored behaviour modification plans.
- Foster Care Programs: Implementing foster care programs can provide a more stable and less stressful environment for dogs, allowing for a more accurate assessment of their behaviour. It also reduces exposure of dogs to stressors that may otherwise contribute to behavioural deterioration, which can lead to long-term issues.
- Further Research: Continued research on canine behaviour, particularly in shelter environments, is crucial to improve the accuracy of BAs and enhance the overall well-being of shelter dogs.
Conclusion
This study indicates that a standardized behaviour assessment protocol can effectively predict certain dog behaviours, such as friendliness, fear, arousal, and anxiety. However, it is less effective at predicting more complex behaviours like aggression and separation anxiety. This limitation may stem from conducting assessments in a highly stressful shelter environment and then extrapolating the results to a stable home setting. While the BA can be a useful tool, it should be used in conjunction with other assessments, such as pre-surrender information, veterinary checks, kennel observations, and training responses.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Improving Rehoming Success > Behaviours In Shelters > Behaviour Assessments
Year of Publication:
2020
External Link:
Clay, L., Paterson, M. B. A., Bennett, P., Perry, G., & Phillips, C. C. J. (2020). Do Behaviour Assessments in a Shelter Predict the Behaviour of Dogs Post-Adoption?. Animals : an open access journal from MDPI, 10(7), 1225. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10071225