Three Things to Know
Researchers used the C-BARQ, a standardized behavior assessment tool, to track behavioral changes in shelter dogs during their first six months of adoption. The study aimed to understand the prevalence and evolution of common post-adoption behaviors.
On average, dog behavior worsened over the first six months, with significant increases in stranger-directed aggression, chasing behavior, touch sensitivity, and training difficulty. However, separation anxiety and attention-seeking behaviors decreased during this period.
Despite these behavioral changes, the vast majority of owners remained satisfied with their dogs. The authors recommend that shelters be aware of these findings and provide pre- and post-adoption counseling to owners.
The Full Picture
Every year, over two million dogs are adopted from U.S. shelters. After adoption, these dogs often undergo an adjustment period, known as the “honeymoon period,” after which their true behaviors may emerge as they acclimate to their new homes.
While extensive research exists on dog behavior in shelter environments, there is a lack of data on how dogs behave post-adoption. Although shelters frequently use behavior evaluations, these tools often fail to accurately predict a dog’s future behavior in a home setting. This is a concern, as behavioral issues are a major reason for dog returns. Few studies have tracked dogs’ behavior at multiple timepoints after adoption, and only one previous study used a standardized behavior assessment at three distinct timepoints.
To address this research gap, a study titled “Shelter dog behavior after adoption: Using the C-BARQ to track dog behavior changes through the first six months after adoption” tracked newly adopted dogs over four key timepoints using the validated C-BARQ tool. The study aimed to understand the prevalence and evolution of common behaviors post-adoption and to explore the impact of owner satisfaction, dog characteristics, and household factors on these behavioral changes.
Study Methods
Participants were recruited from five Ohio shelters: one open-access municipal shelter and four nonprofit shelters. Between October 1, 2020, and June 1, 2021, shelter staff recruited adopters aged 18 and older. Surveys were emailed to adopters at 7, 30, 90, and 180 days post-adoption.
To track behavioral changes over time, the study employed a 42-question version of the Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ). Owners rated traits such as excitability, various forms of aggression, different fears, sensitivity to touch, separation-related behaviors, attachment, training difficulty, chasing, and energy level.
In addition to the C-BARQ, owners were asked at each timepoint about their overall satisfaction with their dog’s behavior, any significant household changes (e.g., moving, schedule changes, or new pets), and whether they still owned the dog. The initial survey also collected demographic information and inquired about the adopter’s prior pet ownership experience.
Study Results
Of the initial 99 owners who completed the questionnaire at 7 days post-adoption, 83 completed the 30-day survey, 75 completed the 90-day survey, and 83 completed the 180-day survey. Sixty-two owners (62.6%) completed all four surveys.
The majority of participants (62.9%) had prior dog ownership experience. The respondent demographic was predominantly female (75.0%), with 24.0% male. Approximately half of the households (52.5%) had other animals prior to adopting the study dog. During the study period, seven dogs were returned, resulting in a return rate of 7.1%.
Researchers found significant changes in certain C-BARQ traits from the baseline (seven days post-adoption):
- Stranger-directed aggression: Increased at all timepoints.
- Separation-related behaviors: Decreased at 180 days.
- Attachment and attention-seeking: Decreased at 180 days.
- Chasing behavior: Increased at all timepoints.
- Touch sensitivity: Increased at 90 and 180 days.
- Excitability: Increased at 90 and 180 days.
- Training difficulty: Increased at all timepoints.
Stranger-Directed Aggression
Researchers found a significant increase in stranger-directed aggression across all timepoints, with 76.9% of dogs displaying some level of stranger-directed aggression. Dog bites, a common occurrence in the U.S. with over 4.5 million incidents annually, often stem from behavioral issues, including aggression. This study’s findings suggest that stranger-directed aggression is a prevalent concern among adopted dogs.
While previous studies linked male dogs to higher stranger-directed aggression, this trend was not observed in this study. However, dogs receiving behavioral medications during their shelter stay exhibited higher post-adoption aggression, likely due to the medications being prescribed to address aggression during veterinary handling.
The elevated aggression rates in this study might be attributed to several factors. Differences in aggression definitions, such as including non-bite aggression, and the unique context of the COVID-19 pandemic could have influenced the findings. The pandemic-related lockdowns and social distancing measures may have affected canine behavior, potentially exacerbating aggressive tendencies. Additionally, as dogs became more settled in their adoptive homes, territorial behaviors, captured by certain items in the stranger-directed aggression subscale, might have naturally increased over time.
Attachment and Attention-Seeking
The study revealed a high prevalence of separation-related behaviors in adopted dogs, with 87.5% of owners reporting these behaviors at 180 days. While there was a decrease in these behaviors between 90 and 180 days, the change was minimal, with a reduction of only 0.23 points on the C-BARQ scale. This may be attributed to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, as pandemic-related changes in owners’ schedules could have exacerbated separation anxiety.
Attachment and attention-seeking behaviors, such as following owners around the house, showed a notable decline between 90 and 180 days. This reduction may indicate growing confidence and security in dogs as they adapt to their new environment. As dogs become accustomed to their owners’ routines, they may require less attention-seeking behavior to meet their needs.
These findings provide valuable insights for owners, who may find comfort in knowing that certain behaviors linked to separation and attachment may lessen as their dogs adjust to their new homes.
Other Changes in Behavior
The study revealed a significant increase in chasing behavior, primarily directed at small animals. Experts suggest that chasing behavior is a natural instinct and often associated with a neutral or positive emotional state. The increase in chasing behavior might be attributed to owners allowing their dogs more freedom as they become comfortable, providing more opportunities for this natural behavior. Additionally, as chasing is often expected in dogs, owners may not perceive it as a significant concern.
Touch sensitivity, particularly related to grooming, increased notably at 90 and 180 days. This pattern might be linked to the timing of initial grooming attempts after adoption, as many shelters groom dogs before adoption. Dogs receiving behavioral medication in the shelter, likely due to stress during handling, also exhibited higher touch sensitivity post-adoption. This highlights the importance of informing adopters about a dog’s history of touch sensitivity, as it may persist.
Excitability also increased at 90 and 180 days, correlating with dogs with longer shelter stays. High excitability can impact the owner-dog bond, potentially leading to frustration and, in some cases, relinquishment.
Training difficulty increased across all time points. While trainability is often linked to stronger owner attachment, attachment scores slightly declined over the study period. Owners may need more time to assess and address their dog’s training needs, which may reveal underlying challenges. Interestingly, older dogs (over 7 years) showed significantly less training difficulty, suggesting they may be more responsive to training cues. However, larger dogs (over 56 pounds) had significantly higher training difficulty scores, indicating that size may influence perceived training challenges. This finding challenges the common assumption that older dogs are less trainable.
Overall Satisfaction
Despite these behavioral changes, at 180 days post-adoption, all owners reported that their dog had adjusted to their new home either extremely or moderately well. Additionally, 93.7% rated their dog’s overall behavior as excellent or good, with the remaining 6.3% rating it as fair. By 180 days, 75% of owners felt their dog’s overall behavior had improved, 21.2% reported it stayed the same, and only 3.8% noted a worsening in behavior. Overall, survey data often indicates high satisfaction among adopters, even when behavior problems are present.
By understanding typical changes in behavior, veterinarians, behavior specialists, and shelter staff can more effectively counsel adopters on what to expect, fostering realistic expectations and potentially reducing instances of rehoming, returns, or euthanasia. Such insights support canine health and welfare, as informed adopters may feel better prepared to manage their dog’s behavior over time. For shelters, this data highlights when and what types of interventions might help improve adoption outcomes, contributing to the stability of dogs in adoptive homes.
Miscellaneous
Data From Study:
Shelter dogs > Post-adoption management > Behaviours
Year of Publication:
2023
External Link:
Bohland, K. R., Lilly, M. L., Herron, M. E., Arruda, A. G., & O’Quin, J. M. (2023). Shelter dog behavior after adoption: Using the C-BARQ to track dog behavior changes through the first six months after adoption. PloS one, 18(8), e0289356. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0289356