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| Aggression Assessment and Temperament Testing |
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By Robin Tierney 
NOTE: These articles may NOT be reproduced in any form without author permission. For questions or to receive Dog Tip updates, email Robin at Tierneydog@yahoo.com. For more dog care and animal welfare updates, bookmark http://robintierney.blogspot.com
Fortunately, it was Sternberg's "Assess-a-Hand", an artificial limb used in gauging the aggression potential of canines. But don't try this at home. Sternberg, a nationally recognized canine aggression expert, was demonstrating her Assess-a-Pet temperament testing program to local animal care professionals at a two-day workshop. Sternberg, who runs Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption in upstate New York, first developed Assess-a-Pet in 1993. Refined since then, her program has been used to evaluate sociability and identify potentially aggressive dogs, which shelters fear adopting out in this litigation-choked age. The test takes about 15 minutes, although, Sternberg said, "the more time you can spend with the dog, the better." Many shelter workers and animal welfare volunteers believe that subjective behavior evaluations such as Assess-a-Pet often lead to decisions to euthanize animals who could be rehabilitated. Sternberg contends that she is trying to be realistic in an age when abandoned animals outnumber caring, committed homes. Not enough people have the dedication to help animals work through problems. A prudent approach, however, would be to regard testing as a valuable tool but not the sole criteria for decision-making. Behavior problems topped the list of reasons why people gave up their pets according to a Tufts University study, in which participants averaged 8 months deliberating whether to give up on their pets. As Sternberg noted, "some [relinquishers] think, ‘maybe the people in the dog's next home will take the time to train my dog.'" On the other hand, no canine – or human for that matter – is aggression-free. "I think 95 to 96 percent of all dogs will have an aggressive event in their life, using aggression to deal with a situation," said Sternberg, adding that her soulmate is also her most assertive dog. Dogs typically learn to inhibit their biting instincts when properly socialized. Socialization involves actively exposing canines to new people, places, things, other animals and the vet, preferably during the young impressionable weeks, and always in a way that protects the dog from negative consequences that would stoke fear and defensive aggression. Socialization helps a dog bond to people as well as "make it through what life typically throws at you." "It is not fair to let someone threaten your dog," cautioned Sternberg. Thus, Assess-a-Pet's provocations involve petting, movement, speaking, real-world minor discomforts like manual teeth-check (dogs need to tolerate tooth-brushing), and annoyances such as manipulating the artificial hand between the dog and a highly coveted chew toy. To study canine behavior and compile visual case studies for her seminars, Sternberg has videotaped hours upon hours of dog/human and dog/dog interaction during visits to shelters and kennels nationwide. Her test is designed to look for sociability, what situations/beings arouse the dog, the level of arousal, potential issues with strangers, and how the dog behaves around resources. Sternberg's system assesses behavior at varying levels of handler skill. Dogs sense leadership ability (alpha or pushover) and respond accordingly. Assess-a-Pet's level one, for example, is the average, not-so-adept dog enthusiast, while level 3 represents the fairly skilled and confident handler. Dogs responding in a sociable, non-aggressive manner with level one folks have the best chance of attracting adopters. Particularly when children are in a home, people want "a bombproof dog ... who enjoys touch of any kind," said Sternberg. At the workshop, Sternberg demonstrated how to repeat each exercise several times and to note the dog's responses. Objectivity is aided by having an observer with the handler. She recommends delaying temperament testing until an animal has had four days to acclimate to the new environment Certain dominant responses can signal aggression issues – and the need for behavioral modification before a serious incident is triggered by encountering a stranger, having a toy taken away or being shooed off a bed. Less obvious indicators of potential aggression problems include hard stares (even brief ones), fleeting body freezes, taking up airspace, raised and/or stiffened tails (wagging doesn't always mean "I'm friendly"), frontally facing the handler or another being, low-level growling, and aroused behavior that is escalating in its intensity. Some practical tips shared at the workshop: * Forget outdated cautions about waiting until a pup "has all of his shots" before exposure to other people and animals. It's best to socialize a dog within the first 16 weeks so that he's not stressed when experienced new people, animals and things. Appropriately wary, though, is good ... you want your dog to regard you as leader of the pack and to be respect others. This is the time to start teaching boundaries as well. * Using treats in training is effective. Sternberg suggests that as you build a relationship, work on replacing treats with verbal praise. * Carry treats when walking around with your dog and use them to keep attention focused on you. Whether training or temperament testing, use rewards of sufficient value to the individual dog * "Keep in mind that [nearly] everything we ask dogs to do is not natural to them, like walking nicely on leash." Think like a dog. For example, facing the same direction you walk says "go" in body language. So when your dog is pulling on the leash, stop walking and turn to face him. * To introduce yourself to a dog, stand to the dog's side instead of facing him frontally, bend your spine and avert your eyes, since dogs often perceive stares and direct visual engagement as threatening. * Fearful dogs are more afraid of men, who typically stand taller and have deeper voices than women. * Introducing dogs on tight leashes and on one dog's turf can trigger aggressive behavior. There's a wealth of simple, detailed guidance for introducing dogs, using loose leashes, on neutral territory, with confident, relaxed handlers ready to praise tolerant behavior. * Nipping and mouthing with any degree of bearing down is not OK. Teething is to be expected, since pups use their mouths to explore the world; to effectively discourage mouthing, you can say "ouch" and withdraw your arm to signal that the fun and attention stops until the pup inhibits such "testing" behavior. But bearing down with his jaws is unacceptable and can lead to dangerous behavior, thus requiring immediate intervention and usually, in-person guidance from a canine behavior expert. * Do not get down at the level of dogs, particularly those you barely know. * Do not allow children, particularly young or excitable children, access to animals when responsible adults aren't there to supervise. Children have often provoked even mild-mannered pets. * Resource guarding is a very serious issue, and must be addressed and managed to avoid bites. This intense possessiveness is focused on resources, including food, toys, found objects, even people. Various theories attempt to explain why canine aggression appears to be on the rise. They include puppy mill conditions, poor breeding, failure of owners to socialize puppies – and earlier onset of puberty possibly spurred by hormones in food or, said Sternberg, biological adaptation to stressful urban environments. It always comes back to this: behavior results from a combination of nature and nurture. * The potential for dog-to-dog aggression worsens among same sex, same size, same breed dogs. "The more separation you have in size, age, sex and rank," says Sternberg, "the better." * It's natural for pups to wrestle and even nip each other. But mauling is a bad sign. Signs of getting along: play that's more cooperative than competitive, parallel body language, mimicking each other, facing the same direction, calmly sniffing one another's spots, self-interruption of rough behavior, switching dominance positions during play, moderate but non-escalating arousal, both dogs want to keep playing after an encounter. Or as Sternberg puts it, "There's poetry between dogs in appropriate play." * Doubling up compatible dogs at shelters. At an ASPCA conference several years ago, Sternberg learned of this technique being used at some shelters for fostering dog-to-dog socialization. The newly renovated Washington Animal Rescue League facility, which now sets the bar for shelter design, adapts this technique for many dogs in its care. * Dog parks are fights waiting to break out, she said. "We need better management, screening, and to have training programs at the dog park." Some dogs transform into heat-seeking missiles if they accidentally get off leash. "Dogs do not have to play with other dogs to live richly. There are other, better ways to exercise dogs." * Spend time with the dog to form a bond. Noted Sternberg, "It's easier to teach a dog who wants to please you." Related resources:
Temperament Testing
Assessing a Shelter Dog
Evaluating Temperament in a Potential Rescue Dog
Assess-A-Pet Program and Shelter Dog Training by Sue Sternberg
Puppy Aptitude Test by Wendy and Joachim Volhard
Temperament Testing Program at C.A.R.E. Shelter
Matching Dogs and People: Temperament Testing Shelter Dogs
American Temperament Test Society
Tough Temperaments: Dominance, Aggression, Viciousness and definitions of other terms such as Submission, Temperament, Socialization
Choosing and Getting a Dog
Adding a Dog to Your Family: How to Prepare for Success
Book List includes excellent books about evaluating puppies and secondhand dogs
----- To be added or removed from this e-mail list, contact Robin at Tierneydog@yahoo.com
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| Last Updated: August 28, 2006 (LET) | PawSupport | |