Shelter Dogs Live Up To Expectations (Mostly)
Testing behaviour in the shelter is tricky,
but most people who adopt a dog would do so again.
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Animal shelters often assess the behaviour
of dogs before rehoming them, but because the tests are not always
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 fear and friendliness after the dogs had been adopted, but not
anxiety, activity level or compliance. A follow-up paper by Kate Mornement (Monash University; Pets Behaving Badly)
et al takes a closer look at how the shelter assessment compares to new owners’
ratings about four months after adoption.
First, the good news. All the new owners
said their dog was part of the family, 96% said their new dog adapted to their
home well or very well, and 71% said the dog met their expectations. Most dogs
were friendly to visitors, and the most common occurrence of most behaviour
problems was “never”, including fear of strangers, escaping, food guarding and
resource guarding.
But the dogs weren’t perfect, because 72% of
owners said there was a behaviour they would like to change – most commonly
destructive behaviour, fear, barking too much and pulling on leash.
The B.A.R.K. was tested to see how well it
matched up to behaviours in the home. The list of potential behaviour issues
was grouped into three using a statistical technique called principal component
analysis. The B.A.R.K. predicted results on one of these - fearful behaviour and
inappropriate toileting – but it did not predict problem behaviour or
aggression.
In fact, 24% said their new dog had shown
aggression, defined as growling, snapping or trying to bite a person (16% “rarely”,
7% “sometimes” and 1% “often”). This is surprising because none of the dogs had
been aggressive at the shelter (if they had, they wouldn’t have been deemed adoptable).
One possibility, say the scientists, is
that aggression is not as fixed as other behavioural traits (e.g. fear) and is difficult to assess
because it does not occur very often. Another possibility is that dogs suppress
aggressive behaviours in the shelter because of the stressful environment.
But it’s also possible the general public
is less aware of canine behaviour and body language, and so behaves differently than shelter staff and volunteers. 39% of the new owners had done no research
on dog ownership/behaviour before getting the dog. The scientists suggest
shelters engage in educational activities and post-adoption support, including
a “shelter dog manual” for adopters.
Companionship was the main reason for adopting
a dog, either as a companion for themselves (51%), for another dog (16%) or for
a child (10%). The death of a previous dog (11%) or exercise (4%) were other
reasons given.
61% chose to adopt from a shelter “to
rescue a dog/save a life” (61%); 15% wanted an adult dog and 11% don’t like pet
shops. The factors that went into a decision included the dog needing a home
(88%), the dog’s behaviour (88%), personality (88%) and size (82%). The type of
coat and appearance were important for some people but not others.
Most people said they would adopt from a
shelter again (76%) and found the process positive (70%).
“If people are considering adopting a dog they need to research the type of dog that would best fit their lifestyle,” says Dr. Mornement. “For example, a couch potato shouldn’t adopt a working breed because they’re unlikely to meet the dog’s needs for exercise and mental stimulation.“Other things potential adopters should consider are how much time they have for their dog (to provide companionship, exercise and training), whether they’re prepared to groom their dog, will they take their dog to training or sport dog activities.“Shelters can help adopters to make the right choice when choosing their dog by making a good match between adopter and dog and ensuring adopter’s expectations are realistic. Providing post adoption obedience classes and/or phone support to overcome any issues can help support successful adoptions.”
The authors suggest further research to
investigate if dogs that are fostered, rather than kept in kennels, have fewer
behaviour problems in new homes, and if assessments work better in this
setting.
This important study highlights the issues
of assessing dog behaviour, and the difficulties of conducting research in
shelters where time and money are in short supply.
Mornement et al conclude by
saying,
“A holistic approach including assessment of behaviour pre-shelter, in-shelter and post-shelter, together with stress-reducing enrichment and rehabilitation training may assist to provide a more complete picture of canine behaviour and adoptability.”
How does your dog compare to your initial
expectations?
If you liked this post, check out my book Wag: The Science of Making Your Dog Happy. Modern Dog magazine calls it "The must-have guide to improving your dog's life."
References
Mornement, K. M., Coleman, G. J., Toukhsati, S. R., & Bennett, P. C. (2015). Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Behavioural Assessment for Re-homing K9's (BARK) protocol and owner satisfaction with adopted dogs. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 167, 35-42.
Mornement, K. M., Coleman, G. J., Toukhsati, S., & Bennett, P. C. (2014). Development of the behavioural assessment for re-homing K9's (BARK) protocol. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 151, 75-83.
Homing and Re-homing Fido: How many newly-adopted pets are still kept six months later?
What do people look for when adopting a dog?
A new approach to dog bite prevention
This article was nominated in the 2016 Dog Writer's Association of America Annual Writing Competition in the category Article or Blog - Rescue.
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