1. 2013 ANIMAL CARE EXPO
Shaping The Future:
Continuing The Conversation About
Canine Behavior Evaluations
- Dr. Amy Marder, VMD, CAAB
- Seana Dowling, MS
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

2. 1
A BRIEF OVERVIEW
Topics in this Presentation
+ Why Now?
+ 2012 Shaping the Future: A Conversation
About Canine Behavior Evaluations
Conference
+ Behavior Evaluations
• Past
• Present
• Future – Continuing the Conversation
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

3. 2
WHY NOW?
Importance of the Discussion
+ Changing World
+ Many Assessments
+ Field Is Evolving
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

4. 3
CHANGING WORLD
Changing Trends for Shelter Dogs
+ Fewer Dogs are in
shelters
+ More Dogs with
behavioral challenges
+ Greater Need for reliable
assessments
+ More Dogs handled by
less structured grassroots networks (rescue,
foster, transport)
+ Internet/Technology
have made dog rescue a
global effort
+ Desire to eliminate
avoidable euthanasia
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

5. 4
ASSESSING BEHAVIOR
Shelters Assess Dog Behavior in Many Ways
*Online survey of shelter members of an online adoption web site, Private Orgs, N=1,129
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

6. 5
BEHAVIOR EVALUATIONS
PAGE
Custom Evals or Modified Public Ones are Common
56% modified the eval
Test of
Org’s Own
Design
Other
Online survey of shelter members of an online adoption
web site, Private Orgs using Beh Eval
N=320
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

7. 6
THE NEED IS GREAT
PAGE
Little Standardization or Consistency
+ Many Shelters
Evaluating Dogs
+ Many Using Custom
Evals or Modifying
Standardized Ones
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
+ Little Standardization
+ Little Consistency
+ Very Few Validated
Evaluations
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

8. 7
GOOD TIMING
PAGE
The Time is Right
+ Growing expertise in
companion animal
behavior
+ Great interest in
modifying behavior before
and after placement
+ Certification of dog
trainers
+ Awareness of the
influence of stress on
canine behavior and the
desire to reduce stress
+ Increased volume and
quality of scientific
literature on dog
personality and validity of
behavior evaluations
+ Shelters are expected to
do evaluations
+ Desire for a strategy to
match individual dogs to
adopters
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

9. 8
SHAPING THE FUTURE
Groundbreaking Conference
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

10. 9
SPEAKERS AND TOPICS
Conference Agenda and Lectures
+ Steve Zawistowski,
Science Advisor at the
ASPCA, “Evaluations In
Historical Perspective”
+ Joanne van der Borg,
Behavioral Biologist at
Wageningen University, The
Netherlands, “The Road
To Validation”
+ James Serpell Maria A.
Moore Professor of Humane
Ethics and Animal Welfare,
University of Pennsylvania,
“The Role Of Owner Reports
In Evaluating Behavioral
Tendencies”
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

11. 10
Speakers and Topics
PAGE
Conference Agenda and Lectures
+ Paola Valsecci, Professor of
Applied Ethology, Researcher,
University of Parma, “Reliability
And Validation Of Canine
Behavior Evaluations”
+ Pamela Reid, VP of the ASPCA
Anti-Cruelty Behavior Team,
“Evaluating Special
Populations: Fighting Dogs,
Puppy Mills, And Hoarding”
+ Petra Mertens, Director of
Animal Behavior and Training,
San Diego Humane Society,
“Implementing Evaluations In
The Modern Shelter”
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
+ Rebecca Ledger,
Animal Behavior Scientist and
clinical Ethologist, Vancouver,
British Columbia, “Taking
Evaluation Findings To The
Real World: A Case
Management Approach”
+ Anouck Haverbeke, Director
of VetEthology, Researcher
Ethology and human Animal
Interactions, Member of
Veterinary Associations of
Ethology, “European
Perspective On Behavior
Evaluations”
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

12. 11
THE PAST
History of Canine Behavior Evaluations
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

13. 12
THE PAST
History of Canine Behavior Evaluations
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

14. 13
HOW DID IT HAPPEN?
PAGE
Key Milestones
+ 1946 Post WWII
veterinary focus on
companion animals
+ 1970’s Emphasis on
spay-neuter to control
populations
+ 1990’s Behavior
evaluations in shelters
+ 1991 Animal Behavior
Society Certification for
Applied Animal
Behaviorists
+ 1974 Tuber, Hothersall
and Voith. Animal Clinical
Psychology: A Modest
Proposal: American
Psychologist
+ 1980’s Behavior programs
appear at animal shelters
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

15. 14
THE PRESENT
What’s Happening Now
+ Characteristics of a good
quality evaluation
•
•
•
•
Standardization
Reliability
Validity
Feasibility
+ Active research data
+ Opposition to breedspecific legislation
+ Asilomar
Accords/Treatable
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

16. 15
THE PRESENT
What’s Happening Now
+ Validated Behavior Tests Exist
•
Expectations
•
Implementation
•
Use
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

17. 16
THE FUTURE
Continuing The Conversation
+ Interactive Discussion
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

18. 17
CONTINUE TO TALK
Continuing The Conversation
http://shapingthefuture.pathable.com
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org
PAGE

19. 18
CONTACT US
PAGE
Let’s Stay Connected
Because Every Dog Is Different!
Social networks:
Facebook.com/
CenterforShelterDogs
Twitter.com/
Ctr4ShelterDogs
Address: 10 Chandler St, Boston, MA
Phone: 617.426.9170
E-mail: csd@arlboston.org
Website: www.centerforshelterdogs.org
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
Youtube.com/user/
Ctr4ShelterDogs
Shapingthefuture.pathable.com
www.centerforshelterdogs.org

20. THANKS FOR
COMING
Don’t Forget to Visit our Booth!
-Dr. Amy Marder, VMD, CAAB
amarder@arlboston.org
-Seana Dowling, MS
sdowling@arlboston.org
Center for Shelter Dogs
Because Every Dog Is Different.
www.centerforshelterdogs.org