Food-related aggression in shelter dogs: A comparison of behavior identified by a behavior evaluation in the shelter and owner reports after adoption

Evaluation of the predictive validity of the Behavioural Assessment for Re-homing K9's (B.A.R.K.) protocol and owner satisfaction with adopted dogs

“…There are also many possible situational factors that could undermine the predictive validity of the protocol, such as the absence of the dog-owner relationship (van der Borg et al, 1991) novelty or stressors in the environment. Indeed, a recent study by Marder et al (2013) demonstrated that many shelter dogs that exhibited food aggression during a behaviour assessment did not exhibit the behaviour post adoption. The situations simulated within any given behaviour assessment may not stimulate a dog's triggers for aggressive behaviour (Christensen et al, 2007).…”

“…Although few studies have examined this possibility, recent research has found that, of 77 dogs that did not display food-related aggression during a shelter behaviour assessment, 22% did display the behaviour post adoption. Conversely, 45% of the 20 dogs that did display food-related aggression during the behaviour evaluation did not display the behaviour in their new homes (Marder et al, 2013). Another study by Kis et al (2014) found that food related aggression changed over time with dogs showing more aggression having spent two weeks in the shelter compared to one to two days after admission.…”

Modelling personality, plasticity and predictability in shelter dogs

“…Of particular concern is the low predictive value of shelter dog assessments for predicting 58 behaviour post-adoption [20][21][22][23][24], resulting in calls for longitudinal, observational models of 59 assessment [24]. Animal shelters are dynamic environments and, for most dogs, instigate an 60 immediate threat to homeostasis as evidenced by heightened hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal 61 axis activity and an increase in stress-related behaviours (e.g.…”

Improving wildlife detection dog team selection and training

“…Evaluation. This assessment is a standardised dog behaviour evaluation, specifically shelter dogs, and its' results and reliability have been explored and validated previously (Marder et al 2013).…”

“…This evaluation consists of 11 sub-tests that are used to score a dog's Friendliness, Excitability, Playfulness, Fearfulness, Aggressiveness and Trainability (Marder et al 2013). For this study three sub-tests were not completed as they weren't necessary for detection training (sub-test 8 part 2:…”