So the shelter manager asked me if I would be interested in learning how to temperament test our shelter dogs~basically she will train me and then I will assist her two nights a week testing our dogs. We would get caught up on testing the dogs we already have and then do two nights a week on new dogs. I am so super psyched about this! It's one step closer to a job working with dogs!
Temperament testing
- Thread starter Adrienne
- Start date
The main purpose of a temperment test at a shelter is to determine what kind of home would be best for the dog. If the dog does not get adopted into the correct home, he WILL be back at the shelter (or worse), so it is in their best interest to get the right home the first time. Most testers don't categorize the dog as "pass" or "fail," but rather use the test as information about what kind of qualities the dog has and a heads-up about any behaviorial problems the adopter may need to be aware of.
Unless it's a no-kill shelter, of course shelters do euthanize dogs. Shelters around here euthanize 50-95% of dogs that come in (yes, I know of a specific shelter that euthes 95%). Kill shelters use temperment tests to determine which dogs are most adoptable; more adoptable dogs mean that they get adopted faster and the shelter will be able to adopt a higher percentage of dogs in the long run.
Unless it's a no-kill shelter, of course shelters do euthanize dogs. Shelters around here euthanize 50-95% of dogs that come in (yes, I know of a specific shelter that euthes 95%). Kill shelters use temperment tests to determine which dogs are most adoptable; more adoptable dogs mean that they get adopted faster and the shelter will be able to adopt a higher percentage of dogs in the long run.
Thanks for the congrats guys, I am super stoked. Also, thanks Lizzy for the rec. I will definitely check it out.
Again, Lizzy has the right answer, the testing is to determine which type of home the dog will do best in, what it's personality is, how high energy, what type of motivation helps the dog learn best, etc.
We do euth some animals but we have a really high adoption rate. I think last month we pts four dogs, one of old age (had every pain problem in the book) and three for behavioral issues (this could be bites or returned multiple times by adopters). It sucks but it's a fact of life, we need the kennel space to help the dogs we can rehome. We have a pretty low euth rate, last year (09) we pts 20 dogs which is a remarkably low number.
Again, Lizzy has the right answer, the testing is to determine which type of home the dog will do best in, what it's personality is, how high energy, what type of motivation helps the dog learn best, etc.
We do euth some animals but we have a really high adoption rate. I think last month we pts four dogs, one of old age (had every pain problem in the book) and three for behavioral issues (this could be bites or returned multiple times by adopters). It sucks but it's a fact of life, we need the kennel space to help the dogs we can rehome. We have a pretty low euth rate, last year (09) we pts 20 dogs which is a remarkably low number.
