For hundreds of years, canine breeders and trainers have evaluated dogs to determine their personality and workability. It is a fairly involved process that can often takes many hours of evaluation depending upon the experience of the evaluator, complexity of the dogs personality and the task the dog is being evaluated for.

I do a behavioral analysis of every dog I work with, and I am rarely off the mark. However, my analysis is based on an extensive questionnaire given to the client and at least an hour on either the phone with the owner or working with the dog in person. The purpose of the analysis is not to give the dog a “pass/fail.” It is to determine the best method of working with the dog based on its personality.

Temperament testing in shelters is a fairly new trend in the animal adoption world. It has been made rather popular by Sue Sternberg in the last decade or so and recently on television shows that have featured the process.

Temperament testing is a process designed to help shelter employees, with little and or no dog experience, determine the adoptability of animals in their care. With the Sternberg process, dogs are essentially given a fifteen-minute evaluation to determine whether they deserve to live or die. Beyond that, the tests, in my humble opinion, are ludicrous and way off the mark.

For instance, a dog that is timid could fail. A dog that doesn't like having its feet or certain parts of it's body touched could fail. A dog that shows food aggression will fail. Nothing is taken into account for the numerous (and obvious) reasons for these behaviors in a shelter/rescue dog. Pass, you live, and fail, you die.

Obviously, a dog that attempts to rip the face off anyone who walks in its kennel is a fail too and I can live with that. Any animal that is so obviously a danger to humans isn't going to be a candidate for adoption. These are not the dogs I am going to talk about. I am going to address dogs that would make wonderful family pets that are being destroyed based on what I consider to be nothing but a ridiculous process.

Shelter Dog Stress

Many shelters are little more than doggie jail. I don't mean this to be a derogatory comment about shelters. I simply mean we have to look at the situation realistically. Just imagine you were placed in a 12 by 12 foot room with two other people you don't know and being stuck there for twenty-three hours a day. No television, radio, books or entertainment of any kind.

I don't know about you, but that would make me a little nuts after a while. I'm fairly certain I wouldn't be in top form after a few days. What makes us think it is any different for a dog in a shelter? Additionally, dogs don't understand the reason they are in that environment. If a person is thrown in jail, they generally have a good idea of why they are there.

Timid or Barking Behavior

Now with stress in mind, is it any wonder a dog, that may not be as confident, might be a little timid (scared) while in that type of environment? Additionally, they may have been attacked/intimidated by another dog(s) in their kennel. Maybe they have had little interaction with people in the past or abusive treatment from a previous owner.

Simply because a dog is timid in no way means they are unsuitable for adoption and deserve to be euthanized. What they need is trust-building exercises in a non-threatening environment. They need a little patience and love not the green needle.

It would also be fairly understandable if a confident dog barked a little more than normal. More than likely all he is doing is saying, “Hey, what the hell am I doing in here? Take me for a walk.” I have literally seen dozens and dozens of dogs that talk a big game inside the kennel, only to turn into love mongers when they come out to play.

Undesirable Physical Contact

I don't like feet. I don't like touching other peoples feet and I don't like people touching mine. Some people like feet. It's a personal choice. You know what a wet willie is? A wet willie is when someone sticks their finger in their mouth, covers it in spit, and then sticks it in their buddy's ear. Personally, I can't stand it, but I am sure there are people out there that get turned on by it.

The point I am trying to make is everyone has their own personal boundaries when it comes to being touched. Some are more sensitive than others. Why should dogs not be allowed this personal respect? As long as they don't attack me when I touch them, I can work the anxiety out of them through trust exercises. It's no big deal.

Food Aggression

This is my “favorite” in the temperament test process. It is so asinine in its concept, it shows to me at least, the person who created it hasn't the slightest clue when it comes to canine behavior in the high stress environment of a shelter. Let me explain what they do.

They place the dog's food in the kennel, and then, using a mannequin hand and arm, they reach in and try to take the food away from the dog. If the dog growls or snaps at the “hand” he fails the test.

First, lets look at this simply. If I sit down to dinner and someone I don't know suddenly comes and tries to snatch it out from under me, you can bet all they're going to be pulling back is a nub. At the very least, they are going to hear a few nasty words.

Now lets apply it to a dog in a shelter environment. Keep in mind this dog may have been competing with other dogs in their cage for food for a couple of days. Additionally, we know that if a dog's nutritional needs aren't being met, they are very likely to act up. Now, they have a free shot at some food and someone sticks a “hand and arm” into their face and attempts to take it away.

Are you kidding me? Do we think dogs are so stupid they actually think it was a human arm taking their food? Heck no! You have a dog in a shelter that is in survival mode. Let me put you in the same position and see how you react. I am betting it is fairly similar.

I love shelter dogs and the people who work with them regardless of their dog experience. I believe there does need to be a standardized type of test to evaluate shelter dogs as well. However, the current tests being conduct are, in my humble opinion, garbage. You all know I have no problem tooting my own horn, but, there is no way I could evaluate a shelter dog in fifteen minutes and I don't believe anyone else can either.

We have way too many wonderful dogs in shelters. Current temperament testing has served a purpose. It justifies uneducated individuals with an excuse to kill dogs rather than rehabilitate or understand them. It gives them validation for their lack of knowledge and ability to work for additional funding and staff. I know they are under-funded and need training, but the end certainly doesn't justify the means.