SAFER-Guide-v1-25Feb10-with-Forms.qxp:ASPCA Guides

manual and training guide

forward

In 2007, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA

) acquired

SAFER™ (Safety Assessment for Evaluating Rehoming).

The ASPCA invites you to learn about the program which will help you to better know the dogs

in your care, by identifying which dogs in your shelter or rescue group are ready to go into your

placement program, which ones will benefit from behavior modification and which ones will need

careful management if they are to be placed. The heart of the SAFER program is an aggression

assessment tool designed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB, for the Kansas Humane Society in Wichita.

In 1999, Kansas Humane Society approached Dr. Weiss to develop an aggression assessment

that could identify safe, adoptable dogs which would be short, accurate and cost little to implement

— concerns shared by most shelter organizations. Initially, SAFER was a six-item assessment

which could be completed in less than six minutes utilizing an Assessor and an Observer, shelter

staff who were knowledgeable about dog behavior and possessed excellent observation and safe

animal handling skills. Since its inception, a seventh item has been added — toy behavior — so the

assessment now takes a couple of minutes longer per dog.

Beyond the addition of a seventh assessment item, the SAFER program has grown in other ways.

During her work with Southern and Midwestern shelters taking part in the Rescue Waggin’

Animal

Transport Program sponsored by PetSmart Charities

and the ASPCA, Dr. Weiss came to realize

the importance of Assessor Certification, to ensure that SAFER Assessors were all consistent in

their execution of the program. (See SAFER Certification chapter for more information.) Through

her shelter intern program, behavior modification protocols for common behavior issues such as food

bowl aggression and touch-sensitivity have been tested and modified and are now available so that

after those problems are identified in the assessment, shelter behavior staffers can take action.

While SAFER is the first tool developed by Dr. Emily Weiss, MYM Canine-ality was subsequently

adopters’ lifestyles and expectations. Dr. Emily Weiss also researched and developed other

match-making programs for puppies and cats, Puppy-ality™ and Feline-ality™, respectively.

To learn more about the ASPCA

’

s SAFER and Meet Your Match programs, visit www.ASPCApro.org.

contents

introduction

research

who should assess

using the SAFER

™

assessment – an overview

facility requirements and equipment

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

utilizing the SAFER

™

worksheet

role of the observer

SAFER

™

certification

behavior modification and management protocols

glossary

reproducible forms and templates

ASPCA

SAFER™ is a seven item aggression

assessment that identifies the dog’s comfort level

with restraint and touch, reaction to new experiences

including movement and sound stimuli, bite inhibition,

behavior around food and toys, and arousal level

toward other dogs. The dog’s behavioral response to

these assessment items and the organization’s

Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) determine the

next steps to be taken with the dog.

why utilize an aggression assessment

Shelters that employ SAFER™ or other research-

based behavior assessments report fewer

aggression complaints, more adoptions, and better

client interactions. Simply put, they are able to more

accurately communicate to the adopter about what

they should expect, and how to best manage, a dog

in their home.

SAFER™ demands staff time, facility space

and a passel of supplies; and at times, it can raise

controversy. Why should shelters assess their dogs?

Short answer: it’s the prudent thing to do. A prudent

shelter is one that employs good judgment and

common sense. It is prudent to have a validated

scientific tool to back up that “gut feeling” that the

dog identified as good with kids and first-time pet

guardians has the highest probability to be a safe

choice for them. It is prudent to determine which

dogs will flourish when given some behavior

modification for the quirks and foibles identified

by the assessment. It is prudent to put in place a

consistent assessment procedure when determining

which dogs are most likely to be a danger to staff,

volunteers, potential adopters and the community at

large, so that next-step discussions will center around

what to do with the dog, not around what was done

to the dog. These are the reasons to find the staff

time and spend the money necessary to employ an

aggression assessment. In an age where lawsuits

are common and insurers are scarce, not to do so

would be…imprudent.

what the scoring means

When a dog scores “1s” and “2s” on his assessment,

he is less likely to bite under ordinary living situations

when handled in a mildly stressful or moderately

awkward manner than dogs who score “3s,” “4s” and

“5s.” Dogs that score “3s” may be safe and inhibit

their bite, but they could be made safer by putting

them on a behavior modification program. Dogs that

score “4s” may have serious fear or intolerance issues

and should either receive behavior modification

training and then be reassessed or only be adopted

out to experienced adopters ready to manage the

dog’s issues. Dogs whose behavior during one of the

first four assessment items score a “5” have the

Shelters that employ

SAFER

™

or other

research-based behavior

assessments report fewer

aggression complaints,

more adoptions, and better

client interactions.

introduction

ASPCA

SAFER

™

guide

highest probability to be a serious danger to staff,

volunteers and visitors to the facility. (See Research

pages 7–10 for more information.) They should only

be handled by the shelter’s most experienced staff

until their disposition is determined. These dogs may

respond well to behavior modification or they may not.

determining next steps

Once a dog is assessed and his behavior responses

noted, the assessment team should review his

worksheet. If any of the canine behaviors displayed

were reason for concern, the team should first review

the assessment video to ensure there was nothing

improper in the way the assessment was conducted

or the way the dog was handled that attributed to

the dog’s particular response. If all was done by the

book, the dog’s assessment should be brought to

the attention of the Animal Behavior or Animal Care

Supervisor to determine next steps. As each shelter

is unique and has different resources available, next

steps will vary from shelter-to-shelter.

If staff and cage space is available, the dog might

be given another twenty-four hours to settle into

his surroundings and then be re-assessed. If the

shelter employs a behavior staff, the dog may

be put on a behavior modification program and

re-assessed after the program is complete. Some

shelters have behavior foster homes in which to

house dogs with potential behavior issues for a trial

period. Experienced foster volunteers would follow

through with the shelter’s behavior modification

program and observe the dog’s behavior in a “real

life” setting. Shelters without behavior departments

may utilize community dog trainers to either devise

additional behavior modification protocols, work

with the shelter dogs or serve as behavior foster

homes — paid or unpaid. A local rescue group

may be interested in taking the dog. Sharing the

assessment with the group allows them to make an

informed decision about whether or not they have the

resources to meet the animal’s needs.

Or your facility may be an overcrowded, high

volume, open access animal care and control

with few resources and no Friends of the Shelter

group. Your shelter may not even be able to assess

every dog over six months of age. In this case,

SAFER™ might only be used to help identify the

behaviorally soundest pit bulls and guarding breeds

to insure that those placed up for adoption

will be great ambassadors for both their breeds

and your shelter.

The SAFER assessment may help supervisors

make euthanasia decisions, but the assessment

alone should never be the only input considered.

Relinquishment surveys done at intake, veterinary

reports from the health check, and input from animal

care technicians, volunteers, and foster parents

should also be considered whenever a life

or death decision must be made.

research

One focus of Dr. Emily Weiss’ graduate career

was on the selection of service dogs from shelters.

Her research, which was conducted at the Kansas

Humane Society of Wichita (KHS), focused

specifically on developing a set of assessment

items that would better predict service dog potential

in dogs selected from shelters. This work was

published in The Journal of Applied Animal

Behaviour and the Journal of Applied Animal

Welfare Science (1997, 2002). During the data

collection period, the KHS expressed an interest

in having a research-based assessment to help

identify potential aggression. They had a high

number of reports of aggression about their adopted

dogs. Several of the assessment items researched

for the service dog work focused on arousal, fear,

and other potential issues, making a good base

for a potential aggression assessment.

SAFER™ was developed based on the needs

and resources of the Kansas Humane Society of

Wichita (KHS). The open admission facility was, like

most facilities, short staffed. The time allotted for an

assessment was about six minutes per dog. Items

from the earlier research were added to a food

aggression assessment that was already available

for shelter use (Assess-a-Pet

, Sue Sternberg). Staff

was trained on the assessment process and then the

six item assessment was tested on a sample of dogs.

The sample was derived from dogs entering KHS.

All dogs were randomly assigned a number as they

entered the facility. If the number was odd, the dog

was placed in Group 1, if the number was even, the

dog was placed in Group 2. All dogs that entered

without a bite report and were considered by the

facility to be healthy were included in the study.

group 1:

These dogs were assessed using SAFER™

and received “1s” and “2s” on the assessment.

group 2:

These dogs were not assessed. They were

given a thorough health exam; and if they

aggressed during the exam, they were not

included in the study.

There were a total of 141 dogs in the sample:

66 in Group 1, and 75 in Group 2. The groups

are not equal due to issues beyond the study’s

control (illness, overcrowding etc.).

Results of the study were encouraging.

Note: At the time of the research, KHS was

struggling (as many facilities do) with too many

animals and not enough resources to support them.

They very often needed to euthanize for space.

During the study period, seven of the study dogs

were euthanized for space — those with the longest

stay (by the hour and minute) pulled. Eight dogs

were euthanized for health reasons. Twelve dogs

were euthanized for behavior reasons — eight from

Group 2 and four from Group 1.

22 dogs were adopted and returned (no aggression

reported in returns)

91 dogs were adopted

Adopters were called after the dogs were in their

homes for more than two weeks and were asked a

series of questions regarding observed aggression.

Replication of data in different environments is

one way to prove the strength of an experiment.

To this end, a similar study of SAFER™ was

recently conducted at the County of Riverside

Department of Animal Services (Riverside, CA)

comparing 50 assessed and 50 unassessed dogs.

Adopters reported incidents of growling in 14 of the

unassessed dogs and only three of the assessed

dogs; five of the unassessed and one assessed dog

bit but did not break the skin; and two unassessed

dogs bit someone and broke the skin.

research

identifying aggression

adopter reports on aggression

observed in the home

assessed unassessed

group group

nipping 4 14

food

aggression 1 5

aggression

around toys 2 5

growling at

a human 1 10

It is important that Assessors are trained to remain

objective and to accurately report the behavior they

observe during the assessment. Provided no

intervention has occurred, ideally dogs should

respond the same when an assessment is repeated

even if a different trained Assessor conducts the

second assessment, and even if the second

assessment occurs in a different environment.

Testing this consistency with a large population of

dogs would have been difficult. However, SAFER™

was used by PetSmart Charities’ Rescue Waggin’

transport program. This program, which at the time

of publication has saved over 15,000 dogs, brings

dogs from areas with low live release rates of

behaviorally healthy dogs to shelters with very high

adoption rates. This has given us the opportunity to

more fully explore whether SAFER™ is likely to

consistently produce the same results over time,

and with different Assessors as assessments are

done at both source and receiving shelters.

When the transport program began, Assessors at

both source and receiving shelters were trained,

but there was no certification program to check the

ability of individuals to accurately assess the dogs.

Receiving shelters were reporting a high number of

transported dogs with significant behavior issues.

These dogs require more resources, and often take

longer to be adopted. Since the receiving shelters

needed to save their resources for the at risk dogs

in their own communities, devising a method to

decrease the likelihood of transporting dogs with

significant behavior issues was necessary. The

solution was to certify individuals assessing for

the Rescue Waggin’

program to ensure that all

Assessors have the skills to conduct and score

correctly. Certification involves sending a tape

of the individual assessing three dogs in their

facility. Approximately 55% of those who submit

are certified on their first attempt. Once certification

was put in place, we assessed the program. We

followed 3,000 dogs in the Rescue Waggin’

program from source shelter to receiving shelter,

and only 3% of the dogs scored differently at the

receiving facility than they did at the source facility.

research

Many facilities can benefit from an assessment

tool that can help identify safety at intake. The

use of SAFER™ at intake was originally researched

at the Wisconsin Humane Society. Forty-one

owner-relinquished dogs were assessed at intake.

Twenty-one of the dogs scored “1s” and “2s” on

the assessment at intake. Of those, eighteen of

those scored “1s” and “2s” when assessed after

staying in the facility approximately 24-72 hours.

In other words, 86% of the dogs that scored “1s”

and “2s” at intake scored the same after being

housed in the facility for 1-3 days.

Twenty dogs scored at least one 3, 4 or 5. These

dogs were also then housed in the shelter for 1-3

days and then reassessed. Two-thirds of these dogs

scored the same after being housed in the shelter,

while one third had either a decreased level of

potential aggression, or a behavior (such as food

aggression) that was easily modifiable.

SAFER

™

as an intake tool

When the transport

program began,

assessors at both

source and receiving

shelters were trained,

but there was no

certification program

to check the ability of

individuals to accurately

assess the dogs.

consistency between assessors

and assessment centers

research

One of the most exciting areas of research with the

SAFER™ program has been the investigation of

behavior modification and management programs

for dogs in which potentially aggressive behavior

has been noted. We continue to build support for

these dogs, and do so by researching the

effectiveness of particular programs.

Food guarding is a very common behavior issue

in shelter dogs. We define food guarding as when

a dog aggresses over food items, and not over

toys or other non-food items. Working with the

Wisconsin Humane Society, Dr. Weiss developed a

simple in-shelter and in-home behavior modification

plan (see Reproducible Forms and Templates

section for details) for dogs displaying food

aggression during the SAFER™ assessment.

Criteria for subject selection was as follows: All

dogs had to be over six months of age; scored “1s”

and “2s” on all other parts of SAFER™ other than

food behavior; the dogs could not leave the food

item to aggress, aggression was only toward food

items; no behaviors suggesting possession

aggression were present. Bully breeds were not

chosen for this study.

All dogs that met the criteria during the study

period were placed on the food guarding program

to eliminate the behavior before being placed on

the adoption floor. The dogs were placed up for

adoption and identified as CARE (Canine Achievers

Reaching for Excellence) dogs. Adoption was

restricted to adopters without toddlers, and those

willing to continue to work with the dog in the home.

(See food guarding program for adopters in the

Reproducible Forms and Templates section for

more information.)

Follow-up was conducted by calling the adopters

on the third day post adoption, the third week post

adoption, and third month post adoption focusing

both on general health/behavior of the dog and

behavior regarding food. We also asked a set of

questions regarding potential stressors in the

adopter’s life such as divorce, moving, etc. Finally,

we asked adopters to videotape the behavior of

their dog at ‘dinner time’ so that we could view the

actual behavior in the home.

Fifty dog/adopter pairs participated in the study. Of

that group, forty-eight dogs had no observable food

aggression in the home. One dog appeared to have

possession aggression issues and was returned to

the shelter after aggressing toward the adopter over

a dish towel. One dog was observed by the adopter

as growling over the food bowl on the third week

post adoption, but the behavior was no longer

present after three months in the home.

We continue to research behavior modification and

management programs so that we can best support

the dogs, the adopters, the shelters, and the

communities in which they reside.

Food guarding is a very

common behavior issue

in shelter dogs. We define

food guarding as when a

dog aggresses over food

items, and not over toys

or other non-food items.

supporting dogs with identified

behavior challenges

who should assess

SAFER™ is an assessment that requires certain skills.

While SAFER™ training and certification can assist in

skill development, ideally Assessors already have the

following skills before learning the assessment:

ability to objectively observe behavior

Objective observation is vital for accurate assessments.

Assessors should be skilled at objective observation as

opposed to subjective interpretation. Phrases such as

“He liked that” are not useful for assessment, but “loose

body, mouth open, huffing” are useful and objective ways

to discuss and observe behavior.

canine communication knowledge

The Assessor will be working with a large variety of

dogs and, in many cases, will not have any information

regarding a particular dog’s past behavior. It is vital

that the Assessor is well versed in canine behavior

and communication to keep safe, and to be sure the

dog is assessed accurately and humanely.

training in safe and humane dog handling

This guide and the SAFER™ workshops focus on handling during the actual assessment. However,

there are many interactions with the dog before the assessment begins. The Assessor

will be removing the dog from his kennel, walking him, etc. For example, if a dog is handled in a

rough or startling manner by an Assessor in the kennel run, his behavior is less likely to be an

accurate reflection of his future behavior. Assessors should be trained in how to handle dogs safely

and humanely before attempting aggression assessments.

good physical health

SAFER™ requires bending, kneeling, and quick movement and fast reflexes. This is one

instance where accommodations cannot be made for physical challenges and disabilities on

behalf of the Assessor. If the assessment is not carried out as written, the results are invalid.

who should assess

Ideally

Assessors should not have any interaction or contact with the dog prior to

the assessment.

In addition, Assessors with breed biases (pro or con) should refrain from

assessing those breeds.

using the SAFER

™

assessment –

an overview

using the SAFER

™

assessment –

an overview

SAFER™ is a short seven item aggression

assessment that generally takes no more

than ten minutes per dog to complete. This

estimate does not include the time necessary

to prepare the assessment room, remove the

dog from his cage and give him an opportunity

to eliminate before the evaluation. The carefully

planned sequence of assessment items builds

from least invasive and stimulating to most

invasive and arousing, in order to determine

what, if any, aggression issues the dog may

have. The assessment must follow the

sequence as written; failure to do so may

unnecessarily put the Assessor at risk.

The SAFER™ assessment can be used as an

intake tool for limited admission shelters to

determine whether or not a dog is a safe adoption

candidate they will accept into their facilities or

to determine what behavior modification the dog

might need. However, it is generally recommended

that open admission shelters provide dogs that

have just arrived two to three days to settle in

before performing the assessment. Our studies

show that there is a 15% difference between how

the dog scores when assessed at intake versus

reassessing after allowing him time to acclimate.

While the percentage is small, it is recommended

each dog get that opportunity to settle in when at

all possible.

using the SAFER

™

assessment — an overview

facility requirements

and equipment

facility requirements and equipment

SAFER™ assessments demand little in the way of special equipment or space. Most tools can be

found in the average shelter.

assessment room

The ideal assessment room is a

large, quiet and relatively empty

room. However, any quiet room

that is at least 10' x 10' can work.

video camera and tripod

The video camera is used to record

every assessment. Often, behavior

occurs quickly, and a review of the

tape can help determine what

behavior was demonstrated.

Further, taping helps with quality

control, as Assessor handling can

be reviewed and then improved

upon based on taped observations.

Assess-A-Hand

This tool is used for two assessment

items. It is simply a plastic hand

on a stick, and is available at

www.suesternberg.com.

food bowls

The food behavior item is

conducted using a food bowl.

The bowl should be an

appropriate size for the dog

being assessed. Metal bowls

are preferred for most assessment

rooms as they will most easily

slide across the floor when

manipulated.

two armless chairs

Several of the assessment items

are conducted while seated in a

chair. The chair should be armless

so that the Assessor can easily

move on and off, as well as side

to side. The Observer should be

seated during the same items that

the Assessor is seated.

dry and canned dog

food (at least two types)

The food behavior assessment

item requires that the dog consume

the food presented during the

assessment. We recommend

moderately valuable food—a kibble

mixed with canned. Two types of

food should be available in case the

dog does not find the first choice

palatable.

facility requirements and equipment

NOTE: It is strongly recommend that the assessment room be stocked with items to help diffuse

aggression, should it become necessary to do so. For example keep SprayShield (formerly Direct

Stop), an air horn, and/or a bucket of water on hand.

two to three toys

For the toy behavior item, two

to three toys should be presented

such as a rope toy, squeaky toy

or ball (big enough to be removed

from the dog’s mouth). The toys

should be of varied textures and

shapes. Minimally, we recommend

a rope and a squeaky.

new unbasted

rawhide per dog

The rawhide item requires an

unbasted rawhide. It should be

large enough that it can be touched

with the Assess-a-Hand

when

the dog has his mouth fully around

it. Ideally, a new rawhide should be

used with each dog.

buckle or

martingale collar

During the assessment, the dog

must wear a collar with a buckle or

plastic clasp that does not tighten

when the leash is tugged. If your

shelter fits all incoming dogs with

semi-martingale collars (also known

as Premier collars), there is no need

to change them for the assessment.

However, the buckle collar is preferred.

six-foot leash

The leash must be six feet long

and size-appropriate for the dog.

Cotton web, nylon or leather

leashes 1/2 inch to 5/8 inch in

width are both strong and easy

to handle for most Assessors.

clipboard

A clipboard is used by the Observer

to hold the SAFER™ worksheet.

optional sound machine

Many facilities have difficulties

controlling external sound around

the assessment room. Sound

machines that emit white noise

(sounds like the static on your

radio) can be quite effective in

buffering noise outside the

assessment room.

the SAFER

™

assessment

item by item

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

the SAFER

™

assessment

item by item

Let’s examine each assessment item in sequence. We will focus on how each item is conducted, what

behaviors the item is meant to identify and what those might mean in regard to the dog’s adoptability profile.

We will also focus on scoring options for that item and tips about body position and leash control to keep in

mind in order to accurately conduct the assessment.

item 1: look

•

Place the chair in the room where it is not against a wall or

in a corner.

•

Sit upright in the chair with knees apart approximately

shoulder width and feet flat on the floor.

•

If the dog is small, (around 15-20 pounds or less or if you

feel you are hovering over the dog) evaluate the dog from

the floor instead of sitting in a chair. Kneel on the floor with

one knee on the floor and the other leg with foot flat on floor.

•

Allow the dog a minute or two to get comfortable with the

Assessor and the room. (Soft verbal and physical contact

with the dog is acceptable during this time.)

•

Quietly coax the dog into a position between the knees,

facing the Assessor.

•

Gather up the leash and lightly grasp the collar with one

hand, then lightly cup dog’s lower jaw in both hands and

encourage the dog with soft eye contact.

•

Allow the dog to pull away and/or avoid the eye contact.

•

If the dog moves his head before he has settled in your hands, repeat up to three times.

STOP THE ASSESSMENT if dog freezes, hard stares and/or growls or tries to bite. Proceed

to the Food and Toy Behavior Items if additional information is desired.

insights gained from item one:

To determine how the dog responds when lightly restrained and given soft

yet direct eye contact from a stranger.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

scoring:

Dog leans forward or jumps up to lick the Assessor’s face with tail wagging, ears back and eyes

averted. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted, with tail wagging and ears back. He allows head to be held loosely in

Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “1”]

Dog holds gaze with soft eyes, soft body. He allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped

hands. Dog holds gaze for three full seconds. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted. His ears are back, his tail is down, and he has a relaxed body posture.

Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted. His body posture is stiff and fearful, his tail is low and not moving. He

allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “2”]

Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions.

[Enter “2”]

Dog jumps on the Assessor, consistently rubs his shoulder on the Assessor, and will not allow

Assessor to conduct the assessment. [Enter “3”]

Dog holds eye contact while remaining motionless with ears forward. His body is stiff and becomes

stiffer as assessment progresses. [Enter “4”]

Dog freezes and/or growls or tries to bite. [Enter “5”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

tips for success:

•

Be sure to sit either upright or tilting slightly back in the chair. Do not lean

forward and loom over the dog.

•

When assessing on the floor with a small dog, do not sit cross-legged

because it does not facilitate moving away quickly.

•

Do not pull or push dog into position. Use hand movements or voice to

coax the dog into position.

•

Use the same hand to control the excess leash and to grasp the collar

at the side of the neck.

•

Do not hold the dog’s head in place. Allow him to turn away to

avoid eye contact.

item 2: sensitivity

•

When the Look item is complete, Assessor will move directly

to the Sensitivity item. Sit upright in the chair with legs

moderately spread and feet flat on floor. (Kneel on the floor

if the dog is small.)

•

Coax the dog to stand perpendicular to Assessor, centered

in front of Assessor’s knees. The dog can stand or sit for

this item.

•

If the dog’s body is oriented to the right, gather the leash in

your right hand and grasp the collar with your right hand,

fingers facing towards the dog’s rear. Brace your right elbow

against your knee in order to control the dog’s head. If the

dog’s body is oriented to the left, gather the leash in your left

hand and grasp the collar with your left hand, fingers facing

towards the dog’s rear. Brace your left elbow against your

knee in order to control the dog’s head.

•

With your free hand, grasp (with pressure slightly more than

normal touch) and lift and twist handfuls of skin and fur in a

kneading motion, starting at the neck, following an inch or two

outside the spinal column, working down the dog’s body past the tail to the flank and back up again.

•

Execute the “down and back” pattern twice.

STOP THE ASSESSMENT if dog freezes and his eyes grow hard, if he head flips and

mouths with extreme pressure, growls, or he attempts to bite. (Assessment item continues if dog is

mouthing with light to moderate pressure.) Proceed to the Food and Toy Behavior Items

if additional information is desired.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item two:

To determine the dog’s touch sensitivity. Fearfulness toward new experiences

may be noted as well.

scoring:

Dog leans into the Assessor, eyes soft or squinty, soft and loose body, open mouth. [Enter “1”]

Dog stands still and accepts the touch, his eyes are averted, and his tail is in neutral position with

relaxed body posture. Dog’s mouth is likely closed for at least a portion of the assessment item.

[Enter “1”]

Dog displays high energy and movement, but it is directed toward getting closer to the Assessor.

His body is soft, likely panting, may jump up between attempts to lick Assessor. [Enter “2”]

Dog is active and focused on the Assessor and all other stimuli available. His body is soft, likely

panting, likely to display high movement between attempts. [Enter “2”]

Dog stands still and accepts the touch, his eyes are averted, his tail is between his legs, body stiff,

mouth closed, lip long, ears likely back, may lip lick. [Enter “2”]

Dog repeatedly turns toward the Assessor’s hand, with loose body and open mouth, mouths the

hand, but does not apply pressure. Or, dog licks hands while lips are long. [Enter “2”]

Dog is not fearful and is struggling to get away. The dog is not focused and is in constant

movement, unconnected to the Assessor. [Enter “3”]

Dog stands tall and square. His tail perpendicular to spine, mouth closed for the majority of

assessment item. [Enter “3”]

Dog repeatedly turns toward the Assessor’s hand with a very fast head movement. If able, he

muzzle punches the hand. His body is stiff and he has a closed mouth with a short lip. [Enter “4”]

Dog freezes, growls or tries to bite. [Enter “5”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

When necessary, stand up and/or take a few steps to help get the dog

into position.

•

Lean over the dog as little as possible.

•

Kneading movement should be firm but not painful to the dog.

•

Make sure the kneading action is on the side opposite to the Assessor’s

knees so that if the dog attempts to bite, he will turn his head away from

Assessor’s body, not toward it.

•

If the dog attempts to bite, stand up quickly and push chair away to avoid

falling over it. (This is why a light folding chair is preferred to any other

kind of seating.)

item 3: tag

•

Stand and quietly move chair to the edge of the room.

•

When standing sideways to the dog, in a high-pitched happy

voice say, “Do you want to play?”

•

Begin moving around the room with the dog, remembering to

keep the leash loose and continuously engaging the dog with

a playful voice (remain engaged until the item has ended).

•

Then with body lowered by slanting sideways away from the

dog and bending at the knees, tag dog’s rear flank with two

fingers and say “POW!”

•

Dog does not have to be engaged with the Assessor in order

to be tagged.

•

After the tag, side step away from dog. Be aware of the leash

tension. (Keep the leash loose. Dog must have the choice to

move away from the Assessor.)

•

Observe the dog’s response.

•

Repeat two more times if it is safe to do so.

•

End the item by crouching down or sitting in the chair at an

angle to the dog and then observe the dog’s behavior.

STOP THE ASSESSMENT if dog growls or

tries to bite. Proceed to the Food and Toy Behavior

Items if additional information is desired.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item three:

To determine the dog’s response to movement and sound stimuli. To identify

dogs with potential dominance aggression or fear aggression.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

Do not drag the chair when moving it out of the way.

•

Be sure to keep your body angled away from the dog at all times.

•

Keep leash slack at all times so the dog has the choice to move away

(flee) instead of feeling trapped and forced to engage.

•

Use a playful, high-pitched voice.

•

Never loom over the dog.

•

Keep body low, angled away from the dog when moving in to tag.

•

Tag should be quick and light on dog’s rear flank, using just the fingertips.

•

If the dog becomes aggressive, immediately become still, angled away

from the dog.

•

If dog charges, quickly gather up excess leash and using both hands,

hold dog out at arm’s length until he settles down.

•

Be sure to keep leash loose even after the Tag portion has ended.

scoring:

Dog assumes play position and joins the game. Or dog indicates play with huffing, soft ‘popping’

of the body, etc. Dog might jump on Assessor once play begins. [Enter “1”]

Dog stands with his tail low and wagging, and comes toward the Assessor in a friendly manner

when the Assessor ceases moving. [Enter “1”]

Follows at end of leash, body soft, or low and a bit fearful. [Enter “1”]

Dog is fearful but unresponsive when touched. Approaches the Assessor when the game ends.

Dog is likely crouching, may have long lip or lip lick. [Enter “2”]

Dog is not fearful but is unresponsive to the Assessor, and approaches the Assessor at the

end of the game (may need coaxing to approach). He is focused on stimuli other than the

Assessor. [Enter “2”]

Dog repeatedly turns quickly away when touched, or repeatedly spins toward the touch, and

repeatedly tries to exit. Dog may be crouching, tail is tucked, mouth closed, body stiff. [Enter “3”]

Dog responds with his tail high, ears forward, mouth likely closed for at least half of the assessment

item, body stiff and body checks the Assessor. Dog is often focused on other stimuli in the room.

[Enter “3”]

Dog panics with vocalization combined with tail tuck, yelping and repeatedly trying to exit. (If dog

settles after 1st or 2nd tag, choose 1st “3” scoring option). [Enter “4”]

Dog stands his ground while not cornered and barks at the Assessor with ears forward, body stiff,

mouth closed and lips pursed when not barking. [Enter “4”]

Dog growls or tries to bite. [Enter “5”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

item 4: squeeze

•

Quietly place chair back into position used in “Look” and

“Sensitivity” assessment items.

•

While standing in front of chair, coax dog so that he stands

or sits perpendicular to the Assessor.

•

Sit with knees spread apart and feet on floor. (Kneel on the

floor if the dog is small.)

•

If the dog’s body is oriented to your right, with your left hand

gather excess leash and hold the collar, fingers facing

upwards towards the dog's head. If the dog is oriented to

your left, with your right hand gather excess leash and hold

the collar, fingers facing upwards towards the dog's head.

•

Brace the arm holding the leash and collar on your knee,

pushing dog out from Assessor.

•

Say the word “squeeze” and with other hand, pick

up foreleg nearest you midway down leg and lightly

run hand down to paw.

•

Using just finger pads, squeeze between the dog’s toe pads. Increase pressure on the skin between the 2

toes until the dog responds.

Allow dog to withdraw paw.

•

If there is no response in 3 seconds, stop the pressure and release the paw.

•

Score response for first squeeze.

•

Repeat for a second time, using the same verbal cue and same paw. (Score separately.)

STOP THE ASSESSMENT if dog tries to bite. Proceed to the Food and Toy Behavior Items if

additional information is desired.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item four:

To determine the dog’s sensitivity response, bite inhibition, acceptance of

being held or touched in a mildly controlled and unpleasant manner, and what

he chooses to do when given warning that something mildly unpleasant will

happen a second time.

If the dog struggles or immediately pulls back when you first reach for

the paw, squeeze the rear flank instead of the skin between the toes.

note

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

Instructions for using the flank (flank is the area about

2–4 inches below the anus on the back of a dog’s thigh):

If you determine the dog has paw sensitivity issues or that it is unsafe to squeeze the paw

(according to the notes on the paw portion of the SAFER worksheet), you will use the flank.

•

Coax dog so that he stands or sits perpendicular to the Assessor.

•

Sit with knees spread apart and feet on floor. (Kneel on the floor if the dog is small.)

•

The hand nearest the dog’s head should hold both the gathered leash and the collar. For example, if the

dog’s body is oriented to the right, gather the leash in your right hand and grasp the collar with your right

hand, fingers facing towards the dog’s rear. Brace your right elbow against your knee in order to control the

dog’s head. And if the dog’s body is oriented to the left, gather the leash in your left hand and grasp the

collar with your left hand, fingers facing towards the dog’s rear. Brace your left elbow against your knee in

order to control the dog’s head. (Same position as is used in the Sensitivity item)

•

With your free hand poised just below the dog’s neck on the outside the dog’s spinal column, first say

“squeeze” (before touching the dog), then stroke the dog’s back from neck to flank and, using just finger

pads, squeeze a section of skin on the dog’s flank. Increase pressure on the flank until the dog responds.

•

If there is no response in 3 seconds, stop the pressure and release.

•

Repeat for a second time, using the same side/flank and the same verbal cue. (Score the first and second

attempt separately.)

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

If the dog's behavior upon the first attempt matches any of the response choices

higher than a “2”, you should use the rear flank.

note

scoring:

if paw is used:

First Second

Attempt Attempt

Dog gently pulls back his paw. Dog may lick hand. [Enter “1”]

Dog does not respond at all for three seconds. His eyes are averted and his ears are

relaxed or back. [Enter “1”]

Dog gently pulls back and whimpers. [Enter “2”]

Dog gently places his open mouth over the Assessor’s hand without applying

pressure. [Enter “2”]

Dog closes mouth, becomes stiff. [Enter “3”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the

first attempt, use the flank instead.

Dog is soft in body and eye, and moves his legs/body so that the Assessor is

unable to hold the paw [Enter “3”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the first attempt,

use the flank instead.

Dog yelps repeatedly or screams. [Enter “3”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the

first attempt, use the flank instead.

Dog head flips while pulling back paw. [Enter “3”] Note: If this behavior occurs on

the first attempt, use the flank instead.

Dog reaches toward the Assessor’s hand on the second attempt while moving his

paw away when the Assessor attempts to lift it. The dog will not allow the Assessor

to assess second time. [Enter “4”] Note: If this behavior occurs on first attempt,

use the flank instead.

Dog growls. [Enter “4”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the first attempt, use the

flank instead.

Dog freezes and/or tries to bite. [Enter “5”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the first

attempt, use the flank instead.

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

Move the dog into position before sitting down or lure him into place using

voice and hand movements. Do not physically force dog into position.

•

Don’t lean or reach over the back of the dog. Use the front paw closest to

the Assessor.

•

Do not hold onto the foot if the dog wants to withdraw it.

•

Apply pressure with fingertips only, never use fingernails.

•

Repeat twice on the same side (paw or flank) unless it is unsafe to do so.

scoring:

if rear flank is used:

First Second

Attempt Attempt

Dog sits, mouth open or lip long. [Enter “1”]

Dog does not respond at all. [Enter “1”]

Dog gently places his open mouth over the Assessor’s hand without applying

pressure. [Enter “2”]

Dog closes mouth, begins to purse lips and becomes stiff. [Enter “3”]

Dog head flips while moving hip away. [Enter “3”]

Dog growls. [Enter “4”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the first attempt stop the

assessment. Proceed to the Food and Toy Behavior items if additional information

is desired.

Dog tries to bite. [Enter “5”] Note: If this behavior occurs on the first attempt stop

the assessment. Proceed to the Food and Toy Behavior items if additional

information is desired.

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

item 5: food behavior

•

Have the Observer hold the dog on leash.

•

Quietly move chair to the edge of the assessment space.

•

Place bowl containing a mixture of kibble and canned food

on the floor and slide it within the dog’s reach.

•

Have the Observer hold the dog on leash, with some slack,

standing slightly behind and to the side of dog.

•

Quietly move chair to the edge of the assessment space.

•

Place bowl containing a mixture of kibble and canned food

on the floor and slide it within the dog’s reach.

•

Allow the dog a few moments to begin eating and “own”

the bowl.

•

Assessor then approaches the dog head-on saying, “Give me

that food!” in a normal tone of voice (not high or low pitched).

Assessor shifts to stand sideways to the dog, and reaches

out and places Assess-a-Hand

in the bowl, moving the bowl

approximately one foot toward Assessor.

•

Observer allows some slack in the leash making sure dog

cannot reach the Assessor, but can follow the food dish

should he choose to do so. The dog should not feel any

tension on the leash.

•

Assessor backs away with Assess-a-Hand

behind her and

allows dog to resume eating.

•

Assessor repeats, “Give me that bowl!” and waits a moment to see if dog withdraws.

•

Assessor places Assess-a-Hand

in bowl and gently pushes head away from bowl, first pushing the right

cheek then pushing the left cheek.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item five:

To identify food aggression.(This item was initially designed by Sue Sternberg

and used in her Assess-a-Pet™ assessment.)

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

Dog should not be fed within two hours prior to the SAFER™

assessment.

•

Have food bowl prepared before the SAFER™ assessment

begins. There should be enough food in the bowl to allow the dog

to eat for two minutes.

•

Make sure to give the dog enough time to really engage in eating

before trying to take the food away.

•

If dog is not eating, try a higher value food. The higher meat content in

canned cat food can be a good addition for finicky eaters.

•

Be sure to give the verbal warning (“Give me that bowl!”) when

reaching for the bowl the first time and before reaching for the bowl

the second time.

•

When moving toward the dog, hold the Assess-a-Hand

as you would

your own hand. When backing away, put it behind you.

•

If the dog does not eat, repeat the Food Behavior and Toy Behavior items

12 to 24 hours later. Both items must be conducted at the same time.

scoring:

Dog lifts head and ceases eating when you reach to pull the bowl away or push him out. [Enter “1”]

Dog calmly allows the food to be moved, follows the dish, but does not interfere with the dish’s

movement. Dog’s body is soft and loose, eyes soft, tail neutral. He lifts his head when hand is

pushed against his cheek. [Enter “1”]

Dog follows the dish with his tail down, body likely a bit stiff. Dog lifts head after a bit of pressure

from hand to cheek. [Enter “2”]

Dog follows the dish, his tail between his legs, ears are forward. His body is stiff. Dog does not lift

his head from the bowl when hand is applied to his cheek. [Enter “3”]

Dog gulps food, begins to eat faster and with bigger bites, body stiff. He does not lift head when

hand is applied to cheek. [Enter “3”]

Dog freezes and/or growls. [Enter “4”]

Dog tries to bite. (Use chart on the worksheet to identify level of bite attempt/bite.) [Enter “5”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

item 6: toy behavior

part 1

•

Observer continues holding dog’s leash slightly behind and

to the side of the dog.

•

Assessor shakes or squeaks first toy and tosses onto floor

within dog’s reach.

•

Give dog a few moments to get invested in play with toy.

•

If dog does not engage in first toy, give some brief verbal

encouragement (“Want to play?”), shake/squeak and toss a

second toy of a different type about a foot away from the first

toy, still within reach for the dog.

•

Assessor approaches from the front and says “Give me that toy!” while reaching for it with Assess-a-Hand

(Similar to food bowl approach.)

•

Observer allows some slack in the leash but makes sure dog cannot reach Assessor. The dog should not

feel tension in the leash.

•

Note dog’s response to the toy he was most invested in if two different toys were used.

•

After the item is complete, the Observer should move the dog away from the toy(s). When the dog is out of

reach of the toy(s), the Assessor should pick it (them) up.

optional part 2

•

Observer continues holding dog's leash slightly behind and to the side of the dog.

•

Assessor tosses or gently rolls a rawhide within the dog's reach.

•

Give dog time to engage in chewing rawhide.

•

Approach from the front and say “Give me that toy!” while reaching for rawhide with the Assess-a-Hand

•

Note response to rawhide removal.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item six:

To identify possible possession aggression and any behaviors which could

benefit from behavior modification now to prevent future problems including

freezing, blocking access to toy with body, snapping, growling or giving the

Assessor hard eyes.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

Make sure food bowl has been picked up from previous assessment item.

Be sure that any kibble that was spilled onto the floor during the Food

Behavior item is also picked up.

•

Observer must watch to keep leash slack throughout assessment item

unless dog threatens Assessor.

•

Assessor should encourage play with a slight bend at the waist while

shaking or, if possible, squeaking the toy. Be sure not to bend over dog.

•

If second toy is necessary, the shape and texture should be very different

from the first one offered.

•

Verbal encouragement should be brief and end once toy is tossed.

•

Make sure not to throw second toy directly atop first toy.

•

Use a brusque tone when saying “Give me that toy!” but don’t be

overwhelming or intimidating.

•

Watch for how/where the dog places his body in relation to the

toy/rawhide and Assessor. Especially note hunkering over object (body

blocking) and placing paw atop object.

•

Ideally, clean toys and new rawhides are used with each dog. Minimally,

wash the toys at least once a day and replace rawhides that have been

chewed and/or are wet/soft.

scoring:

Toys Rawhide

only (if used)

No interest. [Enter “1”]

Dog settles down close to chew, will relinquish toy or rawhide to you. [Enter “1”]

Dog settles close, keeps a firm grip and is loose and wiggly. He does not place his

body between you and the toy/rawhide. [Enter “1”]

Dog takes toy away, keeps a firm hold. His body is between you and the toy or

rawhide, and he is loose and wiggly. No growling or stiffness. [Enter “2”]

Dog takes toy/rawhide away, keeps a firm hold. His body is stiff. [Enter “3”]

Dog freezes and/or growls. [Enter “4”]

Dog attempts bite (use chart on worksheet) [Enter “5”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

item 7: dog-to-dog behavior (optional)

Who should you choose for your helper dog? First and foremost the helper dog should be the same

gender as the dog being assessed and at least six months of age. He/she should be stable and social

with other dogs. The size of the helper dog should be within 20 pounds of the dog being assessed.

•

Observer leaves to get appropriate helper dog, (this dog should be identified prior to assessment) while

Assessor removes dog being assessed from room.

•

Observer enters empty assessment room, bringing helper dog to far end of the room. Observer then stands

still and quietly holds helper dog’s leash.

•

Assessor re-enters with dog being assessed.

•

Keep leash loose on approach.

•

Observe dog’s responses as he notices and approaches helper dog.

•

Physical contact is not necessary for this assessment item.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

insights gained from item seven:

To identify dog-to-dog aggression or potentially challenging behaviors such

as growling, hysterical barking and lunging to make known which dogs

would benefit from behavior modification and “meet and greets” or need

placement in a home without other dogs. The dog that approaches with

body held high and tail up within the first couple of seconds of approach

is more likely to have dog aggression issues at some point.

Item Seven: Dog-to-Dog Behavior is optional. Do not conduct if there are no

suitable helper dogs in the facility. Instead observe how the dog responds to other

dogs when moving him in and out of the cage and around the shelter. Make notes

in the “Behaviors observed . . .” section.

note

scoring:

Dog approaches the helper dog in play position. His mouth is open. [Enter “1”]

Dog approaches the helper dog submissively (head low, tail low, ears back, lip long). [Enter “1”]

Dog approaches helper dog with tail at spine level, body not stiff, ears relaxed, lip long or neutral.

[Enter “2”]

Dog does not approach the helper dog. Turns body to side in relation to other dog, or exits.

[Enter “2”]

Dog approaches the helper dog, body soft, tail well above spine level, ears forward. [Enter “2”]

Dog approaches the helper dog by rushing in with his tail high, stiff body, head tall, and ears erect.

[Enter “3”]

Dog charges the helper dog while growling or attempting to bite. [Enter “4”]

Note behaviors observed before, during or after the item.

the SAFER

™

assessment item by item

tips for success:

•

Only use a dog that has already been SAFER

™

assessed as the

helper dog.

•

Remember that the helper dog should be in the room before dog being

assessed is brought back for last assessment item.

•

Only the approach behavior is being observed and noted for assessment.

•

Make sure video camera is set up to catch approach behavior, not actual

dog-to-dog interaction.

Be sure to take your observational “snapshot” in the first few seconds of the

approach. Dogs do not have to touch.

note

utilizing

the SAFER

™

worksheet

assessor

M M D D Y Y

shelter name

date

M M D D Y Y

date entered shelter

dog’s name

sex

❑

male

❑

neutered male

❑

female

❑

spayed female

coat color

breed

dog ID number

age

observer

utilizing the SAFER

™

worksheet

The SAFER™ worksheet captures the dog’s responses for each assessment item. If aggression is noted, a

clearer picture of each response is achieved by using the chart at the end of each assessment item. This

additional information will be helpful in guiding the behavior team as it determines which dogs are candidates

for behavior modification. There is also space to capture information about how the dog behaved before,

during and after the assessment item. Behaviors such as yawning, lip licking, etc. can be valuable pieces of

information and should be captured.

First, fill in the general information at the top of the sheet before beginning the assessment.

Then, as each assessment item is conducted, choose the one response that best matches the dog’s

behavior. The realm of dog behavior responses is limitless, so those observed may not be an exact match.

Choose the one that is closest to a match, and make sure to note other behaviors observed in the space

provided marked “Note behaviors observed.” Enter the number found at the end of the selected response on

the line provided. Note that scoring options progress from least likely to aggress to the most likely to

aggress (softest behavior to stiffest behavior). Choose the response that encompasses the most

severe behavior you observed, always keeping an eye on the dog's body tension.

In the event that the dog responds in an aggressive manner, check or circle all the body postures observed in

the chart following the scoring options.

Example of box at the bottom of Item One: Look

utilizing the SAFER

™

worksheet

If aggression is noted, use the checklist below to evaluate the dog’s response. You can use this

information to help best guide the behavior team regarding potential behavior modification and

management (see guide for protocols).

❑

Body stiff

❑

Eyes hard

❑

Vocalizes

❑

Exposes teeth

❑

Freeze

❑

Ears back

❑

Dog growls

❑

Snaps no contact

❑

Tail up

❑

Ears forward

❑

Attempts to bite

❑

Tail down

After the final item has been scored, review the scores and mark an “X” in the corresponding box for each

assessment item in the large chart on the last page of the worksheet. The name of each item runs horizontally

along the top of the box in the order they are conducted. The numbers 1-5 represent the possible scores for

each item.

Note that shaded text appears in some of the boxes. These are designed to help guide the Assessor

regarding both safety and potential behavior modification.

P = Potential behavior modification and/or management

R = Behavior modification and/or management strongly recommended

S = STOP item for safety reasons. Behavior modification and/or management strongly recommended.

Move to food if SOP suggests

For example if, during the Look Item, the dog averted his eyes and was stiff and fearful, the score is “2,” the

Assessor would mark an “X” in “Look” column at row 2 as follows:

If the dog was ”stiff but held eye contact,” the score would be “4.” The “X” would be placed over the letter “R”

under the “Look” column.

If the dog froze and growled or attempted to bite during the Look item, the score would be “5” and the “X”

would be placed in the box of the far left column, over the letter “S.” The Assessor would either end the

assessment at this point or move to Food or Toy Behavior Items if additional information on the dog’s

behavior is desired. This additional information may help determine the dog’s placement options.

The Sensitivity, Tag, Squeeze, Food Behavior and Toy Behavior items contain responses that may be scored

“P.” These responses indicate arousal, fear or inhibited aggression on the dog’s part. The dog indicates a

discomfort level with the assessment that might be modified through some behavior modification.

utilizing the SAFER

™

worksheet

PPPP P PP

RRRRRRRRP

SSSSRRRR

Look Sensitivity Tag Squeeze 1 Squeeze 2 Food Toy Rawhide Dog

role of the observer

observation of behavior: Oftentimes behaviors

are not visible to the Assessor, such as tail position

in the Look item, or eyes and ears in the Sensitivity

item, and it is the job of the Observer to calmly

and quietly communicate these to the Assessor.

Comments about the perceived state of the dog (“he

seems to like it,” “he seems happy”) are subjective

statements and are not of use to the Assessor, and

might even put her at risk.

fill out worksheet: The worksheet should

be filled out after each assessment item is

conducted. The Observer should keep notes

regarding behavior both during and between

each assessment item. The Observer should

discuss the dog’s behavior for each item with the

Assessor to determine which choice best describes

the dog’s behavior for each item.

video recording: The video camera should have

a wide angle option, and should be placed where

it will not easily be knocked over. The Observer

should turn the camera on at the beginning of each

assessment and identify the name, breed and ID

number of the dog being assessed. The Observer

should turn the record function off before leaving

to get the helper dog, and turn it back on when

they return to the room. The camera should again

be turned off at the conclusion of the dog’s SAFER™

assessment. The Observer should keep a log of

which dogs are recorded on each particular

tape or DVD, so that they are easy to find in the

future, if necessary.

holding for food bowl and

toy behavior items: The Observer holds the

leash for both the Food and Toy Behavior items.

It is important that there is slack in the leash during

the items, so that the dog feels he has a choice as

to where to move. At the same time, the Observer

must always be aware of the length of leash

available to the dog, and the safety of the Assessor.

Should the dog aggress, the Observer is responsible

for safely containing the dog to avoid injury. The

Observer should hold the leash with two hands,

being careful not to stand in a corner or against a

wall, which would make defensive handling difficult.

handling the helper dog for dog-to-dog

item: After the Toy Behavior item is complete, the

Observer should give the dog’s leash back to the

Assessor and fill out the worksheet for the previous

item. The Observer will then leave to collect the

helper dog. After the Observer leaves, the Assessor

will also exit the room with the dog being assessed.

The Observer should be sure the helper dog is of

the same gender as the dog being assessed, and is

appropriate with other dogs. The Observer should

enter the assessment room first with the helper dog

and stand far from the door. Ideally, the Observer

and helper dog are about 10-15 feet from the

doorway. The Observer will stand still and hold the

leash while observing the behavior of the assessed

dog as he enters the room. Both Assessor and

Observer should take a mental “snapshot” of the

assessed dog’s behavior upon the initial approach.

helping to defuse aggression when

necessary:

On very rare occasions, a dog may

display a high level of aggression. The Observer

should always be ready to defuse this aggression.

One useful tool is the clipboard used to hold the

worksheet. Slamming the clipboard to the ground

can produce a very loud noise that will likely distract

the dog so that the Assessor can regain a safe

position. We strongly suggest keeping SprayShield

(formerly Direct Stop), a bucket filled with water

or even a sound canister handy as tools to help

defuse aggression.

assisting in proper handling technique:

The Observer should communicate to the Assessor

any checks or improvements needed in handling. By

working as equal partners, the assessment is more

likely to be accurate and effective.

role of the observer

SAFER™ was specifically designed to be

conducted by two staff members, an Assessor

and an Observer. The Observer role is vital. The

Observer serves the following purposes:

•

Observes dog behavior that is not visible

to Assessor

•

Keeps notes regarding behavior and fills out

the worksheet

•

Takes responsibility for videotaping the

assessment

•

Holds dog for food bowl and toy behavior items

•

Handles helper dog in dog-to-dog behavior item

•

Helps defuse aggression when necessary

•

Assists in assuring proper handling technique

SAFER

™

certification

SAFER

™

certification

The SAFER™ assessment is a tool that requires

strong handling skills, body awareness, and a keen

understanding for objectively observing canine

behavior. When the assessment was first introduced

on a national level, there was no certification

process. Over time it became apparent that a

certification process was necessary to ensure

that Assessors have the skills to conduct the

assessment correctly. Certification is achieved

when an ASPCA

SAFER™ reviewer validates an

Assessor’s skill in properly handling dogs and

accurately scoring the appropriate behavior

exhibited by the dog. Review is accomplished

by viewing submitted video of assessments and

corresponding worksheets. The certification is valid

for one year after which recertification is required.

SAFER™ certification does not certify the

organization that employs the person; rather it is

certification of an individual to show that they have

the skills necessary to conduct the assessment.

Certification helps ensure that an Assessor has the

knowledge and skills to maintain her safety when

handling a potentially aggressive dog. Improper

handling and technique makes the Assessor

vulnerable to a bite should the dog choose to

aggress. Equally as important, proper handling

ensures that the dog is exhibiting behavior that is

more likely predictive of future behavior. Inappropriate

handling can provoke responses that are not

reliable, resulting in potential inappropriate choices

regarding placement of the animal.

To apply for certification, the Assessor submits

three full assessments on video and copies of the

corresponding worksheets for review by the

ASPCA

. The video is reviewed and feedback is

given pertaining to technique and canine behavior

scoring skills. It is possible that certification may not

be achieved in the first attempt. In this case, the

reviewer will inform the Assessor of modifications

needed in technique and observation of behavior to

properly implement the assessment. The Assessor

can submit a second tape. When the Assessor

consistently demonstrates strong techniques and

objective behavior observations, she will be certified

for one year.

practicing the assessment prior to a

submission for certification

It is highly recommended that the assessment is

practiced for 2–4 weeks before submitting a tape

for certification. Prepare by doing the following:

1. Observe dog playgroups at the shelter and

practice reading canine body postures and

behavior, specifically: tail posture, ear posture,

body posture, eye shape, lip length, invitations

to play (play bow, huffing, and popping body

movements), body slams, shoulder rubs, etc.

Use the glossary in this guide and the video

glossary on the SAFER DVD to aid in objectively

identifying the behaviors.

2. Practice the assessment on resident/safe dogs.

3. Identify the most challenging assessment item,

such as the Tag item, and be sure to practice

proper handling with safe dogs.

SAFER

™

certification

SAFER™ certification

does not certify the

organization that the

person is employed by;

rather it is certification

of an individual to show

that they have the skills

necessary to conduct

the assessment.

4. Videotape all practice assessments and review

them multiple times, critiquing both the handling

skills and the canine behavior scoring skills of the

Assessor. We highly recommend you use our

SAFER Certification Checklist (image below and

checklist template is included in the Reproducible

Forms and Templates section of this guide) when

reviewing your practice assessments as this is

the very document used by the SAFER reviewers

to ensure your handling is correct. Other people

from your facility who are also pursuing certification

can critique the assessments for their own practice

and to help you become certified. Over the

weeks, improvement in handling and behavior

observation skills should be noted.

SAFER

™

Certification

handling technique

required for certification

Proper handling as a SAFER™ Assessor is crucial

in two ways: 1) helping maintain safety if a dog

chooses to aggress and, 2) in identifying a valid,

predictive behavioral response from the dog. It is

for those reasons that the Assessors are expected

to consistently use proper handling techniques.

instructions for sending in

a submission for certification

When submitting a tape for certification, there are

strict guidelines that must be followed to ensure a

smooth and timely review process. When improper

submissions are made, the review is delayed and

in some circumstances the tapes are not reviewed.

Please follow the instructions in the Reproducible

Forms and Templates section to successfully make

a submission.

SAFER

™

certification

This is the certification certificate you will receive upon successful submission.

behavior modification

and management

protocols

behavior modification and management protocols

introduction to behavior modification

protocols

When conducting SAFER™, there is an opportunity to observe and identify behaviors that could be

challenging to adopters and/or shelter staff. The following is a set of tested behavior modification protocols

for dogs and puppies which, when coupled with adopter support and enrichment, should enhance the dog’s

adoptability and safety level in the home and community. The protocols provided here relate to behaviors

identified through the SAFER™ assessments.

first steps

Before conducting behavior modification and management work, three

important programs should be in place in your facility.

•

Program 1 is a general enrichment program

•

Program 2 is adoption follow-up

•

Program 3 is a standardized program for analyzing progress of animals

receiving interventions.

The ASPCA

strongly recommends that Program 1 (enrichment) and Program 2

(adoption follow-up) be put in place before focusing on behavior modification. Together,

these programs help ensure success by supporting the needs of both your dogs and adopters.

One standard definition of enrichment is “Additions

to an animal's environment with which the animal

voluntarily interacts and, as a result, experiences

improved physical and/or psychological health.”

It is important to support dogs in your care with

enrichment opportunities. There is a wealth of

research that demonstrates that stress levels

increase when enrichment is not provided to

animals in shelters. Behaviors such as hyper-

arousal, depression, and obsessive/compulsive

behaviors are not uncommon when enrichment is

not present. Dogs and puppies may display

behaviors that make adoptions more challenging

simply because they are not given the opportunity

to chew, exercise their bodies and minds or

have the opportunity to make choices in their

environment. This is especially true for canines

with behavior challenges.

In general, overall enrichment should include:

•

Daily walks (controlled and monitored)

•

Social interaction (both human and canine

when possible)

•

Food games (using food/treat-dispensing toys

such as KONG,

Tug-a-Jug™, etc.)

•

Opportunities for sensory stimulation such as

sound (classical music), odor (lavender, spices,

and even a bit of bedding from the cat area),

and textures (feel a brush against the skin, soft

bedding, and hard Boomer Balls

to nose

around the play yard).

program one

enrichment

behavior modification and management protocols

It is important to have good post-adoption support

for your adopters. This is especially true for the

more challenging matches, and for dogs and

puppies with more challenging behaviors. Ideally,

it’s best to follow up with every adopter, but when

time and resources are in short supply, start by

following up with:

•

Adopters who chose a dog with behavioral

challenges

•

Adopters who chose a dog outside their color

category (for those shelters employing MYM

Canine-ality™)

Reach out to your adopters the third day after the

adoption, the third week after adoption, and the

third month after adoption. Be sure to have a list of

resources available, such as trainers and certified

applied animal behaviorists in your area, in the

event an adopter needs assistance with specific

issues. Providing follow-up support is one of the

best ways to help keep the bond between adopters

and their new family members strong.

A vital part of any management/behavior-

modification program is monitoring the progress

of the chosen intervention for the individual

dog or puppy. It is important to remain objective

not only when conducting the SAFER™

assessment, but also when conducting behavior

modification protocols. The ASPCA

strongly

recommends keeping a behavior log of each

behavior modification session. The template

provided in the Reproducible Forms and Templates

section is designed to easily keep track of the

number of sessions, the positive reinforcers used,

and progress toward the goal. The template makes

it easy to troubleshoot when a program is not

moving forward as planned. One can read all of the

dog’s logs to find what reinforcers were successful,

what time of day is more productive, etc. Review the

previous day’s logs before beginning each session.

Once you have these three programs in place,

you are ready to begin working with the following

set of protocols.

program two

adoption follow-up

program three

standard program

for tracking progress

behavior modification and management protocols

program four

behavior modification

protocols

who should be conducting the protocols?

It is strongly recommended that those implementing behavior modification programs have a solid

working knowledge of learning theory. Certified Pet Dog Trainers are ideal candidates.

Before conducting behavior modification and management work, be sure to have programs one,

two and three (enrichment, adoption follow-up and a system for tracking progress, respectively)

in place in your facility.

In the SAFER™ assessment, some scores of

“3,” “4,” and “5” indicate behavior modification

is needed prior to adoption. The following

protocols are specific to behaviors observed

during the SAFER™ assessment. It is vital to

track the dog’s progress when implementing

a behavior modification protocol. Use the

“Behavior Log” to monitor the protocol’s

effectiveness and as a communication tool

for staff.

behavior modification and management protocols

food guarding program

The goal is to have the dog learn to be relaxed around the food bowl, lifting his head

and even backing up from the bowl when you approach.

program instructions:

1. Give dog some mildly valuable food such as a dry kibble that is a bit tastier than what he has as free

feed. Prepare some tasty treats (balled up canned food works well). Approach the food bowl; and as

long as he is not aggressive (i.e. stiffening, hard stare, guarding bowl), drop in a treat. If he displays

aggressive behaviors, wait until he is done, refill his bowl and present it to him again. During your first

session you may need to fill the bowl a few times before you are able to capture a relaxation in body.

2. After 5-7 repetitions, you can now expect him to lift his head when you approach — even just a tiny

bit — before dropping in the next treat.

3. When he is reliably lifting his head for food, you will begin

to bend down, as if to lift his bowl, and then drop the treat.

Watch carefully for stiff behavior.

4. Increase the amount you bend.

5. At this point, you should now be able to take the bowl and

exchange for something better.

6. Practice with at least two other Assessors, in two other

physical spaces before the dog is placed on the adoption

floor. In other words, the dog should be tested in at least four

different spaces (one being his home kennel) by a total of

three or more people.

7. Daily behavior logs must be kept for each dog on the program.

All dogs placed for adoption from this program must be clearly

identified so adopters can be properly counseled, go home with

the food-guarding program and be flagged for follow-up. Plan on

a minimum of two 4-5 minute sessions a day.

when the dog is adopted: Review the “Food Program” instructions with the adopter which can be

found in the Reproducible Forms and Templates section. Remember to follow up with the adopter at

three days, three weeks and three months post-adoption.

identifying dogs for the program:

•

Dog is SAFER™ “1” or “2” on all parts of the

SAFER™ assessment other than the food behavior.

•

The dog does not shoulder rub or body slam during

any part of the assessment.

•

The dog does not body-block, place foot in bowl,

or urinate in bowl.

•

The dog was assessed with two toys and no

possession-type behaviors were observed.

before you begin:

•

Be sure the dogs are given enrichment and

walks daily.

•

All dogs entering the food program should be

on free feed (access to a full bowl of food at all

times) for at least 24 hours before starting this

program. Dogs must be free fed consistently.

If they are not on free feed, the protocol is much

less likely to be effective.

behavior modification

protocols

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

how does the clicker work?

It can be difficult to deliver food at the exact moment you want to reinforce a behavior. A conditioned

reinforcer, such as a clicker or the word “yes”, tells the dog the reward is coming and marks the

behavior you want the dog to repeat.

The clicker is a novel and consistent sound that does not change with our mood or gender.

Since dogs don’t find clicks or words inherently reinforcing, you will need to charge, or give

meaning to, your clicker. First, we teach the dog that every time he hears the clicking sound,

he gets a treat. Once he understands that clicks are always followed by treats, the click becomes

a powerful feedback tool. Now the handler can click (to give feedback) the instant the dog does a

select behavior. For example, if you want to teach a dog to sit, you click when his rear hits the floor

and then immediately deliver a treat. With repetition, the dog learns that sitting earns rewards.

“charging” your clicker

Realize that in most instances the dog has not heard this sound before; therefore, it currently has

no meaning. Here is how to change that:

1. Start with a container of soft and smelly treats cut up about the size of a pea nearby.

2. Place the clicker in your hand.

3. Click once and immediately reach for a treat and feed the dog.

4. Click again and offer another treat.

5. Continue to repeat the click-and-treat combination at varying intervals, sometimes after a few

seconds, sometimes after one minute.

6. Repeat 20-30 more times.

tips:

•

Remember to click just once and follow every click with a treat. After you click, deliver the treat

to the dog’s mouth as quickly as possible so it is easier for him to make this connection.

•

When you are clicking, keep your body still and quiet. Avoid reaching for the treats as you are

clicking or saying “good boy!” while you click. We want the dog to learn that the click is the

important thing, so click THEN treat and praise.

•

Be generous. Lots of clicks/treats in the beginning will help the dog make the association and help

him want to stay in the game. Keep the sessions short (5 –10 minutes.)

•

The dog will start to turn toward you and look expectant when he hears the click — which means

he understands that meaning of the clicker. Once he understands this link between his behavior

and getting a click, he is ready for training.

behavior modification

protocols

how does the clicker work

The goal is introduce the dog to a conditioned reinforcer. A conditioned reinforcer

tells the dog a reward is coming and marks the behavior you want the dog to repeat.

(Required technique for working with touch-sensitive dogs – see page 53)

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

developed by Heather Mohan-Gibbons, MS, RVT, CPDT, ACAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

behavior modification

protocols

program instructions:

1. Identify where the dog is touch-sensitive by reviewing the SAFER™ assessment and notes along with

any other available information (relinquishment survey, vet exam, notes from kennel staff and volunteers).

2. Define your goals. Is your goal for the dog to be completely non-reactive, even to a strong tail pull? Is it for

the dog to remain relaxed and open-mouthed even when he is restrained for a vet hold? Write down your

goal behavior; then note where the dog is now with regard to the goal behavior. Plot the distance between

the starting place and the goal, and then break that distance down into easy-to-achieve steps. Start at step

one and use the behavior log to keep track of progress.

3. Identify what the dog finds motivating. Let the dog tell you how he wants to be “paid” for learning new

behavior. Have a variety of rewards on hand: liver treats, hot dogs, cheese, tennis balls. Track what

the dog prefers on the Behavior Log. Reward with higher value treats when the dog gives a particularly

relaxed response and as you get closer to the touch sensitive area. Otherwise, vary the treats so the dog

never knows what’s coming.

4. Introduce the dog to a conditioned reinforcer such as a clicker or the word “yes.” Refer to Clicker Training

protocol included in this chapter (page 52).

5. Begin by touching the dog in a place where you know he is not sensitive. You want to start far away

from the sensitive area and move closer over time (multiple sessions) while he stays non-reactive.

For example, if the dog head flipped when you touched his flank area during the Sensitivity item, begin

training by first touching his shoulder. This way you’ll be setting him up for success — a light touch on the

shoulder should bring about a non-reactive response, and you will

click and treat that response. The sequence is this: You touch, dog

stays relaxed, click, and then treat. Repeat often. Go slowly and

work at each level (refer to your goal and easy-to achieve steps)

with the dog relaxed. You know you have moved too quickly if the

dog changes from relaxed to stiff behavior. If that happens, do not

correct the dog; instead view it as feedback that he is not ready for

you to go that quickly. Make note of where it was that you touched

him when he became stiffer, go back one step, and continue the

session. End each session on a positive note.

6. Progress at a slow place, paying attention to feedback given

to you by the dog, towards the goal behavior. You may choose

to vary the speed, pressure or location of the touch depending

on your goal. If you choose to vary the touch, ensure that each

variance is tried independently. Do not try to train them all at once.

It may take weeks before the dog meets the goal behavior.

Be patient and remember to take it slow.

when the dog is adopted: Review the “Touch Sensitivity” instructions with the adopter which can be

found in the Reproducible Forms and Templates section. Remember to follow up with the adopter at three

days, three weeks and three months post-adoption.

working with touch-sensitive dogs

The goal is to decrease reactivity to touch.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification

Protocols developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB and

Heather Mohan-Gibbons, MS, RVT, CPDT, ACAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

The rules for tug-and-drop:

1. The dog sits (or lies down) and waits for you to invite him to play (“Take it” or

“Get it”) before ever putting his mouth on the toy;

2. The dog releases the toy to you whenever you request (“Drop” or “Give”);

3. The dog takes care not to put his mouth on human skin while playing tug.

program instructions:

Most dogs will play tug with any type of toy, but tug

is most pleasurable for the human when they are

comfortable with the toy. Obtain a fleece or soft

rope toy 1-2 feet long. Handles are useful although

dogs often enjoy playing with the handles so much

that they are inclined to grab the handle, whether

there is a human hand attached there or not. A tug

toy with a bungee type handle puts less stress on

both the dog and the human.

1. Grasp the toy with one hand at each end. Ask

the dog to sit. When he does, say “Yes, get it!”

and wave the toy in front of the dog’s face or

drag it along the ground in front of him, so

that he is likely to grab the toy in the middle,

thereby avoiding your hands. When he grasps

it, verbally encourage him to play while you

move the toy back and forth, up and down, to

stimulate him to tug. Do this for 10-20 seconds.

2. The next step is to teach the dog to release

the toy on cue. Different approaches work

for different dogs. You should not shout or

intimidate the dog in order to get him to release

the toy. Say “Give” or “Drop” in a conversational

voice. Avoid repeating the cue over and over;

say it once and then take action to prompt the

dog to release. Here are a few suggestions:

a. Say “Give” and instantly stop tugging the toy

(let your arm go limp), but keep hold of it with

one hand. Say “Sit.” If the dog releases the

toy and sits, immediately say “Yes, get it!”

and entice the dog to play again. With sufficient

repetitions, the dog should learn to let go of

the toy and sit as soon as he hears you say

“give.” Eventually, you vary how long the dog

must sit before you invite him to play again.

b. Say “Give” and instantly stop tugging the toy

(let your arm go limp), but keep hold of it with

one hand. With the other hand, reach over

the dog’s head to cover his eyes. Some dogs

will release the toy as soon as you do this.

If the dog releases the toy, immediately say

“Yes, get it!” and entice the dog to play again.

With sufficient repetitions, the dog should

learn to let go of the toy as soon as he hears

you say “give,” so you don’t have to cover

his eyes. Eventually, vary how long the dog

must wait before you invite him to play again.

Sometimes ask him to sit before inviting him

to play.

c. Say “Give” and instantly stop tugging the toy

(let your arm go limp), but keep hold of it with

one hand. With the other hand, reach and

grasp the dog by his collar. Pull him forward

toward you and hold him stationary. This has

the effect of making any tugging he does

ineffective. Wait. Most dogs will drop the toy

after a few seconds. Immediately say “Yes!”

release his collar, say “Get it,” and invite the

dog to play again. With sufficient repetitions,

the dog should learn to let go of the toy as

soon as he hears you say “give,” so you don’t

have to take hold of his collar. Eventually,

tug-and-drop training

behavior modification

protocols

over-arousal

The goal is to teach self control to easily over-aroused dogs.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

sometimes ask the dog to sit, after the dog

releases the toy, before inviting him to

play again.

d. Say “Give” and instantly stop tugging the toy (let

your arm go limp), but keep hold of it with one

hand. With the other hand, place a treat right in

front of the dog’s nose so that he can’t help but

smell it. Most dogs will instantly release the toy

to grab the treat. Say “Yes,” give him the treat,

and ask him to sit. When he does, say, “Get it,”

and invite the dog to play again. With sufficient

repetitions, the dog should learn to let go of the

toy as soon as he hears you say “give,” so you

don’t have to use the treat. You will still want to

reward him with a treat when he releases the

toy until the release behavior is fully learned.

Sometimes ask the dog to sit after the dog

releases the toy, before inviting him to play

again. This method is undesirable if the dog is

reluctant to play again after receiving the treat.

Some dogs are so motivated by food that they

are uninterested in play after eating a treat and

so it is hard to accomplish the tug training.

3. Repeat the sequence of tugging for 10-20 seconds,

then asking for a release, at least 10 times in

succession. Realize that for procedures “a-c,” the

reward for the dog releasing the toy is to get you to

play again. This means that, while the dog is

learning to play tug, you should instantly say “yes!”

when he releases and invite play again. Don’t waste

time praising or patting him. When a dog is into

playing tug, they usually don’t care about praise or

patting — they want to play more! For procedure

“d,” the dog has two incentives for releasing the toy:

to get the food reward and to get you to play again.

So it’s still important to get the game going again

quickly. Only when the dog promptly and willingly

drops the toy as soon as you ask, should you ask

him to sit and wait for any amount of time between

bouts of tugging.

4. If, at any time, the dog jumps forward to grab at the

toy when you have not invited him, say “Uh-uh!” and

instantly pull the toy behind your back or over your

shoulder where it is inaccessible. If the dog already

has the toy in his mouth, do what works (from above

options) to get him to release it again but don’t reward

him when he lets go. Next time, be ready so that

when he jumps forward to grab it, you can snatch it

away. Ask him to sit and wait before presenting the

toy and inviting him to “get it.” You must teach him

that he never gets the toy when he jumps for it before

you ask. If you are consistent with this, he will learn

that the best way to get you to play tug is to sit and

wait patiently until you start the game.

5. If, at any time, the dog misses the toy and puts his

mouth on your hand, instantly shriek loudly, drop the

toy, and march out of the room (time out). If there is

a door, slam it in the dog’s face. Wait a few seconds

(no more than 20-30 seconds), then return and act

like nothing happened. Invite him to play again, but

use a warning voice to remind him to be careful.

If the dog bites your hand more than a few times

(3-4) in one play session, despite implementing

time-outs, your dog may not be able to learn to play

tug appropriately. Certainly if he keeps doing this,

despite continued corrections, it’s not safe to play

tug with him. If you’re really committed to teaching

this game, use l-o-o-n-g tug toys so there’s plenty

of room for his mouth and your hands.

6. When you’re ready to end the game, follow the

same steps to get the dog to release the toy on

request, but this time, ask him to sit and offer him a

treat. While he’s eating the treat, put the tug toy

away. He should not have access to the tug toy

except when you are playing with him.

7. If the dog starts playing but then escalates to the

point where he’s no longer playing but instead is

aggressively guarding the toy, immediately cease

playing tug with him. The way to determine if your

dog has switched from play to aggression is to

watch for signs such as a stiff body, stiff tail, “hard”

eye contact and snarling (lifting/wrinkling lips while

growling). If the dog is becoming aggressive, simply

drop the toy and walk away.

when the dog is adopted: Review the

“Tug-and-Drop Training” instructions with the adopter

which can be found in the

Reproducible Forms and

Templates section. Remember to follow up with the

adopter at three days, three weeks and three months

post-adoption.

behavior modification and management protocols

program instructions:

•

Sit in the doorway of the cage with door open and your back to the dog, with left arm behind the

back with hand on the floor, palm up, loaded with a high-value treat.

•

Sit still, talking to the dog without looking at him, waiting for him to eat the treat in hand.

•

Once a treat is eaten, load up another one.

•

Once the dog begins to "explore" handler – sniffing hair or ears, pawing at hand instead

of running to the back of the cage – as the next treat is taken, touch the dog's chin or side

of face with one finger.

•

After a few repetitions, move to the sideways position, leaving treat hand at side.

•

After a few repetitions in that position, bring the treat hand into your lap. Before you know it,

the dog is sitting in your lap and ready to have a slip lead put on around the neck.

•

Toss a treat away from you to get the dog off your lap

and try to go for a walk.

With a dog too stressed to walk on a leash or for one that

may have never been on a leash, it would be best for the

dog to be on a buckle collar and leash rather than a slip

lead that might tighten when he panics.

For dogs that freeze when they feel pressure from the

lead we recommend that the leash be clipped to the dogs

buckle collar while the dog is in his kennel. Disperse treats

throughout his space so that he is likely to move about.

Leave the leash on for a couple of hours so that he is

likely to step on the leash and become used to pressure

on and off around the collar. Be sure that he is monitored

while wearing the leash in his run.

when the dog is adopted: Review the “Program

for Fearful Behavior” instructions with the adopter which

can be found in the Reproducible Forms and Templates

section. Remember to follow-up with the adopter at three

days, three weeks, and three months post-adoption.

behavior modification

protocols

working with fearful/timid dogs

Please note this protocol is not without risk. The dogs that benefit most from this

protocol are those who cannot be taken out of the cage for SAFER™ assessments

due to their present state. This protocol should only be used with dogs that are

cowering in the back of the cage but are not showing signs of fear aggression.

(Conflicted dogs showing signs of fear aggression could choose to bite the moment

you turn your back to them.) It is vital that the handler conducting this protocol has a

solid understanding of canine behavior.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

program instructions:

1. Place a visual barrier, such as a blanket or nylon panel, over the kennel door of the reactive dog.

2. When the stimulus (most likely yourself or a person with a dog on leash) that causes reactivity in the

kenneled dog passes by the kennel door, toss a high value treat under the door when there is a noted

decrease in reactivity (i.e. the dog is quieter). You may have to stand in front of the kennel door and

wait for a decrease in reactivity prior to tossing in a treat and walking away. Remember to keep a

sideways stance in relation to the dog and kennel door. Repeat this each time the aversive stimulus

passes by. Staff and volunteers should go about their daily routine, but be aware of the reactive dog

and toss treats into kennel accordingly for decreased reactivity. (Note: If you choose to walk away from

the kennel door while the dog is reactive, you’re rewarding the reactive behavior and will have an

increased difficulty in modifying the behavior).

3. When there is a marked decrease in reactivity and you notice the dog approaching the kennel door

with a loose body posture as the aversive stimulus passes by the kennel door, slightly raise the visual

barrier so that the dog can see a few inches under the barrier.

4. Toss treats under the kennel door for a noted decrease in reactivity each time the aversive stimulus

passes by the kennel door. You may have to stand in front of the kennel door and wait for a decrease

in reactivity prior to tossing in a treat and walking away.

5. Repeat the above procedure until the dog is standing at the kennel door relaxed with no visual barrier

and the aversive stimulus passes by.

6. Before the dog can be placed on the adoption floor, be sure that he replicates relaxed behavior at the

kennel door in at least 3 different kennels including his adoption floor kennel.

7. Place a treat cup on his kennel door so that adopters can toss treats in his kennel as they walk by.

8. Keep a daily behavior log.

identifying dogs for the program:

•

The dog was SAFER™ assessed and meets the

adoption criteria at your facility.

•

The dog aggresses at the kennel door towards

people or dogs, but his eyes are soft, ears back,

and lip is long. His body posture is likely

backwards, facing away from kennel door.

•

When the kennel door is open, the dog runs to the

rear of the kennel and keeps a sideways stance to

the kennel door and keeps soft body posture.

before you begin:

•

Provide extra kennel enrichment for the dog.

•

Identify what triggers the aggressive response

at the kennel door (i.e. dogs, people, people

wearing hats, etc.). Most commonly in the shelter

environment dogs are reactive to people and dogs.

•

Place a treat cup on the door and be sure that

staff and volunteers have treat bags or treats in

their pockets at all times.

behavior modification

protocols

aggression behind the kennel door

The goal of this program is to decrease aggression behind the kennel door.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols modified by

Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB (Original program developed by Dee Ganley,

CPDT and Nancy Lyon at the Upper Valley Humane Society)

behavior modification and management protocols

program instructions:

1. Teach the dog a “look” cue. The goal of using

this cue is to have the dog turn and make eye

contact with you when you say

the verbal cue.

a. Charge (classically condition) a reward

marker (click, “good,” etc.).

b. Hold a treat in your hand that is visible

to the dog. Bring the treat up to the outer

corner of your eye, then use your reward

marker and deliver the treat when the

dog follows the treat with his eyes and

makes eye contact with you. Repeat until

dog is reliably replicating this behavior.

c. Now say the verbal cue “look” and bring

the treat up close to your eye. Reward the

dog when he tracks the treat with his eyes

and makes eye contact. Repeat until he is

reliably replicating the behavior.

d. At this point, begin to keep the treat

hidden until after you deliver the “look”

verbal cue and the dog makes eye contact

with you. Repeat until he is reliably

replicating this behavior in other locations

besides the room in which you did the

initial training.

2. Teach the dog the “sit” cue.

a. Get dog to stand toe-to-toe with you.

b. Place bit of food between thumb and

forefinger.

c. Bring treat (lure) to dog’s nose and get

his attention with it. It is okay if he licks

or nibbles at it, but do not give him the

treat yet.

d. Slowly raise the lure up and as the dog

follows it with his nose, move it back over

his head a few inches.

e. As his head tilts back, he is likely to sit.

f. As soon as the rear touches the floor, say

“yes” and give the dog the treat.

g. Practice 6-10 times in quick succession.

h. After the dog is anticipating the next move

and begins to sit before you move your

hand up and back, he is ready to learn the

verbal command. Take a piece of food,

hold it in your hand at about waist level

and when the dog looks like he’s ready to

offer the behavior, say “sit.” When he sits,

say “yes” and give him the food.

identifying dogs for the program:

•

The dog is a SAFER™ “1” and “2” dog

on all parts of the assessment other than the

Dog-to-Dog Behavior item.

•

He likely responds to seeing other dogs by

attempting to rush in with tail high and ears

forward, growling, alarm barking, and/or lunging

on the end of the leash.

before you begin:

•

Provide extra kennel enrichment for the dog

in the program.

•

Provide daily walks with skilled staff members

and volunteers on a path less frequented by

other dogs.

behavior modification

protocols

reactivity towards other dogs

The goal of this program is to manage the dog’s reactive behavior by teaching

him to look at the person holding the leash when in the presence of other dogs.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification

Protocols developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

i. Dogs need the opportunity to generalize. In

order for him to really know the command,

you must practice it in many locations,

under various weather conditions, around

different levels of distraction, and on

different flooring surfaces.

Note: The two verbal cues are going to stay separate

and you will not be chaining the “look” and “sit”

cue/behaviors together. Asking the dog to sit will make

it more difficult to be reactive in the initial stages of the

program. Once the dog is adopted into a new home, he

will be able to be on a walk and be asked to “look” while

continuing to walk.

3. Now that the dog knows how to both “look”

and “sit,” another dog can be brought into the

behavior modification.

4. Have the reactive dog on leash and identify

a safe distance from another dog on leash

to begin practicing the “look” and “sit” cues.

When correctly identifying the proper distance

to begin the program, the dog should show

little to no reactivity.

5. Have the non-reactive dog out of view and

have someone helping bring him into view of

the reactive dog. The moment the reactive

dog sees him say the “look” cue and reward

him for the correct behavior. Then immediately

ask the dog to “sit” and reward him for the

correct behavior. Be sure you are rewarding

each individual behavior in order to keep them

separate. The non-reactive dog then leaves

out of view. Repeat this until the reactive

dog reliably looks and sits when you ask each

time the non-reactive dog comes into view.

If you cannot get his attention off the other

dog, you likely have to begin from a further

distance.

6. Once the dog is successful at a certain

distance, decrease the distance between the

two dogs and repeat the above procedure.

7. Continue to decrease the distance according

to the dog’s success and repeat the above

procedure.

8. Once the dog reliably look and sits on

cue in the presence of many dogs in multiple

locations, he is ready for adoption.

9. Keep a daily behavior log.

Note: This is not a behavior modification protocol, but a way

to manage the behavior of the dog around other dogs. Be

sure to teach the adopters how to use the “look” cue prior to

them leaving the shelter with the dog.

When the dog is adopted: Review the

“Program for Reactivity Towards Other Dogs”

instructions with the adopter which can be found

in the Reproducible Forms and Templates

section. Remember to follow-up with the adopter

at three days, three weeks, and three months

post-adoption.

behavior modification and management protocols

identifying dogs for the program:

•

The dog scores a “3,” “4,” or “5” on the Food

Behavior item (only if he body blocks, places

paws in bowl or bites the bowl) and the Toy

Behavior item, and your behavior team

chooses behavioral intervention for the dog.

•

The dog exhibits body slamming, shoulder

rubbing, and/or tall body posture throughout

the assessment. (Note: For safety reasons,

the dog should have a loose body and soft

eye while exhibiting these behaviors.)

before you begin:

teach the dog the “sit” cue.

•

Get dog to stand toe-to-toe with you.

•

Place bit of tasty, stinky food (hot dogs or

cheese) between thumb and forefinger.

•

Bring treat (lure) to dog’s nose and get his

attention with it. It is okay if he licks or nibbles

at it, but do not give him the treat yet.

•

Slowly raise the lure up and as the dog follows

it with his nose, move it back over his head a

few inches.

•

As his head tilts back, he is likely to sit.

•

As soon as the rear touches the floor,

say “yes” and give the dog the treat.

•

Practice 6-10 times in quick succession.

•

After the dog is anticipating the next move

and begins to sit before you move your hand

up and back, he is ready to learn the verbal

command. Take a piece of food, hold it in

your hand at about waist level and when the

dog looks like he’s ready to offer the behavior,

say “sit.” When he sits, say “yes” and give

him the food.

•

Dogs need the opportunity to generalize. In

order for him to really know the cue, you must

practice it in many locations, under various

weather conditions, around different levels of

distraction, and on different flooring surfaces.

behavior modification

protocols

i hold the resources

The goal of this program is to manage a bossy or anxious dog using predictable,

non-physical methods.

Any dog would benefit from this program; however, dogs that feel they need to control resources

in the home and guard them from humans do quite well. Other behaviors such as body slamming,

shoulder rubbing, and body blocking indicate a dog that would benefit from this program. The basis of

the program is that the dog must do something, such as “sit,” before he receives anything of value to

him.

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

developed by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB

behavior modification and management protocols

program instructions:

The program requires you to ask the dog

to “sit” before he receives anything that is

important to him. This can be used on a

consistent basis for all of the dogs in your

facility and should be used to manage

dogs that are in a behavior modification

program prior to adoption. The dog should

“sit” for the following things to occur:

•

Receive his meals

•

Receive toys or treats

•

Have a person enter his kennel

•

Exit his kennel

•

Go through a door

•

Receive attention

•

Have his leash put on

•

Anything he really likes!

By keeping clear rules in your kennels,

your dogs will understand that you control

important resources. In addition, they’ll

learn that if they don't defer to you, they

will not receive items that they perceive

to be valuable. You will have better and

clearer communication with the dogs using

non-physical methods. Your adopters will

see the dogs’ manners and will be more

likely to take a dog home!

when the dog is adopted: Review

the “I hold the resources!” instructions

with the adopter which can be found in

the Reproducible Forms and Templates

section. Remember to follow-up with the

adopter at three days, three weeks and

three months post-adoption.

behavior modification and management protocols

behavior modification

protocols

program instructions:

1. Move an appropriately sized crate into a large outdoor or indoor space where the behavior

modification will take place.

2. Engage the dog in a polite (not rough and tumble) game of tug or chase. The moment the dog

engages in physical play with you by moderately mouthing, mounting/masturbating, or body

slamming use your NRM in a tone of dismay and gently

place the dog into his crate and ignore him.

3. After 1–2 minutes allow him to exit the kennel and

re-engage in play with you.

4. Repeat the sequence for 10–20 minutes 2 times per day.

5. Once you see a significant and consistent reduction

in inappropriate play, practice in another location with

another person prior to placing in adoption.

6. Daily behavior logs must be kept for each b-mod dog

in the program.

Note: The same protocol can be used for inappropriate play with other

dogs. Instead of having a human engage in play with the dog, a social/polite

dog can engage the dog in play after a smooth introduction. The dog is

placed in the kennel proceeding the NRM when he uses inappropriate

physical play.

when the dog is adopted: Review the “Inappropriate

Play” instructions with the adopter, which can be found in the

Reproducible Forms and Templates section. Remember to

follow-up with the adopter at three days, three weeks and three months post-adoption.

identifying dogs for the program:

•

The dog is SAFER™ “1” or “2” on all parts of

the assessment other than the Tag item.

•

During the Tag item, the dog remained loose

with mouth open and soft eyes during the

body slamming, mounting/masturbating,

and/or moderate mouthing. (Note: This

protocol is not appropriate for dogs who

mount with a stiff body and hard eye.)

before you begin:

•

Provide extra kennel enrichment for the dog in

the program.

•

Provide daily walks with staff members and

volunteers who are skilled in ignoring inappropriate

behavior and rewarding appropriate behavior.

•

Choose a non-reward marker (NRM), such as “oops”

or “too bad,” to use in a voice of dismay (do not yell

or use an aggressive voice) when the dog chooses

an incorrect behavior in regards to play. The NRM

will immediately precede him being removed from

play and returned to his crate or kennel.

inappropriate play – body slamming, moderate

mouthing, etc.

The goal of this program is for the dog to play in a less physical and more

appropriate manner with humans

One of a series of ASPCA

Behavior Modification Protocols

modified by Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB (Original program

developed by Dee Ganley, CPDT)

behavior modification and management protocols

top 10 ways to provide

enrichment for the dogs

in your care

Below are 10 ways to provide enrichment for the dogs in your care. It is important

that enrichment is provided for the entire duration of a dog’s stay at your facility.

Remember that enrichment is only enriching when the dog engages with it, so

it is important to have a variety of opportunities available at your disposal.

It is not necessary to use all ten of these; they are suggestions. When

constructing an enrichment plan for the dogs in your care, it is important

to stimulate the dogs in different ways using all of their senses and

to frequently change the type of enrichment to decrease

boredom and increase novelty in the kennels.

1. Rotate toys two or three times

per day, providing items of different

textures, shapes and sizes.

2. Provide play dates with other social dogs

in your facility.

3. Make mealtime more interesting by placing food in kibble-dispensing enrichment devices.

4. Provide two walks per day with your volunteers.

5. Have volunteers read to the dogs in the kennel.

6. Teach the dogs a few verbal cues, using positive reinforcement only, including “sit,” “stay,”

“high five,” etc.

7. Give the dogs paper products to shred, including newspaper, paper towel and toilet

paper tubes, and paper from the recycling bin.

8. Freeze peanut butter, canned food, yogurt, cottage cheese, or applesauce in a Kong

9. Play soft, classical music during adoption hours.

10. Rub spices (peppermint, cinnamon or allspice) into toys or bedding or dilute extracts

and spray them on the walls of the kennel.

glossary

aggression

Aggression encompasses a range of behaviors

that usually begins with warnings and can culminate

in an attack.

arousal

A change in physiological state caused by

excitement that can sometimes lead to aggression.

During arousal, the dog’s tail will be perpendicular

to spine, ears will be forward, and dogs will

sometimes body-slam and mouth with pressure.

Hair is frequently raised (piloerect).

assessment

The action or an instance of assessing: appraisal,

estimation, measurement, determination, and

evaluation.

attempt, or try, to bite

The dog attempts to bite Assessor but is foiled

due to proper handling.

body block

Dog moves around the food bowl, toy or rawhide

and places his body directly in between the

Assessor and the resource. Or dog stands over

or lies on top of toys, rawhide or bowl. The behavior

is replicated when you reposition your body with

respect to the resource.

body slam

Dog firmly jumps with two or four feet on Assessor

with a stiff/tense body and then turns away from

Assessor.

body weight back

Dog’s body is leaning away from Assessor, carrying

the bulk of his weight over his back legs.

body weight forward

Dog’s body is leaning toward Assessor, carrying

the bulk of his weight over forelegs.

ear posture

ears back

Dog lays ears flat to the head and the tips of the

ears are pointing to the rear of the dog. Slight

variations will occur depending on breed of dog

and shape of ears.

ears forward

The base of the ear is brought further towards the

front of the head. Oftentimes, the dog’s forehead

will be furrowed when ears are forward.

eyes

hard eye

Dog’s eye is large and the whites are likely

observable. Dog is likely stiff or is freezing.

Sometimes called whale eye.

soft eye (blinking)

Dog’s eye is an almond shape. The whites

of the eye can barely be seen and the dog

is likely blinking.

squinty eye

Dog’s eyes appear to be partially closed and

relaxed. They are smaller than the almond shape.

fearful

A physiological state which can be observed as

dilated pupils, ears back, tail tucked, body low to

the ground. Dog may freeze or try to exit.

freeze

Dog temporarily ceases all movement, stops

breathing and becomes stiff.

furrowed brow

There are wrinkles across the forehead of the brow.

greeting

Dog approaches Assessor, body soft and wiggly,

shifting weight from foot to foot, wagging tail. Face

oriented toward Assessor’s face.

greeting jump

Dog softly jumps up on Assessor or onto

Assessor’s lap to get closer and submissively

lick the Assessor’s chin. Dog’s ears are back,

eyes are soft, tail at spine level or low, lip is

long and body is relaxed.

head flip

Dog swiftly turns head towards Assessor’s hand

with closed mouth. This behavior can be paired

with a muzzle punch.

glossary

glossary of terms

glossary

huffing (laughing)

A short, repetitive pant that the dog exhibits

during play.

inguinal exposure

The dog sits with his hip rocked to one side

with an outstretched rear leg exposing his belly.

lip length

long lip

Dog’s lip is long and stretched towards the ear.

pursed lip

Dog’s lip is tense and short.

lip lick

Dog licks his lips out of the context of food or eating,

sometimes called a tongue flick.

look away

Dog clearly avoids eye contact with another human

or dog by obviously turning his head sideways.

loose and wiggly

Dog’s entire body is relaxed. His body, from neck

to tip of tail, is wagging back and forth.

mouths

Dog places mouth on Assessor, another dog, or

leash/other items and can use pressure on a scale

ranging from no pressure up to extreme pressure

leaving tooth impressions on skin. This behavior

is seen in many different contexts, including play,

expressing discomfort, frustration, and arousal.

mouth position

closed mouth

Dog brings upper and lower jaw, lips and teeth

together. He is unable to pant through his mouth.

open mouth

Dog’s jaw is relaxed with the lower jaw separated

from the upper jaw and lip.

muzzle punch

Dog firmly hits Assessor’s body or hand with

his muzzle – he likely has a closed mouth.

panting

relaxed panting

Dog’s overall body is relaxed and has a

soft face, has his mouth open and is calmly

breathing through his mouth at a fairly normal

respiration rate.

stress panting

Dog’s mouth is open and is breathing at a

rapid rate. Oftentimes, there are significant

tight facial wrinkles.

paw lift

Dog holds one of his front paws off the floor.

play bow

Dog lowers the front of his body to the floor with

his legs outstretched in front of him with his rear

elevated to initiate play.

popping body movements

Dog makes quick, dramatic, short movements with

his body and stops or becomes still in-between each

movement to initiate play.

predictive

Foretell on the basis of observation, experience, or

scientific reason.

shoulder rub

Dog leans his body into Assessor and in a short but

deliberate move, rubs with his shoulder then moves

away and tends to other stimuli in the room. The

dog may appear to be unconnected to the Assessor.

reliable

Giving the same result on successive trials. Reliability,

within the context of SAFER research, refers to the

degree to which the assessment is consistent and

stable in its measurements when repeated by

different people and in different facilities.

glossary

research design

The goal of performing research is to test a question

and set up the design so the study is reliable and

valid. Statistics can then be done to determine if

one thing has a direct relationship to another. If

that relationship (correlation) is found, you cannot

change anything from the original design, or you

have to re-test to know if you get the same results.

With regard to SAFER, the assessment was

designed with specific order, handling and

equipment. When the assessment is conducted

the way it was designed there is a predictive

relationship between the behavior during the

assessment and the dog's future behavior. This

assessment has been determined to be valid and

reliable. This is why we do the assessment in the

same way and in the same order each time. If

SAFER is done differently, one cannot make any

inferences about behavior or until that new design

has been re-tested.

snaps

Dog quickly brings upper and lower jaw together,

usually only front incisors are visible. Does not

make contact. A snapping/clicking of the teeth is

oftentimes audible.

squared

Dog’s body is tense and tall. His body appears to

make a square shape and he likely has ears forward

and tail tall or perpendicular to spine. This position

is most easily observed in front-weighted dogs. For

dogs who are naturally square in body, look for taller

head posture and stiffer body.

stiff

The muscles in the dog’s body are taut.

stress yawn

The dog yawns out of the context of sleep or

being tired.

submissive grin

Dog lifts his lips and exposes his teeth upon

greeting. The rest of his body is likely loose and

wiggly, his ears are back, his eyes are soft or

squinty and his tail and body are low, sometimes

called smile.

submissive rollover

Dog rolls onto back and exposes his belly. His

ears are back, eyes are soft and tail low or tucked.

He may urinate a bit.

sweating paws

A stress response that causes the pads of the dog’s

feet to sweat. Wet spots are left behind on the floor

where the dog walks.

tail postures

down

Dog’s tail runs parallel to his rear legs or points

to the floor.

neutral

The dog’s tail is at spine level or parallel to spine.

perpendicular to spine

Dog’s tail is above spine level and makes a

90-degree angle where it attaches to the body.

stiff tail

Dog’s tail is not moving or is flagging back and

forth and is paired with a stiff body. Tail is likely

tucked or perpendicular to spine.

tucked

Dog’s tail is tucked under the dog’s body and

is covering his/her genitalia. Or the docked tail

is pressed down, tight to the body.

tail wag

Tail wags should be put in context with above

postures.

circle wag

Dog moves tail in slow circles.

flagging

Tail stiff and tall. Tip of tail moving in short rapid

back-and-forth movements. Observed with tail

high and tail at spine level. (Not to be confused

with the female in heat who "flags" her tail to

one side when touched on the rear.)

sweeping

Tail moving back and forth in a sweeping motion.

urine marking

Dog lifts his leg or positions his body to urinate on

an item, another dog or a person.

validity

Assessment validity refers to the degree to which

the assessment actually measures what it claims

to measure.

reproducible forms

and templates

Agencies have permission to reprint the following program forms and templates.

The templates provided need to be used without altering their content or appearance.

Should you have any questions about formatting of these forms, please contact

[email protected].

reproducible forms and templates

reproducible forms

and templates

The following documents and forms have been provided to you for reproduction. As SAFER™ is a

copyrighted program, all templates must be used as presented. Should you have any questions

about formatting of these forms, please contact [email protected].

In the event your templates become lost, damaged or destroyed, you can contact the ASPCA

[email protected].

SAFER

™

worksheet

Use an assessment form

for each dog and keep it

with the dog’s paperwork.

7 pages

preparing for

certification

checklist

Use this checklist

when preparing

for SAFER™

certification.

3 pages

SAFER

™

submission

form

Complete and enclose

this form with each

SAFER certification

submission.

1 page

reproducible forms and templates

touch

sensitivity

handout

Review this handout with

adopters who choose a

dog who exhibited touch

sensitivity tendencies

during the assessment.

1 page

tug-and-drop

handout

Review this handout with

adopters who choose a

dog who exhibited

difficulty dis-arousing

during the assessment.

2 pages

behavior log

Use this form to keep

track of each dog’s

progress when

implementing behavior

modification protocols.

1 page

food guarding

handout

Review this handout with

adopters who choose a

dog who exhibited food

guarding tendencies

during the food behavior

assessment item.

1 page

inappropriate

play handout

Review this handout

with adopters who choose

a dog who exhibited

inappropriate play behavior

during the assessment.

1 page

fearful

behavior

handout

Review this handout

with adopters who choose

a dog who exhibited

fearful behavior during

the assessment.

1 page

reproducible forms and templates

reactivity to

other dogs

handout

Review this handout

with adopters who choose

a dog who exhibited

reactivity toward other

dogs during the dog-to-

dog assessment item.

1 page

i hold the

resources

handout

Review this handout

with adopters who

choose a dog who

exhibited “bossy”

behavior during the

assessment.

1 page

assessor

SAFER

™

worksheet

M M D D Y Y

shelter name

date

M M D D Y Y

date entered shelter

dog’s name

sex

❑

male

❑

neutered male

❑

female

❑

spayed female

coat color

breed

dog ID number

age

If aggression is noted, use the checklist below to evaluate the dog’s response. You can use this

information to help best guide the behavior team regarding potential behavior modification and

management (see guide for protocols).

❑

Body stiff

❑

Eyes hard

❑

Vocalizes

❑

Exposes teeth

❑

Freeze

❑

Ears back

❑

Dog growls

❑

Snaps no contact

❑

Tail up

❑

Ears forward

❑

Attempts to bite

❑

Tail down

Behaviors observed before, during or after the item:

item 1 – look:

Dog leans forward or jumps up to lick the Assessor’s face with tail wagging, ears back and eyes

averted. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted, with tail wagging and ears back. He allows head to be held loosely in

Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “1”]

Dog holds gaze with soft eyes, soft body. He allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped

hands. Dog holds gaze for three full seconds. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted. His ears are back, his tail is down, and he has a relaxed body posture.

Dog allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “1”]

Dog’s eyes are averted. His body posture is stiff and fearful, his tail is low and not moving. He

allows head to be held loosely in Assessor’s cupped hands. [Enter “2”]

Dog pulls out of Assessor’s hands each time without settling during three repetitions. [Enter “2”]

Dog jumps on the Assessor, consistently rubs his shoulder on the Assessor, and will not allow

Assessor to conduct the assessment. [Enter “3”]

Dog holds eye contact while remaining motionless with ears forward. His body is stiff and becomes

stiffer as assessment progresses. [Enter “4”]

Dog freezes and/or growls or tries to bite. [Enter “5”]

observer

If aggression is noted, use the checklist below to evaluate the dog’s response. You can use this

information to help best guide the behavior team regarding potential behavior modification and

management (see guide for protocols).

❑

Body stiff

❑

Eyes hard

❑

Vocalizes

❑

Exposes teeth

❑

Freeze

❑

Ears back

❑

Dog growls

❑

Snaps no contact

❑

Tail up

❑

Ears forward

❑

Attempts to bite

❑

Tail down

Behaviors observed before, during or after the item:

item 2 – sensitivity: