Animal Behavior Assessment Strategies

• Laurie emphasized the need to bridge gaps between operations and behavior to create consistent, welfare-centered systems.

• Differentiated between assessments (context-gathering tools) and evaluations (comprehensive risk and personality profiles).

• Shared how establishing behavioral baselines is especially vital for dogs with limited histories, using Vermont shelter examples.

Dog Behavior Assessment Protocol

• Outlined step-by-step assessment procedures:

  • Begin in a quiet, low-stimulus space.

  • Observe reactions to toys, food, and handling.

  • Document responses and integrate findings with intake medical exams.

• Recommended adding a Fear, Anxiety, and Stress (FAS) score into shelter systems to track welfare and monitor progress.

Shelter Dog Behavioral Assessment Program

• Explained how first-week assessments identify sensitivities, reactivity, and enrichment needs early.

• Encouraged developing individualized plans—adjusting housing, enrichment, and handling based on each dog’s results.

• Shared examples of matching interventions:

  • High-energy dogs → playgroups or off-site outings.

  • Fearful dogs → quiet housing and positive reinforcement sessions.

Dog Shelter Assessment Strategies

• Stressed gathering detailed intake information, especially about playstyle and dog-dog interactions.

• Recommended using open-ended questions on intake forms to capture nuanced behavior history.

• Highlighted that understanding play and social preferences improves adoption matches and transition success.

Comprehensive Dog Assessment Strategies

• Emphasized building rapport with owners to gather honest and complete behavioral histories.

• Shared a personal story illustrating how open communication can change case outcomes.

• Noted the importance of testing behavior in multiple contexts to determine if patterns are situational or learned.

• Advised spacing and timing assessments thoughtfully to avoid false impressions.

Shelter Dog Behavior Assessment

• Stressed the value of reassessing dogs after they’ve settled or if major health or environmental changes occur.

• Used case examples showing fear-based behaviors resurfacing when dogs meet new people.

• Recommended structured greeting protocols and close collaboration between staff to support shy or fearful dogs.

• Encouraged comparing initial baselines with new data to update adoption guidelines and behavior plans.

• Addressed the process of making dogs unavailable for adoption when concerning behaviors arise—acting quickly but with thorough evaluation.

Shelter Dog Assessment Criteria Development

• Advocated for clear, consistent criteria for behavior assessment and evaluation across teams.

• Emphasized interdepartmental collaboration, including daily rounds and shared handling training.

• Recommended custom assessment templates tailored to each shelter’s population and community context.

• Encouraged understanding behavior in a variety of settings to capture a full welfare picture.

• Offered one-hour consultations for shelters seeking guidance on designing or refining behavior assessment programs.