Assessments match go-getter dogs with owners
All three Spokane County animal shelters are in the process of learning how to use two different types of temperament assessments on the dogs housed there in order to enhance the likelihood that the adoption of the dog will be a good experience both for the dog and the adopting family. The program is called Meet Your Match.
The first assessment determines the dog’s tendency to react in an aggressive manner in situations common in many households such as around food and/or dog treats, when tagged, nudged or bumped by people and around other dogs. It is called the SAFER test. Point scores are assigned to the dogs responses in controlled situations. A high score indicates that the dog has a stronger likelihood of responding in an aggressive manner in some situations. Only the dogs with passing scores in this test will be placed up for adoption.
The second assessment is used to determine the dogs’ personality type. It is called the canine-ality assessment and again uses a point system but these points indicate an energy or activity level as opposed to good or bad marks.
The dogs are assigned points based on their responses to being left alone, greeting people, playing, food motivation and manners.
Total point scores after the assessment are assigned colors: “green dogs” are life of the party, free spirit and go-getters; “orange dogs” are goofballs, wallflowers or busy bees; and “purple dogs” are constant companions, couch potatoes and teachers pets.
Each kennel door will be color coded and include a description of the dog’s personality.
When someone comes to adopt a dog, they can take a Dog Adopter Survey.
The results of their survey will be assigned a color also based on their lifestyle and companion pet preferences. When they go into the shelter then they look for the color tags on the kennels doors that match the color assigned to the results of their survey.
It may sound complicated on paper but most of this information is behind the scenes work. For the people coming to adopt a dog, it will be simple. Determine what color they are and look for the same color on the kennel doors in order to find a dog suitable for their home and lifestyle.
This is an American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals program. The kennel staffs and volunteers are being trained in these assessments by people from the ASPCA and the program is officially set to be rolled out in all three shelters in February.