Improving Dog Behavior Testing

Evaluating dog behavior is an important tool that is used in a broad range of situations. From working and guide dogs to dogs being adopted from shelters, and in many other contexts, behavioral tests can help match dogs with their best possible humans, and vice versa. While some in-depth academic studies are able to dog behavior and personality in depth, the behavioral tests that are conducted by animal shelters are often unstandardized and informal. Moreover, behavioral tests in shelters may actually add to a dog’s stress, leading to potentially inaccurate results.

Is there a way to make dog behavior evaluations more accurate and also less stressful? This study aimed to find out, concentrating on the inconsistent use of language to discuss personality. Why is language important to personality tests? While many testing techniques can be standardized, the language that people use to describe animals’ personalities can be notoriously subjective. That subjectivity may “significantly contribute to confusion surrounding the field of non-human animal personality research.” In this study, researchers looked at the three most common personality models used to test dog behavior. They identified the “limitations of current canine behavioural tests, specifically those used by welfare shelters.”

The research confirmed that there is a great deal of variation in approaches to evaluating dog behavior. In fact, they say we cannot discuss canine personality tests without first having some kind of consensus about “the use of terminology and methodology in these tests and the aims of those using them.” The authors say that the people using and developing the tests will have to recognize the limitations of behavioral testing. They urge developing a “whole personality” test for dogs that looks beyond just stress measures. It should assess more than just “active states” such as aggression, flight, and arousal and look at a more holistic view of personality. Further, tests that cause less stress to the dogs will help to increase the accuracy of such evaluations.

What does this research mean for companion animal advocates? In general, we should be aware of the inherent difficulties in evaluating dog behavior and the slippery language around dog (and companion animal) personalities. For animal shelter workers, making the best possible matches between humans and dogs is in the interest of everyone. Better matches mean fewer dogs being returned to shelters and a generally better life for dogs once they’re placed in homes. Working towards a personality evaluation paradigm that helps facilitate good matches would seem to be a crucial step for shelters. Fortunately, some animal advocates are already doing this; for example, ASPCA’s Meet Your Match.