Assessment processes for dogs in shelters have changed dramatically in recent years, with research findings driving a fundamental shift away from short, provocative battery-style behaviour tests to holistic, information-gathering assessment processes. This data-driven shift away from ‘poke-and-prod’ type tests has created some fantastic opportunities for animal management and sheltering professionals to improve not just their behaviour assessments, but also the level of care provided to animals, staff safety, and appropriate outcomes for the dogs themselves.
Come join Trish and Di to find out more about the research underpinning this seismic shift in procedure, and how you can move towards a more modern and holistic model for assessing dog behaviour in shelters.
You will learn:
- Summary of recent research findings relevant to animal behaviour assessments in applied environments
- Basic principles in canine behaviour and personality assessment
- How to implement a ‘data-gathering’ continuous assessment process in your facility, using fast-track and slow-track processes. We will include some tips and tricks that we’ve learned along the way, and help you improve flow and outcome.
This is part of a two-part series:
- November 11: Canine Communication in the Field and Shelter
- Dec 2: Assessing Dog Behaviour in Shelter Settings (this webinar)
The Australian Institute of Animal Management (AIAM) is the national peak body representing Local Government Animal Management Officers. The AIAM Committee consists of a wide range of professionals engaged in the various aspects of animal management.
AIAM seeks to support those engaged in the business of animal management, and the function itself, by providing training and information, opportunities for networking and collaboration, and by encouraging the use of best practice policy and practices. AIAM promotes consistency of legislation, consultation in the creation of legislation and workplace processes, and healthy relationships with external stakeholders and the community. AIAM supports cross-sector collaboration and co-design of projects and initiatives.
Presenters:
Trish McMillan holds a Master of Science degree in animal behavior, and is a certified professional dog trainer, certified dog behavior consultant, and associate certified cat behavior consultant. She has been involved in the animal rescue and sheltering world since the mid-1990’s, starting out as a volunteer and working her way up to director of animal behavior. She worked for the ASPCA for nearly eight years; first as Director of Animal Behavior at their NYC shelter, then as a behaviorist on their field team, helping assess and rehabilitate dogs from cruelty cases, dogfighting and hoarding situations, then she joined the Shelter Research and Development team.
Trish currently does animal behavior consulting near Asheville, North Carolina, working with dogs, cats and horses. Her farm, Pibble Hill, is home to a happy herd of animals of five species. Trish speaks and consults nationally and internationally on animal sheltering issues, dog, cat, and horse behavior, dog aggression, and defensive handling. Her online shelter dog behavior offerings have helped students from around the world apply best practices at their respective shelters and rescues.
Dr Diana Rayment holds a PhD in Canine Behaviour and a Bachelor of Animal Science. Her primary research area is canine behaviour and assessments in applied settings, like animal shelters. She has also worked in a variety of academic and industry settings, including as a TAFE and university educator, as an applied scientist studying companion animal welfare and behaviour and working dog assessments, a dog trainer, a shelter nurse and most recently, leading the behaviour team at the Greyhound Adoption Program Victoria. Diana is now working to integrate and improve animal welfare and animal management practices in Australia through a variety of roles, including project management and staff and volunteer training at Second Chance Animal Rescue.
