MovieChat Forums > Animal Precinct Discussion > Behavior Test

Behavior Test

posted 18 years ago by jescci
15 replies | jump to latest

In every episode there is at least one dog given extensive medical treatment then after it recovers is evaluated for behavior and demeanor. One key element of there is the test for food aggression. If a dog has food aggression, it's a deal breaker. It is considered basically unadoptable and is usually destroyed.

My question is why don't they do that test first? Perhaps even before medical treatment. If the dog is not going to be adoptable and will be destroyed anyway, why invest all the time and expense in treating it? I realize in some cases it mite be cruel or even impossible to evaluate a dog that is brought in severely injured or ill - but that's not always the case.

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[–] ih8tt 18 years ago

My question is why don't they do that test first? Perhaps even before medical treatment. If the dog is not going to be adoptable and will be destroyed anyway, why invest all the time and expense in treating it? I realize in some cases it mite be cruel or even impossible to evaluate a dog that is brought in severely injured or ill - but that's not always the case.

I know, I've thought of that, too, why they don't just do that first (or at least, as the first test of the evaluation). I think they've said that it often is not fair to test them after the stress of whatever abuse they suffered, then being removed and taken to the vet hospital, that it's all too much to give them a fair chance to show their best qualities. I agree that it is sad when they've spent all that time and money and all those supplies on a dog that has been too badly treated to be safely adopted.

On that also, on the test where they bring in the other dog to test if they are 'dog aggressive,' don't you think they (unless the dog being tested is immediately dangerously agressive) should try with a second dog if the testee doesn't get along with the one they bring in? After all, dogs are individuals, maybe he just didn't get along with that dog, but he will with another (especially if the dog came in with another dog from the same residence).

[–] marxbro1985 17 years ago

It's the same thing of giving a child an exam when he or she is sick. You can't expect him or her to do well.

An animal will not show its true nature if it is not medically healthy.

When it comes to the 'dog aggressive' test, most shelters have a specific dog/cat trained for that test.

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[–] bluered-3 17 years ago

"Not the ones who can be dangerous"

What a well thought out answer. I think all the animals with teeth "can be dangerous"as you say. Kill them all, right, spider-lou-2 ? Now thats what I call fighting animal cruelty.

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[–] ih8tt 16 years ago

So, is that the test where they put the fake hand in the bowl while the dog is eating? There should be more tests than that! A perfectly good dog could get pissed off when you do that.

not to mention, a *smart* dog knows the difference between a fake hand (that is not really a threat, just an annoyance) and a hand that's part of a living person; who would be brave enough, after they pass the fake hand test, to put their real hand down there?

On that, and I know there's no way they could/should do it any other way, but isn't the 'child' test with the doll stupid? As with the 'fake-hand-in-the-bowl' test, a dog can tell the difference bewteen a doll and a real child (heck, *we* can smell the plastic, for sure they can).

[–] Freckleface94 16 years ago

The food test bugs the freaking crap out of me. I have two golden retrievers who are spoiled brats and have the sweetest dispositions of any dogs I've ever met (I'm not just saying that because they are mine). They will let little kids crawl over and lay on them, they will follow almost all basic commands, but they still will growl if you put your hand in their bowl. First of all, aren't you going to be mad if someone tries to take YOUR food when you're hungry? Second of all, it is animal nature to keep others away from their food. Food equals survival. Third of all, when I had a dog when I was a toddler, I NEVER put my hand in the dog's bowl because my parents told me not to! They should be teaching humans to respect animals, not putting innocent and harmless animals to sleep.

[–] secretromantic 16 years ago

I think they want the animal to not be in pain or anything when they do the evaluation. There is a big chance the dog could act aggresively if it was hurt or wasn't feeling well. By giving the animal medicak treatment to make it feel better you get to see the dog's true personality.

[–] avnrulz 16 years ago

i hate the food-bowl test, but it is valid. We had a sweet puppy, well trained by previous owner, who snapped at my son when he walked past her eating from her bowl. He was about three y/o, so I guess that's two tests in one. My wife saw the incident, and he was not going after the dog, just walking past her eating. We were heart-broken, but we had to return her to the pound with a full explanation. Luckily, my son only had a scratch on his face, it healed, and he has no residual phobia about dogs.

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