231 - Temperament Evaluation

TUITION $350 CDN + APPLICABLE TAX

Course Title: Temperament Evaluation - 231

Instructor: Molly Stone, CDBC; Dip.A.B; CC-SF/SPCA

Course Description:

This course will address the controversy and challenges of assessing dogs in and out of the shelter and rescue environment in order to satisfy the various goals they are designed to meet, including determination of adoptability of dogs and matching individual dogs with individual potential adopters as well as reliably predicting aggressive tendencies. The research on temperament tests will be surveyed and some of the more commonly used test instruments will be summarized, contrasted and compared. Guidelines will be presented on how to carry out temperament tests and how to evaluate the results as well as how to maintain safety of humans and dogs throughout the process. Students should emerge from this course able to analyze and discuss these topic areas. IAABC Approved course with 16 CEUs. 

Learning Objectives:

Upon completing this course, the student will be able to:

  • Identify and discuss the various goals temperament evaluations are designed to meet.
  • Identify and discuss the reasons for controversy surrounding temperament assessments
  • Compare and contrast several published models of temperament evaluations
  • Define and discuss the terms Behavior and Temperament
  • Define and discuss aspects of psychological testing, including Validity and Reliability
  • Survey existing research on commonly used temperament evaluation equipment and models
  • Clearly identify the guidelines for ensuring evaluator and animal safety during a temperament evaluation

Required Resources:

  • ASPCA Meet Your Match SAFER program Instruction manual and video. Click here.
  • Jones, A. C., & Gosling, S. D. (2005). Temperament and personality in dogs (Canis familiaris): A review and evaluation of past research. Applied Animal Behaviour Science, 95, 1-53. Click here.
  • Gosling, S. D., Kwan, V.S.Y., and John, O.P. (2003). A dog's got personality: a cross-species comparative approach to personality judgments in dogs and humans. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 85(6), 1161-1169. Click here.
  • Taylor, K. D., & Mills, D. S. (2006). The development and assessment of temperament tests for adult companion dogs. Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 1, 94-108. Click here to purchase.
  • Kroll, T. L., Houpt, K.A., and Erb, H.N. (2004). The use of novel stimuli as indicators of aggressive behavior in dogs. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association, 40, 13-19. Click here to purchase.
  • Sternberg, Sue. (2006). Shelter Manual. Rondout Valley Animals for Adoption (all forms reproducible)
  • Assess-A-Pet: The Manual by Sue Sternberg. Click here to purchase.
  • Kalnajs, Sarah. Language of Dogs (DVD)
  • Kalnajs, Sarah. Am I Safe? The Art & Science of Canine Behavior Assessment DVD set. Blue Dog Training and Behavior Edition: 2006 DVD ISBN: 897059001009
  • http://www.thebark.com/...
  • http://www.sheltermedicine.com/...
  • http://www.animalsheltering.org/...
  • http://www.guidetopsychology.com/...
  • http://wilderdom.com/...

Prerequisites: None

CEUs: Continuing Education Credits Available. See Course Approvals page for credits.

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