Cheech's Canine Evaluation

CANINE EVALUATION done by Ali Yazman, June 28/04

(Note: AAS told Mr Yazman that Cheech's name was Reba and it was not until after the test was completed and the evaluation form submitted to us that we told him Cheech's real name and his story.)

CANINE INFORMATION:
Name: Reba
Breed [or best guess] : Possibly Rottweiler/Lab cross
Age: about 10 months Sex: Male Weight: Approx 50-60 pounds
Medical Problems [if any]: Broken nail/digit on left hind foot
HISTORY: Unknown to me

Temperament Test:

Slightly timid on the first encounter. Otherwise a happy, playful, non-aggressive, forgiving puppy, with a lot of self-control.

Entering/Exiting Territory: Reba was left alone in a back yard for a few minutes, after which I entered the area by jumping in over the fence, and by rattling some furniture. We had never met before; I was a total stranger entering the property, and I did not know what to expect. What I was faced with was a quiet, cautious, and slightly timid puppy. I paid no attention to him and went about my business, which was to pick up some litter. During all this time he made no attempt to charge at me, attack or bite me. He kept his distance and did not approach. When I tried to approach him, he again kept his distance. I later coaxed him with some treats, and we warmed up to each other, after which I left the territory to carry in some equipment. He watched me leaving, and did not make a run for the gate, nor did he follow me to the gate. On my second entry, things had changed. He was happy to see me, and although he was a bit put off by the equipment I was carrying, his curiosity got the best of him and he started to explore the stuff I set down, and was close at hand, - again without showing any sign of aggression, stress or fear.

Conclusion: This kind of attitude is rare in dogs — any dog, let alone a Rottweiler cross, and must be nurtured. As a pet one should not want a dog that attacks and bites people entering the property, and instinctively Reba did all the right things. A future owner should not de-program this rare natural instinct and turn Reba into something he does not want to be.

Touch-Sensitivity: The following Standard Touch Test was done, each several times, with the following results:

Touch an ear, massage it and gently squeeze it:

Little reaction, or no reaction was shown

Run hand down a back leg and touch the foot:

Considering that he had an injured toe on one of his hind legs, he was a bit apprehensive on that side. He showed no reaction on the other.

Put hand on head, slide over the eyes, hold hand over muzzle for a few seconds and the lift the lips:

This is a test that sets off aggressive dogs, and they usually snap or attempt to bite, or even attack. Reba passed it with flying colors, and that within half an hour of our encounter, which speaks volumes for his temperament.

Run hand down the outside of the front and back leg, front to back on the belly, end by lifting one foot and hold it:

This is mimicking the drying of the dog after a wet walk. Reba had no adverse reaction to this.

Touch and firmly pull [not yank] on the collar:

This was done throughout the Touch Test, and he did not care one way or the other.

Make a quick motion towards the head with one hand, without touching or being overly threatening:

Reba showed no reaction to this, which shows that he is tolerant to sudden movements towards him, unlike some neurotic dogs that would snap in such cases.

With both hands gently push on both shoulders:

Again, this is a test that is very dominant, and sets off most aggressive dogs. I tested this while Reba was lying down, and despite the fact that he did not like it, he did not respond aggressively, but removed himself from the situation.

Attempt to lift:

My first attempt was too soon and under stressful circumstances, so he wiggled himself out of it. After we warmed up a bit more to each other, and in a more relaxed atmosphere he did allow me to lift him, and keep him in my arms for a good half minute. Every attempt after that was successful. Again, this shows his immediate trust in people, because few dogs would let someone lift them after such a short encounter.

Attempt to hug:

This, again, is a very dominant gesture towards any dog, and most dogs don't like it; a good percentage reacts aggressively. In fact it is the number one gesture, causing facial injuries — especially in small children. Initially Reba did not like it either, but unlike most dogs he did not react aggressively, but removed himself from the situation. Later on, as it was in the case of lifting, he did not have any problem in being hugged.

Conclusion: These tests are not meant to show, whether the dog is a sweet-heart or not. What they are meant to show is, whether the dog has the propensity of becoming aggressive during regular touch issues, as done by an owner, in a regular household. These are the kind of touches that are attempted on a daily basis by adults, or children, and an aggressive response to any of them would certainly raise a red flag. Reba's reactions raised no such flags, and my conclusion is that he is no threat to the average household, provided that he is treated gently and with respect.

Escape: While on a walk, I dropped the leash and he did not show any sign of wanting to escape, and returned when called back [despite his lack of training]. He also did not hog the gate in the yard, wanting to get out, nor was he looking for places to bolt from in the yard. He did not give me the impression that he wants to get away from the handler.

Barking/Howling/Whining:

On one occasion he barked at someone outside the yard, whom he could hear and sense but not see. This is as far as his guarding instincts should go. He does not seem to be a problem barker, since I did not hear him bark on any other occasion at dogs or humans.

Disciplining [verbal]:

He complies, and becomes timid.

Disciplining [physical]:

No attempt was made.

Aggression: -while eating, chewing, sleeping, discipline, physical handling: Reba did not show aggression during any of the above [sleeping was not tested]. Most were not a concern to him. Those that were, he dealt with by either removing himself from the situation, or by submitting.

Leash Pulling/Biting: For a dog who had no training whatsoever, his leash manners are better than average. He is attentive to the handler, and if instructed properly, is not a leash puller. He never attempted to bite the leash. In capable hands it will take no time to turn him into a well-adjusted dog, in terms of leash manners.

Chasing: The opportunity to show, whether he goes after cyclists, skateboarders, or joggers did not present itself.

Hunting/Predation: The opportunity whether he has predatory instincts, such as chasing after cats, squirrels etc, has not presented itself.

Jumps up [handler]: No

Jumps up [strangers]: No

Stubborn: No. Is willing to listen and learn. Is not after having his way.

Response to Recalls: Despite his lack of training, very good. He was on a 5 yard Flexi-leash, and explored the limits of it frequently, but obeyed to every recall.

Hyperactivity: Despite being a puppy he is not a hyperactive dog. He is playful, but never gets out of control.

Phobias: [Thunder, Cars, Vacuum Cleaner etc]: Did not test for any.

Shyness/Timidity: Yes, during first encounters, and when reprimanded.

Response to Commands:Sit: Good Come: Good Off: Good Heel: Not tested

TYPES OF RESPONSES TO:

Handling and Relinquishment of Food, Bone, or Toys: This again is an issue where severe aggression could manifest itself. Reba has passed this one with flying colors. First several toys were introduced, and after he picked his favorite — which in his case was a tennis ball — it was alternatively given to him and retrieved from his jaws. Since he was unfamiliar to the "drop it" or "give" command, I reached into his mouth every time and retrieved the ball, and then returned it to him. At no point did he show any stress or aggression. I then, on an empty stomach, introduced a food bowl to him with some kibble in it. While he was eating voraciously, I petted him, put my hand in the bowl and stirred the kibble next to his mouth, and then suddenly removed the dish from him. After a while I re-introduced the bowl and did the same again. He did show no adverse reaction to my interference. The bone issue was not tested. During this test a raw bone is given, and after he has chewed it for 5 minutes or so, it is taken away from him. Based on his reactions to the former two tests, I cannot see him getting aggressive during the bone test. His new home must ensure that these qualities remain as they are, and not deteriorate because of incorrect feeding patterns or methods.

Gender: Despite the fact I was told otherwise, he has given me no indication that he differentiates between human male and female on property or in public.

Strangers: Individual & Crowds; On property; Off property: Strangers on property are explained in the first paragraph "Entering/Exiting Territory". He is cautious and keeps his distance. Strangers off property [on walks] he could care less about. He does not approach them, in fact basically ignores them, and does not mind them approaching him.

Children: I have not tested him with children. However, the touch and relinquishment tests have shown that — in a home that teaches children on how to interact with a dog properly - the risk to children is minimal.

Motion: He seems to be oblivious to motion around him, and towards him.

Sound: During the test period he has shown no fear to any sound, despite the fact that we encountered heavy machinery operating next to us, and helicopters flying overhead.

Lifting: See paragraph "Touch Sensitivity" above.

Belly Rubs: Did not show any adverse reaction.

Grooming: [Coat, Ears, Teeth, Paws, Nails, Eyes, Body Check]: It is apparent that Reba has never been groomed before. Had I been able to do a full test over my regular time, I feel that he would have relented to a full grooming at the end of it. However, due to time constraints, I was limited to a few minutes during which I introduced several coat grooming tools such as a wire brush, a rubber mitten, and a comb. I also attempted a mock ear cleaning, a mock nail cutting, and a mock teeth cleaning. Some went well, others he wiggled himself out of. The important point, however is that he did not turn on me during any of my attempts, and despite our struggle he always bounced back and let me try something else. It is very easy to get bitten by the average dog during such attempts. Reba proved to be much better than average in terms of his mild reactions to this test.

Rolling Over: Did not attempt. This is a test to push the dog to a higher limit, in case there is cause for concern during any of the previous tests. In Reba's case there was no ambiguity regarding his reactions.

Grasping Collar: Was performed numerous times. No adverse reactions were noticed.

Threats: At this point I have nor been able to establish what he may consider as a serious threat. He is a social dog in public, and a cautious dog on property, and has given no indications of what those threats might be.

Bite Potential: It all basically comes down to this. I have given Reba ample opportunity to bite me, sometimes seriously. He never took the bait. There have been moves towards me, but every time he controlled himself and stopped short. I would put his bite inhibition at high. I cannot stress enough how significant this is, and how important it is for his new home to continue to keep it this way. He should not be encouraged to act aggressively and even play-biting/mouthing must be discouraged every time. His natural instinct tells him not to bite, and every effort must be made to keep it this way.

Triggers: I have not been able to establish any triggers that set him off.

Dogs on Property: He is playful, and very social with them, and does not seem to want to jump status in hierarchy. Blends right in.

Dogs on Walks: We met all kinds of dogs on our walk. Large, small, dominant, timid, and he got along with all of them. More importantly he did not set off any of them. His dog etiquette is impeccable.

Cats: Not tested.

Other Animals: Not tested.

Strangers Approaching: In the presence of his handler he is oblivious to them.

Being left alone: Not tested.

Crating: Not tested.

Startling: Several different methods were used, some were movements, others were sound related. Sudden movements to the head, or body from various directions; a sudden clap in front of the snout; a bang on an empty metal bowl close to his rear quarters; a shrill whistle when he wasn't expecting it. In all cases did he recover fast, and continued being his usual self in a matter of seconds. At no time did he turn aggressive, or become overly fearful or stressed out.

Arousal: The point of this test is to get him excited, and then see how quickly he calms down, and whether excitement leads to aggression. The handler/assessor becomes very animated and gets him wound up, invites him to play, even encourages a bit of rough-play, and then suddenly stops and expects the same from him. Despite being a very playful dog, he did not get overly excited, and recovered in seconds. At no point did he get out of control, aggressive, or hyperactive.

Car Traffic: He does not seem to be affected by it.

Car Ride: At this point he is apprehensive about getting into cars, and some creative handling is required.

Tools/Water Hose: Not tested

Motorcycles/Skateboards/Joggers/Cyclists: Not tested

ASSESSOR'S SUMMARY & RECOMMENDATIONS:

Normally a full assessment, covering all aspects of a dog's behavior and reactions, takes me 10-14 hours [ in 2-3 hours increments over 4 —7 days] to complete. The tests are numerous [over 100] and if a chink in the armor is established, some of them are repeated several times on separate days and under different circumstances, to reach a definite conclusion.

In Reba's case time was of the essence, so most of the tests done, were exploring aggression of any kind, and whether he was reliable in public. The total test time was reduced to about 3 hours, and concentrated on the issues above.

Despite the limitations, I can confidently say that I found no chinks in the armour to cause concern and to follow up on, nor could I establish any hidden skeletons in the closet. Had that been the case I was prepared to extend the assessment period no matter what, and may have referred the matter to a reliable Animal Trainer/Behaviorist of my choosing - one with scientific credentials - to explore further and to get a second opinion.

Reba is a dog with unique qualities such as lots of self-control and correct decision- making. These are rare qualities in any dog, let alone a shelter dog, and must be nurtured from here on.

He is intelligent and willing to learn, has trust in people, and is oblivious to outside interferences. He struck me as a social dog with his kind, and with the people he meets.

THE RIGHT HOME:

If he goes to a home with children it should be sooner rather than later. It is better to take advantage of his puppy stage to introduce him to a home with children.

He has proven that he can be placed in a home with other dogs, depending on the attitude of the other dogs. Reba will not be the one causing the problem.

Having said all that, I will have no control over in which kind of home Reba will end up, and when. The home has to be chosen carefully not for theirs but for Reba's sake.

He has exceptional qualities - such as being very social with other dogs, a nonchalant attitude towards strangers on walks, utmost cooperation in terms of relinquishing items of value to him, as well as his self-control in dire circumstances -, all of which have to be encouraged and nurtured. Like any large breed dog, under no circumstances should he ever be introduced to situations that lead to aggression. He should not be encouraged to guard or protect anything. Once that happens his ability to make the right decisions will be altered, and the line between right and wrong will become blurry. He is a pet and a companion and should be treated as such in a calm and gentle manner. He should not be treated as a gun or an alarm system.

BEHAVIORAL EVALUATION PERIOD & TOTAL TIME:

June 28, 2004 11:30AM-2:30PM

ASSESSED BY:
Ali Yazman,
North Vancouver

Dog handling credentials:

I have dealt with and owned [and still do] large breed dogs with various types of aggression for most of my adult life. I usually pick them from death row at pounds or other institutions; assess them, work with them, after which they become a member of my household, or part of society.

My professional involvement with such dogs goes back to 1978, to the Turkish Armed Forces, where I handled, lived with, and rehabilitated such dogs — used for military purposes, and learned how to assess and temperament test them from skilled instructors. I still study aggression in dogs, and keep in touch with handlers around the world.

I have written several papers on dog aggression, one of which I recently translated into English, and submitted to the American Institute of Animal Sciences, which posted it in its monthly online Newsletter of March 2004.

After coming to Canada, I volunteered for the North Vancouver SPCA, 1999 May - 2001 December, and the District of North Vancouver Animal Shelter, 2002 February - 2003 September, for which I performed numerous dog assessments. I also worked exclusively with the more difficult dogs, in terms of socialization and rehabilitation.

Along the years I have developed my own method of testing and assessing dogs with the following criteria. I am very hands-on during the assessment. I prefer going into an evaluation without knowing anything about the dog. I try not to draw conclusions unless occurrences repeat themselves and the testing is done in the right environment. I do not generalize or extrapolate. I do not take anything for granted. I test every aspect of possible occurrences in an average household numerous times before I come to a conclusion. I test more than 60 issues that are as close to real life scenarios as possible.

My average test duration for a dog with social problems is 10-14 hours, in 2-3 hour segments, over 4-7 days. I do not use assistants. I also do not use restrictive tools such as muzzles, except for the very severe cases.

I do not make a living from dog-related issues. I volunteer for pounds to assess dogs and work with the socially challenged. On rare occasions, I do accept individual cases.

Throughout the years I have seen the worst in dogs, and therefore I do not take aggression of any kind lightly. However, I also have seen the very best dogs have to offer, and insist that they must be given every chance to prove themselves, before ultimate decisions are made about their faith.

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