Hi Emma,
I have to agree with what you said about the startle test as my dog is normally very laid back and easy going, but loud sounds send him running and shaking (and that's no indication of his stability because you couldn't find a more kid friendly dog, he starts to whine when he hears the neighbour's 5 year old twin boys come home because he loves it when they come over and climb/sit on him, give him eye & teeth "exams", run around the house squeeling and chasing him, and vice versa - he loves kids and chaos). Also I'd like to add that anyone who has ever owned a dog knows that right off the bat the dog going through the CAMP test has no chance because the evaluator spooked him by the whole lean forward at the waist and stare at him, while he's in a cage! That would make my dog extremely wary of this person. You'd never see what his personality is really like, because he'd be so suspicious about what this person is going to do next, especially after already being confused about the whole shelter experience. But then again, maybe that's the intent of the test? But isn't just spending some time with the dog, taking him out on a walk, watching how he reacts to other dogs, giving him commands (like sit, down), and watching how s/he responds to the commands and socializes, a real judgment of a dog's character? I think the test is just going to freak the dog in question out.