To Tony Simon who asked questions and refused to take silence for an answer:

First let me clarify that a behavioural and / or temperament test is not pass / fail.
It provides information on behavioural problems and severity, rehabilitation needed and chances of success and type of home needed. Secondly, decision making about a dog includes results of the assessment plus other information regarding health, incidents at the shelter and social history.

With regard to Cheech
The first test done on Cheech was a behavioural test (not a a temperament test). While it provides important information as to what rehabilitation the dog may need, the Hetts test has not been shown to be predictive of behaviour outside the shelter. This is why our department is often called in to conduct a temperament test (validated and therefore predictive) in cases where dogs show aggression at the shelter until such time that the predictive test is implemented in all BC SPCA shelters
The results on the Hetts test (behaviour test) gave a profile which led to the Assessor asking for adoption restrictions (no children) and rehabilitation recommendation (obedience required.)
Cheech was receiving the recommended treatment plus socialisation. However, rather than improving, he was getting more aggressive.

As a result of the previous cautions by the first assessor, the lack of improvement of the rehabilitation and increased incidents of aggression, the Animal Management Coordinator was called to do a case management on Cheech. Among other things, this includes conducting a validated temperament test (DTA IV)

How was the test validated?

About 1200 dogs have taken part in the research in 10 different shelters with over 40 trained assessors. The process entails testing dogs in the kennel by exposing them to carefully controlled situations and stimuli. Once the dogs are adopted, new owners complete detailed questionnaires to indicate how the dog behaves at home. Subsequently, the degree to which the dog's response to the tests predicts later behaviour problems can be verified.

What does DTA IV measure?

DTA measures aspects of a dog's behaviour that are stable over time and across situations. These stable characteristics are called temperament traits (Aggressiveness, Excitableness, Fearfulness, Anxiousness and Playfulness.) All dogs show these traits on a continuum of low to high. The strength of the traits provides information on the level of provocation needed to elicit key behaviour problems.

DTA IV results of Cheech show:

Test 1: Defensive response Represents medium to high risk for aggression in the home

Test 2; Defensive aggressive response - Represent high risk for aggression in the home

Test 3. Aggressive response Represents high risk for aggression in the home

Research indicates that defensive aggression is highly predictive of aggression in the home. Low risk = no aggression, Medium risk = will growl & threaten. High risk = Snap and bite in the home.

Type and level of risk was determined to be very high and chances of success for rehabilitation to be extremely low. With regard to aggression the test aims to evaluate the dogs propensity to engage in aggressive behaviour and the level of stimulus necessary to elicit the aggression. Cheech was found to have a strong propensity to aggression with very low provocation.

In addition to testing, factors known to influences success of rehabilitation such as social history, age of onset, etc.. were examined. It was determined that

Behavioural Veterinarian, Dr. Overall (PhD) states that early onset aggression with progressive increase in frequency and intensity added to social isolation as a puppy are all indicators of poor chances of success for rehabilitation. Other behaviourists indicate that defensively aggressive dogs show aggression towards children, people who are nervous and when you turn your back on the dog. In addition, dogs are easily frightened and feel threatened in non-threatening situation. Aggression is an effective strategy for keeping perceived danger away that promotes increase in use of aggression.

The recommendation for Cheech was therefore that he be euthanised.

While it was requested that he be placed in a willing foster care. We recommended against it. Reports from (good quality) sanctuaries with such dogs show that their aggression increases, that they cannot receive good medical care, grooming or good on-going socialization and suffer from poor welfare over the course of their life.

The welfare of the dog was considered to be at risk.

I hope this clarifies the issues about the "2 tests"

With regard to your question "Are we taking steps to refute misinformation about the tests. I have , and will continue to respond to each email sent about Cheech. I hope that I was able to answer your questions in such a way that you now understand the process which led to the decision that Cheech poses too much of a threat and has very poor chances at ever having a normal life.
Please contact me if you have further questions.
Nadine Gourkow
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Nadine Gourkow, BEd, MSc
Animal Welfare Manager
BC SPCA Administration Centre
1245 East 7th Avenue
Vancouver, BC V5T 1R1
Ph. 604.709.6714 Fax. 604.681 7022
www.spca.bc.ca ngourkow@spca.bc.ca