Protocol for assessing aggression in dogs by veterinarians on behalf of animal welfare groups

National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare Position Statement

This protocol provides specific guidelines for assessing acceptable temperament in dogs.

Dogs being prepared for sale or adoption must also be assessed on other criteria, such as health before being passed fit for the purpose.

A dangerous dog may be defined as:

One that threatens the safety of people and other animals by showing aggression with little or no provocation.

Dog aggression may be shown by one or more of the following:

• growling
  
  
• barking
  
  
• snapping
  
  
• biting
  
  
• jumping or rushing towards a person or dog with its teeth bared.

Most dogs are capable of aggression if challenged enough but judging whether an animal is likely to be dangerous, requires taking the degree of challenge into account.

A dog's behaviour may be influenced by

• genetic predisposition
  
  
• experience (such as primary socialisation and other learning)
  
  
• present environment, and
  
  
• the dog handler.

Of the many recognised types of aggression, dominance and fear are the two most likely to be encountered.

Dogs should be assessed for aggression during a physical examination which necessitates the dog accepting authority and physical control.

Assessment Criteria

Any assessment of aggression is partly subjective, but consideration of the following will make the examination more objective.

In each case (a) is acceptable, (b) is borderline, and (c) is unacceptable.

How does the animal react at the sight of an unfamiliar person?

• Shows little reaction or shows sociable behaviour
  
  
• Growls and barks
  
  
• Is overly aggressive.

On being approached by an unfamiliar person, how does it react?

• Shows little interest
  
  
• Withdraws
  
  
• Exhibits aggression.

How does the dog react when a hand is passed from the top of the head, to the neck and between the shoulder blades?

• Shows little response or reacts submissively
  
  
• Moves away
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

During a full clinical examination the veterinarian should be able to examine an animal from head to tail. How does the dog respond?

• Submits readily to examination
  
  
• Is uncooperative
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

How does the dog react when the veterinarian attempts to examine its mouth?

• Does not resist
  
  
• Attempts to turn and face you
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

How does the dog react when approached from the rear?

• Stands and allows handling
  
  
• Attempts to turn and face you
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

How does the dog react when its temperature is taken?

• Does not resist
  
  
• Resists by sitting or turning
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

When prolonged eye contact is established between the veterinarian and the animal, how does the animal respond?

• Averts its eye
  
  
• Maintains eye contact with no result, or exhibits fear
  
  
• Becomes aggressive.

Further Comments

At no stage of an examination should you or the animal be placed at risk of injury from the dog. If this is thought likely, the dog should be failed.

If the dog appears fearful, the veterinarian needs to judge whether continuing the examination will exacerbate the behaviour, and whether this is a dangerous animal.

A short break in examination may be appropriate. The minimum challenge should be a full clinical examination: without this a veterinarian cannot certify the animal as healthy.

Previous experiences may produce a response in some dogs (eg white coats; the smell of a veterinary surgery; manner of handling; pain associated with injury or treatment). Handlers with these or other concerns, should take them into consideration.

Preferably the animal should be approached and initially assessed with its usual handler. This may show the handler's degree of control over the animal, and also whether it is inclined to be protective of the handler.

The clinical examination itself should be conducted without the current handler.

Proper assessment of whether the dog is dangerous towards other animals is not possible without placing other animals at risk. Dogs confined by a lead or fence will often behave more aggressively.

If the dog being examined is to be challenged by another dog, the challenger should be protected from the dog to be tested by a physical, impenetrable barrier (a wire or mesh fence would be suitable) through which both dogs can readily see each other . Again, if the dog is overly aggressive it should be failed.

Where a dog shows a majority of borderline responses, extreme caution should be exercised in passing such animal. If it shows any (c) responses, it should be failed.

A veterinarian unable to make a clear assessment of a dog using this protocol should ensure that another veterinarian examines the dog before a final decision is made.

Attachment to Position Statement

Instructions for veterinarians assessing aggression in dogs in accordance with the NCCAW eight-point protocol

The overall objective of the NCCAW Protocol for Assessing Aggression in Dogs is that:

• a dog being examined according to protocol criteria will not be unfairly failed while still ensuring that its temperament is acceptable for rehousing.

Dogs do not have to prove they are safe and will be passed for sale unless they do something to convince the veterinary assessor otherwise.

Veterinarians assessing aggression in dogs at pounds and shelters must use the eight point testing procedure in the NCCAW Position Statement entitled Protocol for Assessing Aggression in Dogs by Veterinarians on Behalf of Animal Welfare Groups and Municipalities.

The total NCCAW criteria for declaring a dog to be acceptable for adoption will include:

• the results of the assessment test for aggression
  
  
• a full clinical examination, and
  
  
• consideration of the recorded comments of the surrendering owner, and pound or shelter staff who have observed the dog.

No additional or substitute test may be used unless the test has been fully evaluated and approved by the National Consultative Committee on Animal Welfare.

Assessment Staff

A dog to be examined for aggression must be held by an experienced dog handler who is not be the dog's usual handler.

Veterinary surgeons and dog handlers involved in assessments at pounds shelters must be properly instructed and approved for the task by the manager.

Before approving a veterinarian to examine dogs, the manager must be satisfied the veterinarian fully understands the introductory and further comments contained in the NCCAW protocol, as well as the instructions on this website.

The manager must keep a permanent record of the approval process.

It is important that neither the dog handler nor the examining veterinarian is afraid or apprehensive of the dog to be examined.

Active steps must be taken to avoid being influenced by anecdotal evidence of the dog's behaviour while in the pound or shelter.

If either the dog handler or examining veterinarian finds they have developed a negative attitude towards the dog, they must arrange to be replaced before the examination begins.

Examination of Dogs

A dog examination must be conducted in a quiet room at the pound or shelter, after the animal has been given time to acclimatise to the room. The dog must be on a leash.

If the dog is too excited or distressed in the examination room before the aggression assessment, it should be given more time to settle down in the room. If this is unsuccessful, it should be returned to a kennel and the assessment rescheduled for another day.

No other animal should be in the room during the examination, and the only people in the room should be the examining veterinarian and dog handler.

The eight-point protocol should be conducted in a friendly and positive way with plenty of stroking and patting, and talking to the dog. There must be no sudden approaches towards the animal or contact with it, if it is unaware that this is to occur.

Dogs must be held in a light restraint while being examined. A thermometer must not be inserted into a dog's rectum without the animal's head being held.

The assessment results are to be permanently recorded in a document signed by the veterinarian. The document should provide for the need to re-examine a dog if it has been assessed as borderline or unacceptable.

Re-examination (appeal) Provision

If the dog has been assessed as borderline or unacceptable, it must be returned to the kennel and scheduled for re-examination on another day.

Another senior veterinarian must perform the re-examination, along with a different handler.

The re-examination must repeat the entire protocol.

The result will be final and must be entered as a permanent record on the aggression assessment document, signed by the examining veterinarian.

Final Assessment for Adoption

Only after the NCCAW Protocol examination is completed successfully can a dog be finally assessed for adoption.

This pound or shelter manager and veterinarian should conduct the final assessment, which must consider:

• the results of the full clinical examination, and
  
  
• the surrendering owners recorded comments on the dog's behaviour, and
  
  
• the recorded comments of staff on the dog's behaviour while in the pound or shelter.

 

This Position Statement and its attachment was first published in April 1994 and was reviewed by NCCAW on 20 February 2008.  NCCAW made the decision to retain it without amendment.