About this Episode

In this podcast episode, I’m Joined by Dot Baisly, Executive Director of the IAABC and all-round shelter expert, to discuss the critical topic of dog behaviour assessments. Dot and I explore the importance of accurately evaluating dogs to ensure their suitability for adoption and to enhance their chances of finding forever homes. The conversation delves into various assessment methods, highlighting both behavioural observations and environmental factors that can influence a dog's behaviour and how we can best collect and utilise this data. Assessments is one of the most discussed areas of shelter and rescue behaviour. This conversation serves as an introductory podcast episode, with further episodes coming soon! During this episode we cover, what assessments are, different types of assessments and why we might use them, gathering information at different parts of the dogs journey and how to use this information to support the individual moving forward.

About Dot

Dot Baisly is the Executive Director for the International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants (IAABC). Dot also holds a master’s degree in Animal Behavior from Tufts University and is a certified dog behavior consultant (CDBC), certified cat behavior consultant (CCBC), and certified shelter behavior specialist (CSBS). Most recently she was the director of behavior for Northeast Animal Shelter where she built a behavior program and transformed the organization’s approach to behavior as a result of her leadership. Prior to this she was also the lead behavior staff at the SPCA of Westchester and then the Animal Rescue League of Boston.

Dot also worked as a consultant for Paws With A Cause, working with service dogs and the clients they serve for over 10 years. She has been working in animal welfare, veterinary care and behavior for over 20 years, both in animal welfare and rescue organizations and as a private consultant. Dot has consulted with private clients since her initial certifications, working with owned cats and dogs on a regular basis.

In her private practice, Dot specializes in working with dogs and cats exhibiting significant behavioral concerns, including human-directed aggression. She also provides consultations to shelters across the country where she has evaluated dogs, educated staff and volunteers and continues to be recognized as a key leader in the animal welfare and shelter behavior community where she is sought out for her expertise, compassion, and skill in leading change efforts.

Links

Building Better Bonds- https://www.buildbetterbonds.com/

IAABC- https://iaabc.org/

No better than flipping a coin- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787816300697#:~:text=%E2%80%9CThis%20means%20that%20even%20under,the%20basis%20of%20such%20test

Adopter- dog interactions at the shelter: Behavioral and contextual predictors of adoption -https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=QzzG6YUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=QzzG6YUAAAAJ:u-x6o8ySG0sC

Preference assessments and structured potential adopter-dog interactions increase adoptions - https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=QzzG6YUAAAAJ&citation_for_view=QzzG6YUAAAAJ:p2g8aNsByqUC