Presentation Details
| Stabilise Before You Assess: A One Welfare Approach to Shelter Behaviour Assessment Liam Clay1, 2, 3. 1University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia.2Future Proof Training Academy, Perth, WA, Australia.3AABA Consultants, Perth, WA, Australia |
Abstract
Shelter behaviour assessments often occur when dogs are stressed, medically uncertain or behaviourally suppressed, yet early observations can strongly shape adoption and intervention decisions. This presentation outlines a One Welfare-informed pathway that prioritises stabilisation before interpretation. Rather than treating a single test as a prediction of temperament, the model separates descriptive observation from inference, screens for pain and environmental load, and uses repeated low-intrusion sampling to build a context-tagged behavioural profile. The pathway integrates welfare management across the Five Domains, threshold-aware handling, functional formulation and review loops that link behaviour change plans to measurable outcomes. Using canine shelter and adoption examples, the talk demonstrates how this approach can reduce false confidence, improve safety for staff and adopters, and support more ethical decisions for dogs whose behaviour is shaped by confinement, arousal and prior experience. The framework bridges applied animal behaviour science and shelter operations, shifting assessment from “test and label” towards “stabilise, understand, support and review.”
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No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.
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