Basic Temperament Test For Rescue Beagles

[Beagle Rescue NSW]

Hi

I am not sure if this is the right forum to ask this but hopefully it is. I am the Rescue Co-ordinator for Beagle Rescue NSW and I am hoping someone might be able to point me to a basic temperament test that our foster carers can do to test the beagles that come into care as I am putting together some guidelines forthem.

Beagles generally are an easy going breed but you do get the odd one that can be a fear biter or food aggressive and this doesn't always become apparent unless placed in the situation that brings it out

Our foster carers are all dog lovers and owners but are not professional or necessarily experienced dog handlers and while they do a wonderful job I would really like to give them some guidelines on what to look for.

I know the RSPCA does a test which is not infallible but it is better than not testing so would appreciate it if anyone could help out with some iIt would be nice if we had a professional who could do it for us but our carers are spread around NSW so this may not be practical.

I look forward to any help you might be able to offer

Cheers

Gwenda

[_PL_]

Gwenda there was this thread in the rescue section if it helps....

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=212983

[Cosmolo]

Hi Gwenda, we will be in Sydney again this year if your carers are interested in the Underdog Behaviour Assessment.

[corvus]

I've got a bunch of scientific papers on behavioural assessment. I haven't looked at them, so not sure how useful they are, but if you're interested I can go through them and see if they have a practical use.

[Beagle Rescue NSW]

Hi Gwenda, we will be in Sydney again this year if your carers are interested in the Underdog Behaviour Assessment.

Hi

I would be interested in knowing when you will be in Sydney again. As you know I did send aroung 6 or so people off to the Underdog Training when it was in Sydney in 2009. Since then 4 of them finished up adopting one of their foster beagles which took them out of the foster pool (they were limited in how many dogs they can keep). So only 2 of the present carers have done the course.

Another problem is how wide-spread the carers are - Sydney, Newcastle & Canberra so one can't temp test for the omes that haven't done the course.

If we were in Vic I would be more than happy to send them along to do the Underdog Training but we have to depend on them coming up here once a year. If new people do come on board (fingers crossed) I do need to give them some sort of Guidelines to get them through until we can get them trained.

So what I was really looking for was a basic check list that a lay person could use to temp test their charge until they can do the course. I do try & keep any real problem "children" for the more experienced carers but sometimes owners are less that honest when they surrender their dogs and if they come out of a pound its hard to know their real personality as in a lot of cases thay are subdued from being in there in the first place.

I hope that all makes sense

Gwenda

[Beagle Rescue NSW]

I've got a bunch of scientific papers on behavioural assessment. I haven't looked at them, so not sure how useful they are, but if you're interested I can go through them and see if they have a practical use.

Hi

Thanks - that would be good but I really don't want anything too "in depth". As I said most of my carers are very kind hearted dog lovers rather than professionals so I just want to give them a check list that they can use and understand.

Maybe things like

- strangers approaching the dog

- testing aggression with food

- socialising with other dogs

Most beagles have a very easy going temperament but any dog can be a problem if it hasn't been treated well or not given any guidance.

If you think you can help then I would be very grateful

Cheers

Gwenda