Basenji Rescue and Transport
Adoption ◦ Placement ◦ Health & Foster Care ◦ Education ◦ Support
www.basenjirescue.org

These guidelines are designed for volunteers evaluating a dog in a non-shelter situation. If the dog you are asked to evaluate is in a shelter, you will need to modify the process since the shelter personnel will not know much about the dog's history. If you have any questions about the evaluation process in general or with regard to this particular dog, please write to us at BRAT-HELP@lists.basenjirescue.org

PRELIMINARY QUESTIONS

Can be asked over the telephone or at the home of the owner before you see the dog.

1. Questions to determine whether the owner(s) have worked with the dog (If the dog doesn't know any commands or just one or two, or doesn't know any tricks, this is a pretty good sign the people haven't worked much with the dog.):

• Has the dog had any formal training?
• Does the dog pull on a leash when they are walking him?
• What commands does the dog know? (sit, stay, off, leave it, down)
• Does the dog know any tricks?
• What sort of games do you play with your dog?

2. Questions to determine sociability (If the dog doesn't ride in the car and is put away when company comes over, he is not very well socialized.):

• Does the dog ride in the car often?
• What do you do with the dog when company comes?
• What does the dog do when another dog approaches when you are walking him?
• Where does the dog stay when he must stay home alone?
• What does the dog do when he sees another dog when you are in the car?
• How does the dog act at the vet's office?
• Do you walk the dog? How often, how far, for how long? Does the dog pull on the leash during the walk?
• What does the dog do when someone knocks at the door?

3. To determine how sensitive the dog is:

• How does the dog react to having his toenails clipped?
• What places on his body would your dog just as soon you did not mess with? His head? Rear quarters? Feet?
• Is your dog bothered by thunder?
• Does your dog like being cuddled?

4. To determine if the dog is dominant:

• What does the dog do if you try to move him from a spot where he is comfortable?
• What makes your dog growl or snark?
• How does your dog react if you try to take away a toy he is playing with, or food when he is eating?
• Does the dog have a crate? Does he use it? How often? For how long?
• What type of crate is it? Plastic? Wire?
• Where does the dog sleep?
• Does your dog mind being picked up?

5. If the dog is being given up because a baby is coming or has just arrived

• What is it about the dog that leads you to believe the dog might harm your baby?
• Has he ever nipped anyone before? Has he ever bitten anyone to the point of breaking the skin?
• If yes, what were the circumstances?

ACTUAL EVALUATION OF THE DOG

A dog should be evaluated on his friendliness, shyness, fearfulness, sociability, training, manners, sensitivity to being touched, dominance, and aggressiveness.

Also: Be sure to bring test strips to test the dog for sugar in the urine (Fanconi Syndrome). Take the dog out for a walk so that s/he urinates so you can test the dog. More information on strip testing can be found at both: http://basenjicompanions.org/health/fanconi/syndrome.html and http://www.barkless.com/guide/strip.htm.

BRAT will reimburse you for the cost of the test strips.

• Use common sense. Respect both the dog and his owners.
• Take plenty of treats.
• Do not bend over the dog. Get down to the dog's level by either sitting on the floor or on a chair. Hold your hand down to your side, palm up with a treat on it.
• Ignoring the dog, but watching with your peripheral vision, talk to the owners about the dog. Do not try to approach the dog ... let the dog come to you, noting how long it takes. The longer the dog takes to approach you the less social he is. Note if the dog seems stressed, ears back, licking his lips, averting his eyes, not looking at you directly, turning his head away when you look at him. Do not set a dog up in order to evaluate a specific trait. If you cannot determine it on your own, discuss it with the owners.
• Did the dog come up to you readily?
• Did the dog growl at you at any point? If yes, what were the exact circumstances?
• Did you notice any of the stress signs listed above?
• Did the dog readily take treats from the palm of your hand?
• Did the dog ask for more treats?
• Could you reach out your hand to the dog, after he approached you?
• Did he jump away when you reached toward him?

PREPARE A REPORT ON THE DOG

After you have completed your evaluation, prepare a written report setting out your opinion. Make a recommendation as to whether you believe the dog can be placed. Go through the factors above and tell us how you think the dog performed. If you have no reservations about recommending that BRAT accept the dog for placement, prepare a paragraph or two about the dog and his positive features so that we can send that to our list of applicants. Send your write-up to us at: adoption@basenjirescue.org