1. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Let ‘Em Eat! Emily Weiss, Ph.D., CAAB Vice President of Shelter Research and Development

2. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * It all started with Bobbi....

3. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. *

4. * * What is happening with food guarders in shelters? ASPCA nationwide survey 2006 Responses 77 shelters, 26 states Questions based around guarding behaviors observed in-shelter.

5. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Survey of Shelters Shelters reported food guarding was one of top reasons dogs were not eligible for adoption 14% of dogs in shelters show food guarding behavior during an assessment

6. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Survey of Shelters 92% of shelters assess for food aggression Only 34% attempted behavior modification 51% made no attempt to place food guarders in adoption

7. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Could it just be about the VALUE of the resource?

8. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Getting ready for adoption

9. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * In adoption

10. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * For the Adopter

11. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Adopter protocol o Mealtime is not an event; avoid conflict around bowl o Sit before bowl goes down o Small amounts in bowl at time- then adding more o Dropping high value food treat into food bowl o Trading toys o Foraging device daily

12. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Adopt without b-mod! o Don’t have qualified staff/volunteers, time, or foster available? o Some dogs can be placed in adoption if adopters given support o Recent publication in ANIMALS (Aug 2012)

13. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * o Wisconsin Humane Society (2004) o Followed 96 dogs with food guarding during assessment o No aggression on all other SAFER items (1&2’s) Food Aggression Research

14. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Food Aggression Research o Scores of 3-5 around food bowl during assessment were included: o Stiffening or freezing o Gulping o Growling or other vocalizations o Biting the fake hand

15. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Food Aggression Research o Exclusions from study: o Under 6 months of age o Placed body between assessor and bowl o Multiple bites up fake hand o Aggression to toys or non-food items o Bully breeds

16. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Food Aggression Research o In-shelter: o Free fed o Enrichment o No b-mod sessions involving a food bowl o 96 dogs sent home on food program o Phone survey follow up 3 days, 3 weeks, 3 months

17. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Results o Six adopters (6%) reported guarding first 3 weeks, only 1 to food bowl o By 3 months those dogs not guarding

18. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Results Dog3 day3 week3 month Dog 1 Dog 2 Dog 3 Dog 4 Dog 5 Dog 6 Growl when rawhide taken Guards food, toy, & objects: returned Growl when a tennis ball or rawhide taken Unable to reach adopter No guarding Growl when rawhide taken n/a Growl when a tennis ball taken Growl when plastic bone was taken Growled once over a rubber toy No guarding n/a No guarding Unable to reach adopter Some separation anxiety: no guarding Growl when rawhide taken away

19. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Video o 3 month follow-up: asked adopters to video the dogs during meal time o Ensured they were not missing signs of aggression

20. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Nate in Shelter

21. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Nate at home

22. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Other Results o At 3 months, 1 new case of guarding rawhide (but not food bowl) o Bonded! Returns were 5% (9% for dogs not in study)

23. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Conclusion:

24. * © 2011 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved. * Resources! Behavior modification http://www.aspcapro.org/behavior- modification.php Food program videos http://www.aspcapro.org/behavior-modification- in-action.php http://www.aspcapro.org/behavior-modification- in-action.php Publication http://www.aspcapro.org/food- guarding-a-very-modifiable-behavior.phphttp://www.aspcapro.org/food- guarding-a-very-modifiable-behavior.php

25. © 2012 ASPCA ®. All Rights Reserved.