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The ASPCA SAFER™ is a six-item aggression assessment utilized by Animal Humane to evaluate the behavioral health of dogs. All dogs six months and older receive this basic testing. It is one tool along with relinquishment surveys, veterinary examinations and observations from staff and volunteers that help determine adoptability.
SAFER™ (Safety Assessment for Evaluating Rehoming) was developed by Dr. Emily Weiss originally for the Kansas Humane Society of Wichita. Dr. Weiss’ research focused specifically on developing a set of assessment items that would better predict service dog potential in dogs selected from shelters. The SAFER™ assessment identifies dogs’ comfort level with restraint and touch, reaction to new experiences including movement and sound stimuli, bite inhibition, behavior around food and toys and arousal level toward other dogs.
Shelters that employ SAFER™ or other research-based behavior assessments report fewer aggression complaints, more adoptions and better interactions with the public.
SAFERTM Test Steps
Item 1: Look
Determines if the dog can accept mild head restraint and eye contact as well as the dog's behavior in social interactions with people when lightly restrained and receiving soft, yet direct, eye contact.
Item 2: Sensitivity
Determines the dog's touch sensitivity as well as fearfulness in new experiences.
Item 3: Tag
Determines the dog's response to movement and sound stimuli and identifies dogs with potential status-seeking or fear aggression issues.
Item 4: Squeeze
Determines the dog's sensitivity response, bite inhibition and acceptance of being held or touched in a mildly controlled and unpleasant manner.
Item 5: Food Behavior
Determines dog's behavior when interacted with while eating and identifies dogs with potential food aggression issues.
Item 6: Toy Behavior
Determines dog's behavior when interacted with while engaged with toys and identifies dogs with potential possession aggression issues.
Item 7: Dog-to Dog Behavior (optional)
Determines dog's behavior when presented with another dog on leash and identifies dogs with potential dog-to-dog aggression issues or limited social skills.
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