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AM I SAFE? - THE ART & SCIENCE OF CANINE BEHAVIOR ASSESSMENTS DVD SET
by Sarah Kalnajs (See other books by author)
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Publisher: Blue Dog Training and Behavior
Edition: 2006 DVD
ISBN: 897059001009
Item: DTB876P
Summary: Learn how to conduct behavior assessments including what to look for in the dogs behavior, how to document areas of concern (information for accessing online forms and rating scales are included), and how to determine if problem areas can be improved using behavior modification techniques. Rescue groups and shelters will find this information useful and safe to apply.
| Price: $49.95 |
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Expanded Description:
Learn how to conduct behavior assessments including what to look for in the dogs behavior, how to document areas of concern (information for accessing online forms and rating scales are included), and how to determine if problem areas can be improved using behavior modification techniques. Rescue groups and shelters will find this information useful and safe to apply. For detailed information on understanding and reading canine body language see Sarah Kalnajs' companion DVD The Language of Dogs (DTB875P).
Am I Safe? also explores the validity of assessment protocols and why they are important for anyone involved in the re-homing of companion animals. This video is highly educational for dog professionals, not just those in a shelter or rescue environment, who want to see the broad range of behaviors exhibited during behavior assessments.
Am I Safe? answers critical questions including
• What are these tests and are they valid?
• Who should do them?
• When should they be done?
• What can they tell us about future behavior and, just as important, what can't they tell us?
• How can testers and handlers insure their safety during the assessment process?
Thousands of unwanted dogs enter shelters and animal rescue groups each year. Some have detailed histories provided by the families who surrendered them, and others arrive with little or no background information. The challenge for shelter workers and other caretakers is to determine which dogs are safe to be placed, and, if safe, to create a comprehensive personality profile of these dogs so they can be matched with the best possible new homes.
Am I Safe? is extremely valuable to trainers and behaviorists who want to see the broad range of canine behaviors that are exhibited both in assessments and in the home. All dog professionals need the information in order to conduct assessments that are safe for the handler, fair to the dog, and have excellent predictability of future behavior.
Sarah Kalnajs, CPDT, CDBC, has more than ten years experience working in canine behavior, training, and research. She has her own training school, serves as an expert witness in litigation involving dog aggression, is a consultant to humane societies, and writes extensively on canine behavior and training. She focuses on helping people understand and live well with dogs. She lives with her husband Andrew and eight dogs—six Shelties and two American Eskimos, two cats and a very nice vacuum cleaner in Madison, Wisconsin. |
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| Customer Reviews |
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| Full of GREAT Information!, June 30, 2006 |
| Reviewer: Becky Krueger - Animal Protective Assocation of MO |
| Behavior evaluations are so important for shelters and rescues - they can uncover things about dogs that we may not see, such as aggression, fear, the need for socialization, etc. It is our responsibility to learn as much as we can about the dog before placing it into a home, and behavior evaluations are the best way to do that. These videos show how to perform the evaluations and how to interpret what the dog is communicating. The footage includes dogs of many different breeds (and their mixes) as well as all ages. A must have for anyone in the rescue/shelter field! |
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| Thorough and helpful, December 24, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Emily Keegans |
Sarah Kalnajs on the “Am I Safe” DVD offers many helpful pointers for people doing behavior assessments in a shelter setting.
Small things that one may not think of are pointed out, such as talking to the dog you are assessing, and how to assemble a good behavior assessment team. Larger pointers such as the position and role of the secondary handler, who in your organization should be doing behavior assessments and how to prioritize which dogs get an assessment, are very valuable.
The forms and rating scales you can download to go along with the DVDs help you understand and follow along as Sarah takes you step by step through an assessment with multiple examples of dogs being tested and examples of the varying responses you may see.
Sarah has an amazing ability to notice the subtle behaviors she sees dogs exhibiting and explain them in simple language.
Emily Keegans
Behavior Program Manager
Humane Society for Seattle/King County |
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| Must Have for Shelters!, January 3, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Marilyn Wolf, BS, CPDT |
I think every shelter and dog rescue should try to purchase a set of these DVDs. The Language of Dogs DVD set would be valuable as a preface to this set. The movement of people and dogs, both subtle and gross, are invaluable in helping staff and dogs be both safe and comfortable.
The way Sarah does her temperament assessment on this set can be used by anyone who needs to assess a dog: veterinarians, vet techs, shelter staff, rescue handlers, ACOs...
My biggest problem is finding the time for staff to view it. We've borrowed a DVD-TV combination for the shelter and are going to try and set up a training time every week until we get through them. We will watch, discuss and do live demos, when possible. |
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| Invaluable for Shelters and Rescues, January 9, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Mandy Crooks |
This is a thorough and modern way of thinking about temperament testing. 2007 is the 3rd year of No Kill policy. Our behavior program is also 3 years old. We currently use bits and pieces of the Sue Sternberg test. We are in a “building” year where we are finally making the transition from short term kenneling to long term kenneling and Sarah's DVDs are going to be a huge part of that change process.
As soon as we can get the necessary people trained, we will be using her assessment scale.
Sarah’s use of video clips and live demos was really amazing. She has an amazing ability to point to a particular part of the dog’s body and/or behavior and say what it means. Some other seminars leave you feeling more confused than when you came in because the presenter is unable to operationally define the posture, the behavior or lack thereof that made them feel a certain way. But not this one! This is the kind of seminar that leaves you energized and ready to tackle another day of shelter work! Having these DVD’s in your library will allow a group to train any number of staff and volunteers. It’s such an affordable option for non-profits! Sending one person to a seminar only puts the knowledge in that person’s head! |
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| Great Resource for Shelters/Rescues, March 18, 2007 |
| Reviewer: Tami Hawes |
This really does need to be sold as a 4 DVD set. The first two are the Language of Dogs that is obviously the first day of a a two day seminar. You learn all the body language that Sarah will be referencing in Am I Safe?
Sarah also makes a lot of references to the previous days dogs and a dog bite incident that really shouldn't be missed as it is so totally appropriate for Am I Safe? If nothing else it should be included in this DVD set.
Technical aspects. Neither of the DVDs in this set allowed for the 'Scene Selection' option in the main menu of the DVD. Also the 'Play' selection was not able to be triggered with the mouse. I was watching on my laptop and ended up using the viewers capabilities to start the DVD. Could just be a laptop thing but something others viewing this way may want to know about.
I also strongly encourage you to download and have available the forms and ratings already printed out before viewing the DVD. I went through without and just waited while they were discussed.
I'm not a shelter/rescue worker but do have friends who are and will highly recommend these DVD sets to them. I'm also going to see if I can get Sarah as a guest author for CSDogBookReview. |
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| Top Ten List, January 30, 2008 |
| Reviewer: B Mattson |
Excellent!
Buy two... one for you and one for your local shelter. This is one of the first DVD's I purchased, and it is an excellent value.
In addition to this DVD, I also recommend a book by Brenda Aloff entitled 'Canine Body Language' as I feel you can never learn enough about dogs and what they are trying to say to us. |
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| Best I've seen!, June 28, 2008 |
| Reviewer: J Wilson |
| I have watched a lot of video's and read a lot of books on behavior assessments.... this one is the best! It has EVERYTHING you need to know about doing a safe, fair assessment. |
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| 4toes and a dewclaw !!!, August 10, 2008 |
| Reviewer: thomas douglas |
A must for beginner to seasoned handler. An excellent stand alone video or get it with Sarah's other video 'The Language of Dogs', grab a notebook and learn, learn, learn.!.
Absolutely a great investment for you or the perfect gift for the canine enthusiast in your family.
Buy It !!! |
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| In a Word...Awesome, November 1, 2008 |
| Reviewer: Stephanie |
These DVDs bring you through the entire behavior assessment process with *tons* of video clips displaying a variety of behaviors from assessment dogs.
This is the first experience I have with any of Sarah Kalnajs' material and I have to say, I am impressed. She's a wonderful public speaker and presents all the information in an organized and easy to follow format.
I also love that all the handouts are made available to DVD viewers through her website. An example all presenters offering their seminars for sale should follow.
My only criticism would be not providing information on what certain behaviors meant (i.e. height seeking, crowning, etc). My assumption is this information was covered in the first day of the seminar so it wasn't reviewed during the second day which this presentation encompasses.
Unless a true enthusiast, I wouldn’t recommend this to the dog owner who would just like to learn more about canine body language. I would however, highly recommend this product to shelter and rescue staff and volunteers as well as dog trainers who are interested in learning more about assessments. |
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| what evary body needs to know!, March 26, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Lisa Hamburg |
| WOW......This is what everybody who works with dogs needs to know...what a great primer on how to read a dog!! Step by step too! So visually captivating! I feel watching this DVD reduced my chances of getting bitten by obedience student's dogs by a huge amount! Dog trainers all have to 'size up' a dog before we begin to work....I'll be better at it now. |
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| Excellent Resource, July 7, 2009 |
| Reviewer: Crystal Saling |
If you've been thinking about adding behavioral assessments to your business or shelter- this is an extremely good resource. The only criticism that I have is that some of the tests don't have direct criteria to help you interpret the assessment. The exception to this is the resource guarding tests, which have very clearly delineated scales. But it still doesn't give a clear indication as to what most rescues would say is an acceptable score.
Overall, extremely good, excellent video quality- every shelter should have a copy. |
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| Well Done, August 11, 2010 |
| Reviewer: Nick Hof |
I really enjoyed this seminar DVD. All the of the information is reveiwed in a lot of detail through written descriptions, video with commentary and finally a live assessment.
I would have liked to have been able to get the handouts at the start of the seminar though because there were a couple of points I wanted to know how they were rating the dog (like during the resource guarding exercise).
And I don't know if this was just mine but on my second disc, the seminar wasn't fitted properly on the screen and cut some of the letters off (I tried adjusting my screen format and it was always cut off). This was minimal and did not hinder my ability to read the slides but it was a little irritating. |
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| Solutions, October 21, 2010 |
| Reviewer: DogCatcher |
| If your shelter or group can't swing the price for Language of Dogs this one is the next best thing. Geared toward the issue of safety, rather than the complete range of language that the other set covers, it's a great training item for any kennel, vet clinic or training center such as Dog Daycare. |
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| A must-have for anyone dealing with dog behavior, January 30, 2013 |
| Reviewer: Lynn Broderick |
| This dvd and Sarah's 'Language of Dogs' are two of the best and most helpful training videos I own. I use them for seminars and with private clients- it is comprehensive in showing canine body language and what the signs can lead to, and Sarah is wonderful with her explanations and interpretations. The assessments she does and demonstrates in this dvd are straightforward and realistic, and give the viewer so much to think about. You'll never look at dogs the same way again-- you'll understand them so much better! |
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