Behavioral assessment of shelter dogs is challenging due to shelter stress effects, with modern approaches moving toward ongoing assessment over single tests.
Behavioral assessment practices that result in euthanasia recommendations based on single shelter-context tests represent a welfare failure when those assessments misrepresent the dog's true behavioral profile. Modern sheltering increasingly uses foster networks, behavioral modification programs, and ongoing assessment to give more dogs an accurate behavioral picture before irreversible decisions. The welfare of shelter dogs is served by assessment approaches that recognize context effects rather than treating shelter behavior as permanent character.