Matching dogs and people: A Perfect Guide

Image Credit – Hemapriya

Choosing the right dog is more than just picking the cutest pup — it’s about finding a loyal companion whose personality, energy level, and needs align with your lifestyle. The concept of Matching Dogs and People is becoming increasingly popular, as pet lovers realize that the perfect match ensures long-term happiness for both the dog and the owner. Just like humans, dogs have unique temperaments — some are playful and energetic, while others are calm and affectionate. By understanding your daily routine, living environment, and personal preferences, you can find a four-legged friend who truly feels like family.

Animal shelters often face two major obstacles in finding new homes for dogs: they are located in out-of-the-way places and they lack expertise or resources that help them match a dog or cat with an appropriate family.

Many shelters deal with the first roadblock by bringing the animals to the potential adopters at off-site adoption locations in pet supply stores and in mobile adoption centers. Now they can overcome the second barrier as well by applying methods devised by dog trainer and behaviorist Susan Sternberg to evaluate the temperament of shelter dogs.

Sternberg operates a training center, boarding kennel, and small shelter in New York. She worked at the American Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals and at a shelter in Massachusetts and has been conducting seminars for the past four years. On April 25, Sternberg presented her shelter dog program at the Humane Society of Indianapolis, Indiana, for about 50 people involved in shelter operations and breed rescue.

Matching dogs and people

The shelter as temporary home

“A kennel is a horrible place for a dog,” Sternberg said, adding that a kennel is easy and convenient, but doesn’t take care of the dog’s emotional well-being.

She encouraged shelters to make decisions about dogs based on the animals’ behavior and temperament, not on lack of space or length of stay in the facility, and to match people with particular dogs to increase the chances of successful adoption.

“More people would come to the shelter if it wasn’t such a crap shoot — Russian roulette,” she said. “We can’t expect people to come and adopt if we’re not going to give them the right dog.”

The evaluation of the dog should get past breed biases and personal likes and dislikes, Sternberg told the crowd. Behavior problems bother some people and not others. All dogs have behavior problems, but owners learn to compromise.

“What’s a problem for you isn’t necessarily a problem for me,” she said. “It’s not about good temperament or bad temperament, it’s what people want to live with.”

The test

Sternberg cautioned shelter workers that the testing process can be dangerous and should never be done alone. The dog should always be restrained with a leather noose leash for gentle and firm control. She begins the test with a quick “safety scan” of the dog’s behavior to determine if further testing is advisable. She looks for:

1. Dogs that are sexually mature are capable of intense or severe aggression. They are more likely to have bitten in the past and must be handled with caution.
2. Cautious dogs that remain uncomfortable with the tester or with the environment after several minutes.
3. Aroused dogs that appear hyperactive, unfocused, or reactive or exhibit signs of stress.
4. Dogs that exhibit no signs of friendliness.
5. Red flag dogs should be treated with caution or left in the kennel for a longer period of adjustment before testing.

After initial observations, Sternberg proceeds with a teeth exam conducted five times for five seconds each time. This involves lifting the dog’s lips to look at its teeth and evaluating the response. She notes whether the dog struggles or is tractable and whether the exam gets easier or more difficult.

Next comes the hug done only in this manner: With the dog standing in front of her and facing to the right, she slowly brings her right arm up under the dog’s neck and then quickly grabs the back of her own neck with her right hand. At this point, she has put the dog in a gentle but firm hammer-lock and is facing towards the dog’s back end. Talking baby-talk to the dog, Sternberg notes whether the dogs is tense, panicky, growly, or relaxed. She also notes whether the dog remains close after the hug, seeks more affection, is aloof; or actively snubs her.

The dogs

Sternberg evaluated several dogs in the shelter.

• The adolescent pit bull cross was very active, overstimulated by petting and attention, did not guard the food bowl, and was sorry when corrected.
• The tail-wagging adolescent Cairn Terrier-Chow mix was friendly, a bit mouthy, liked the hug, accepted the strangers, and didn’t guard the food bowl. This dog would not be suitable for a family with children because of her age and mouthiness, Sternberg said.
• The Rottie-hound mix flunked the test, a decision that drew opposition from the Rottweiler owners and admirers in the audience.
• The Great Dane mix had been given up by his owner and paced the test area. He submitted to the teeth check and the hug, but was obviously stressed, so she did not continue the test.

For several hours, Sternberg demonstrated her method of evaluating dogs for adoption rather than consigning them to death based on time limits or a need for space. She encouraged shelters to match dogs with potential adopters and market themselves so that people want to adopt a dog instead of buying one.

The idea is to convince people that shelter dogs are not necessarily pathetic or abused and that adopters don’t have to be saints.

“I want people to think of the shelter as THE place to get a fantastic dog,” she said.

At the end of the day, Matching Dogs and People is about creating harmony between your lifestyle and your dog’s needs. When the right match is made, it results in a lasting bond filled with joy, companionship, and mutual understanding. Whether you’re an active adventurer or someone who prefers quiet evenings at home, there’s a dog out there that’s just right for you. Have you found your perfect canine match? Let us know in the comments — we’d love to hear your story!

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