SAFER® Assessment Item 3: Tag

Use the Tag assessment item to:

• Determine the dog's response to movement and sound stimuli
• Identify dogs with a probability of dominance aggression or fear aggression

STOP the Assessment if . . .

The dog growls or tries to bite. Proceed to the Food Behavior and Toy Behavior items if you want more information about the dog.

Watch Item 3 in Action

Tips for Success

• Do not drag the chair when moving it out of the way.
• Be sure to keep your body angled away from the dog at all times. Keep the leash slack at all times so the dog has the choice to move away (flee) instead of feeling trapped and forced to engage.
• Use a playful, high-pitched voice.
• Never loom over the dog.
• Keep your body low, angled away from the dog's rear flank using just the fingertips to tag the dog.
• If the dog becomes aggressive, immediately become still, angled away from the dog.
• If the dog charges, quickly gather up the excess leash and, using both hands, hold the dog at arm's length until he settles down.
• Be sure to keep the leash loose even after the Tag assessment has ended.