Purebreds are Like Unicorns: Understanding the Breed Ancestry of Shelter Dogs & the Influence of Breed Labels - with Lisa Gunter

Presented by Lisa Gunter

CEUs: PPAB 1.5, IAABC 1.5, CPDT 1.5, KPA 1.5

In this presentation, Lisa will discuss the findings of recent studies from the Canine Science Collaboratory in which they investigated the influence of breed labels on people’s perceptions of pit-bull-type dogs, their length of stay at the shelter and adoption success. She will also report the results of nearly a thousand breed ancestry tests carried out on dogs living in shelters.

The Canine Science Collaboratory is finding that these canines have far more varied and complex breed identities than previously imagined - adding more fuel to the fire that breed identification of mixed breed dogs is a complex endeavor at best and untenable at worst.  

Webinar Objectives

• Evaluate influence of previously held perceptions about breeds of dogs
• Assess effect of breed labeling on perceived attractiveness of shelter dogs
• Understand how breed labeling in shelters could impact dog adoptions and length of stay
• Recognize diversity of breed mixes within shelter dog population and implications regarding breed-specific behavior

About The Presenter

Lisa Gunter, MA is a PhD student at Arizona State University in the Department of Psychology's Behavioral Neuroscience area and conducts her research under the mentorship of Clive Wynne in the Canine Science Collaboratory.   

Lisa recently earned her MA in Behavioral Neuroscience, holds a BA in Journalism from The Evergreen State College and has worked with dogs in animal shelters and with their owners for nearly a decade. Lisa's research investigates how breed labels influence perceptions of dogs at shelters and interventions focused on helping adopters with new dogs. She has presented her research at numerous conferences including the Association of Professional Dog Trainers, Interdisciplinary Forum for Applied Animal Behavior, Veterinary Behavior Symposium and the International Society of Anthrozoology.