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I’m thinking we are kindred spirits in a number of ways @Jenz!
I too have struggled with behavior assessments, as they are used in sheltering. While I feel that it behooves a shelter or rescue to give their best insight into who they think a pet is to potential adopters, just clinging to what an assessment is showing often leads to misunderstandings. Whether they came from homes, farms, or off the streets – pets in shelters are in an alien environment and their behavior reflects that. Come to think of it, isn’t that rather like the set-up for false impressions with the original wild wolves in captivity studies?
I take heart that more and more people in the industry are at least calling them behavior assessments, instead of “temperament tests” as they were known years ago when I started doing them.
As to my avian ethology, it was only for undergrad work and I honestly don’t know if the study went on after my small part in it. I do so miss the conversations that I used to enjoy at behavior and training conferences and am grateful for forums like Digging Dogs to engage me and help me continue learning!