This page serves as an introduction to dog expert witness / Animal  behavior expert, Richard Polsky, PhD. to attorneys in Texas. Dr. Polsky provides expert witness testimony on animal behavior, canine behavior and dog attack and dog bite cases in Texas.

Texas lawyers handling dog-related injury cases may not know much about the  science of animal behavior  how using findings from the signs can benefit their case.  Therefore, below I offer, as an expert in animal and dog behavior, suggestions to lawyers  contemplating the use of an expert witness  a canine behavior expert witness.

Animal behavior & dog expert witness in Texas

Common law theory applies to dog bite law in Texas.   That is, Texas is a “one bite” state.  Given this,  the burden is  usually on the plaintiff to prove defendant  knew of the dangerous propensities of the dog, assuming the dog did not have a bite history.     Knowledge about the past behavior  is needed to address the issue of foreseeability to determine whether dog owner was liable under common law theory or  if the owner was negligent in the handling of the dog.

 In short, the behavior of the dog is the bedrock for most bases  about liability. The properly-qualified  dog expert witness knows how the science of animal behavior interplays dog bite law, particularly in a one bike state like Texas. Knowledge of the interplay between these two disciplines, particularly as it relates to legal issues of provocation, negligence and assumption of risk can effectively be used to help an attorney prevail in their case. Fundamentally, the science of animal behavior is based on observation – that is, what an animal does in terms of its overt behavior and how it acts in relation to both external and internal stimuli.    ^[1]Nobel prizes in medicine have been awarded to individuals in this discipline ((Know as ethology – defined as the scientific and objective study of animal behavior). In the last 20 years, this … Continue reading

Attorneys in Texas amust appreciate behavior of the dog that causes injury to the plaintiff; hence, there is the obvious need for analysis of the dog’s behavior both prior to and at the time of the incident.  Generally, when used in dog bite litigation, an animal behavior perspective focuses on a factually-based analysis of behavior for several purposes, which include determining if the dog’s behavior caused injury to the victim, whether the plaintiff provoked the dog in some fashion, or if the dog’s actions to the plaintiff were foreseeable.  For example, an animal behavior scientific perspective about the development, motivation and causes of canine aggression is one example of the knowledge a dog expert witness brings to the dog bite attorney.

Moreover, Animal behavior analysis is made in terms of behavioral tendencies unique to a breed ^[2]A dog’s breed cannot be ignored in forming opinions about the behavioral tendencies of a dog, particularly mastiff type dogs, such as the Cane Corso and pit bulls. and the experiences the dog has encountered, the behavioral capabilities of the dog and the dog’s behavioral reactivity to environmental and contextual events. The evidence may be gathered from a behavioral examination of a dog (assuming the dog is still alive) and the descriptions and accounts of the dog’s behavior by the plaintiff, defendant, witnesses, animal control reports, medical records, etc.  In addition, evidence-based findings from the literature in animal behavior must be considered in the assessment of the dog(s) in question. Opinions are then formulated and used to support or reject common arguments in dog bite litigation, such as provocation, negligence, foreseeability, or if the plaintiff was bitten versus scratched by the dog.

 Tips on selecting the best-qualified dog expert witness in animal behavior

Texas attorneys seeking a dog expert witness need to realize that anyone can put up a website, or paid to have their name listed in expert witness directories, for the purpose of portraying themselves to attorneys as a properly qualified animal behavior expert. I have been matched against such experts. These experts may hold a bachelor’s degree but usually the degree has nothing to do with the study of animal behavior. In short, attorneys can be easily bamboozled by dog trainers masquerading as animal behaviorists.

Given this, attorneys should consider the following:

#1. Does the individual possess an advanced degree in animal behavior?

Animal behavior science is a discipline that is taught at most major universities. Advanced degrees are available in this discipline.  For example, the University of Washington has an excellent program leading to the Ph.D.  Academic training in the science of animal behavior is essential so that the retaining attorney is assured that the expert’s opinions are scientifically based rather than having opinions proffered solely based on the individual’s personal experiences working with dogs.  Moreover, academic training in the science of animal behavior instills in the dog expert’s mind a scientific perspective and a unique way of thinking about the behavior of domestic dogs, something which most non-academically trained dog experts to lack.  The wisdom of the late Carl Sagan is quite relevant: “Science is more than a body of knowledge, rather it is a way of thinking.”  This way of thinking is needed to appreciate the complexities of dog behavior and to communicate these complexities in simple language, as Sagan so aptly did.

#2. How much hands-on experience does the individual have working with dogs?  Attorneys should note that some experts wildly exaggerating the number of dogs they have worked with.  These experts throw out a number believing that their claim will never be challenged.  However, if the claims of the expert cannot be substantiated through a detailed examination of the expert’s past work history, then this claim could be used to discredit the expert.

#3. Has the dog bite legal expert demonstrated competence through publications in peer-reviewed journals of animal behavior/dog behavior?   

This criterion should be self-explanatory. The animal behavior expert may have also gained their knowledge about the science of animal behavior through their research with species other than dogs. For example, the principles of animal behavior science apply across all species and can be used to explain the causation and motivation of behavior regardless if the animal under consideration is a monkey, giraffe, rat, hamster, parrot, human or an attacked-trained police K-9.

#4.  Does the dog behavior expert have certification from a professional organization of animal behavior?

Although there are no licensing requirements at the governmental level in animal behavior, certifications in animal behavior can be obtained from several professional organizations. The International Association of Animal Behavior Consultants, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and the Animal Behavior Society are the leading professional organizations in this field.

Attorneys should note that there are generic expert witness associations which give paying members “diplomatic status” which in turn allows the expert to put letters after their name such as “DABFE”.  It takes some figuring out what these letters mean, but an inquiry will show that this title (Diplomat of the American Board of Forensic Examiners) comes from an organization that has absolutely nothing to do with the study of animal behavior. Some experts go to great lengths to get letters after their name to the point where it becomes ridiculous.

Last, an expert’s certification should also be based on the requirement of continuing education, similar to requirements needed for the relicensing of attorneys and human psychologists.

#5. Beware of experts who have too many certificates.

Marginally qualified experts are clever at finding ways to make themselves look qualified expert witness on dogs.  I know of several dog trainers in California who use certificates to portray that they are a properly qualified dog bite expert. Any dog trainer (or for that matter almost anyone – no prerequisites required) with the desire to do expert work can easily find a paid course/lecture that offers certificates on such topics as “Dog Bite Investigation”, “Veterinary Forensics”, “Bite Marks and Odontology” and “Animal Cruelty and Fighting Investigations, “Certified animal evaluator”, etc.  Having a certificate does not mean the individual is certified, however.

 #6.  How much experience does the dog attack expert witness  have working with attorneys as an expert?

Obviously, this is an important consideration.  However, for the purpose of making one look well-qualified, some experts exaggerate the number of cases in which they have been retained.

Conclusions

Training in animal behavior science establishes the foundation for a competent understanding of canine behavior and canine aggression.  A  competent and properly qualified animal behavior expert knows how to apply this knowledge in a meaningful  to assist Texas attorneys involved in dog bite litigation.