They are done all over the nation on many breeds almost every day. Mostly done in pounds.

Expert is all a relative term. Some people perform the test that shouldn't.

Some pitties are rehabable, others aren't. The same with any dog. (Many points are debated on this. There are many ill-informed out there. Also you have people that believe very strongly on one side or the other of Nature vs. Nurture. Genes or Environment.

Some dogs should never be adopted out, but unfortunately are and it only serves to make a bad name for the very dogs so many people are trying to rescue. Sometimes these people get too attached and are blinded by their own devotion. I say that some should be put down to make room for ones that are rehabable. That's my biased opinion. (Rescue is hard though... To think with a clear head is a difficult feat and an admirable rare quality.)

Quote Originally Posted by cassiesmom
What is a temperament examination? Is it something specific to the pit bull? Is it conducted by an expert? I would hate for a dog to be deemed unrescueable and put down, or for a dog found rescueable to be involved later in an accident with a person.

Can you re-train a pit bull (or any aggressive dog, really) to learn to get along with people? Look at retired racing greyhounds, they really have no experience with being part of a family until they go through an adoption program. Once they retire, they have to learn everything about living in a home and being a pet. Those folks must have expertise with identifying the few who can't successfully adapt to a life after racing, but it seems like the great majority of greyhound "retirees" do just fine.