Temperament Testing helps the breeder determine which puppy best matches your family

This helps the breeder determine which puppy best matches your family, based upon the information given on your "Application for Companion Dog". It is extremely important that your application is complete.

Test

Purpose

Score

#1 - Social Attraction

Place puppy in test  area.

From a few feet away; the tester coaxes the pup to him/her by clapping hands gently and kneeling down.

Tester must coax in a direction away from the point

where it entered the testing area.

Degree of Social Attraction, Confidence, or Dependence.

1. Came readily, tail up, jumped, bit at hands

2. Came readily, tail up, pawed, licked at hands

3. Came readily, tail up

4. Came readily, tail down

5. Came hesitantly, tail down

6. Did not come at all

# 2 - Following

Stand up and walk away from the pup in a normal manner.

Make sure the pup sees you walk away.

Degree of following attraction. Not following indicates independence.

1. Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot, bit at feet

2. Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot

3. Followed readily, tail up

4. Followed readily, tail down

5. Followed hesitantly, tail down

6. Did not follow, or went away

#3 - Restraint

Crouch down and gently roll the pup on his back.

Hold it with one hand for a full 30 seconds.

Degree of dominant or submissive tendency. How it accepts stress when socially or physically dominated.

1. Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit

2. Struggled fiercely, flailed

3. Settled, struggled, settled with some eye contact

4. Struggled then settled

5. No struggle

6. No struggle, straining to avoid eye contact

#4 - Social Dominance

Let pup stand up.

Gently stroke him from head to back while you crouch beside him.

Continue stroking until recognizable behavior is distinguished.

Degree of acceptance of social dominance. Pup may try to dominate by jumping and nipping or is independent and walks away.

1. Jumped, pawed, bit, growled

2. Jumped, pawed

3. Cuddles up to tester and tries to lick face

4. Squirmed, licked at hands

5. Rolled over, licked at hands

6. Went away and stayed away

#5 - Elevation Dominance

Bend over and cradle the pup under its belly, fingers interlaced, palms up, and elevate it just off the floor.

Hold it there for 30 seconds.

Degree of accepting dominance while in position of no control.

1. Struggled fiercely, bit, growled

2. Struggled fiercely

3. No struggle, relaxed

4. Struggled, settled, licked

5. No struggle, licked at hands

6. No struggle, froze

#6 - Retrieving

Crouch beside pup and attract his attention with crimpled up paper ball.

When the pup shows interest and is watching, toss the ball 4 to 6 feet in front of the pup.

Degree of willingness to work with a human. High correlation between ability to retrieve and successful guide dogs, obedience dogs, and field trial dogs.

1. Chases object, picks up object and runs away

2. Chases object, stands over object, does not return

3. Chases object and returns to tester with object

4. Chases object and returns to tester without object

5. Starts to chase object, loses interest

6. Does not chase object

#7 - Touch  Sensitivity

Take puppy’s webbing of one front foot and press between finger and thumb lightly, then more firmly until you get a response, while you count slowly to ten.

Stop as soon as puppy pulls away or shows

Degree of sensitivity to touch.

1. 8 to 10 counts before response

2. 6 to 7 counts before response

3. 5 to 6 counts before response

4. 2 to 4 counts before response

5. 1 to 2 counts before response

#8 - Sound Sensitivity

Place pup in the center of the testing area.

Tester or assistant makes a sharp noise a few feet away from the puppy.

A large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal pan, twice, works well.

Degree of sensitivity to sound

(Also can be a rudimentary test for deafness)

1. Listens, locates sound, walks toward it, barking

2. Listens, locates sound, barks

3. Listens, locates sound, shows curiosity and walks toward sound

4. Listens, locates the sound

5. Cringes, backs off, hides

6. Ignores sound, shows no curiosity

#9 - Sight Sensitivity

Place pup in center of room.

Tie a string around a large towel and jerk it across the floor a few feet away from puppy.

Degree of intelligent response to strange object.

1. Looks, attacks, and bites

2. Looks, barks, tail up

3. Looks curiously, attempts to investigate

4. Looks, barks, tail tucked

5. Runs away, hides

#10 - Structure

The puppy is gently set in a natural stance and evaluated for structure in the following categories:

Straight Front

Straight Rear

Shoulder Layback

Front Angulation

Croup Angulation

Rear Angulation

Degree of Structural Soundness. Good structure is necessary.

Good - The puppy is correct in structure.

Fair - The puppy has a slight fault or deviation

Poor - The puppy has an extreme fault or deviation.

After reviewing the scores, the remainder of the puppy test is an evaluation of obedience aptitude and working ability and provides a general picture of a pup’s intelligence, spirit, and willingness to work with a human being. For most owners, a good companion dog will score in the 3 to 4 range. Puppies scoring a combination of 1’s and 2’s require experienced handlers who will be able to draw the best aspects of their potential from them. Test developed by Joachim and Wendy Volhard

Scores of mostly 1 A puppy that consistently scores a “1” in the temperament section of the test is an extremely dominant, aggressive puppy who can easily be provoked to bite. His dominant nature will attempt to resist human leadership, thus requiring only the most experienced of handlers. This puppy is a poor choice for most individuals, and will do best in a working situation as a guard dog or police dog.

· Scores of mostly 2 This pup is dominant and self-assured. He can be provoked to bite; however he readily accepts human leadership that is firm, consistent, and knowledgeable. This is not a dog for a tentative, indecisive individual. In the right hands, he has the potential to become a fine working or show dog and could fit into an adult household, provided the owners know what they are doing.

· Scores of mostly 3 This pup is outgoing and friendly and will adjust well in situations in which he receives regular training and exercise. He has a flexible temperament that adapts well to different types of environment, provided he is handled correctly. May be too much dog for a family with small children or a sedentary, elderly couple.

· Scores of mostly 4 A pup that scores a majority of 4’s is an easily controlled, adaptable puppy whose submissive nature will make him continually look to his master for leadership. This pup is easy to train, reliable with kids, and, though he lacks self-confidence, he makes a high quality family pet. He is usually less outgoing than a pup scoring 3’s, but his demeanor is gentle and affectionate.

Scores of mostly 5 This pup is extremely submissive and lacking in self-confidence. He bonds very closely with his owner and requires regular companionship and encouragement to bring him out of himself. If handled incorrectly, this pup will grow up very shy and fearful. For this reason, he will do best in a predictable, structured lifestyle with owners who are patient and not overly demanding, such as an elderly couple.

· Scores of mostly 6 A puppy that scores 6 constantly is independent and uninterested in people. He will mature into a dog who is not demonstrably affectionate and who had a low need for human companionship. In general, it is rare to see properly socialized pups test this way; however, there are several breeds that have been bred for specific tasks (such as Basenjis, hounds, and some northern breeds) which can exhibit this level of independence. To perform as intended, these dogs require a singularity of purpose, not compromised by strong attachments to their owner.