TEST

PURPOSE

COMMENTS

SCORE

Social Attraction:

Puppy placed in a test area.  Sitting tester calls puppy.

 

 

 

 

Determines degree of attraction to people, confidence &/or dependence.

Explores before.  Sits & waits before.  Excited.  Hesitant.  Fearful.  Ignores.  Avoids.  Runs off.  Afraid of new surroundings. 

Came readily, tail up, bit at hands. (1)

Came readily, tail up, pawed, licked hands. (2)

Came readily, tail up* (3)

Came readily, tail down (4)

Came hesitantly, tail down (5)

Didn’t come at all (6)

 

FOLLOWING:

Stand up and walk away normally.  Make sure puppy sees you.

 

Degree of following attraction, social attraction, independence.

 

Playful.  Explores.  Hesitant.  Sits & waits.  Fearful.  Ignores. Avoids.

 

Followed readily, tail up, underfoot, bites at feet, pants. (1)

Followed readily, tail up, underfoot. (2)

Followed readily, tail up* (3)

Followed readily, tail down (4)

Followed hesitantly, tail down (5)

No follow, went away (6)

 

RESTRAINT

Sit, gently roll pup on back and hold with hand for 30-60 seconds.

Indicates degree of dominance or submissiveness.  How pup accepts stress when socially/physically dominated.

Relaxed.  Stiff. Slight squirming.  Vocalizes. 

Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit at hands. (1)

Struggled fiercely, flailed (2)

Settled, struggled, then settled, some eye contact* (3)

Struggled, then settled, slight or no eye contact. (4)

No struggle, relaxed. (5)

No struggle, strains to avoid eye contact* (6)

 

Tester should be alert to changes in puppy’s breathing, heart rate, muscle tone & toes.  A pup who lays calmly with a steady hear rate and relaxed muscles is not the same as the pup who lays still with rapid heart rate, tensed muscles and shallow breathing.  Watch carefully for eye contact.  This may be fleeting,, as in the pup who glances at the tester and then looks away, continuous or avoids complete.  As a rule, try not to take  your eye’s off puppy’s’ face.

 

SOCIAL DOMINANCE

Let pup stand up and gently stroke while hold holding face down beside him

Degree of acceptance of social dominance.  Pup may try to dominate or walk away.

Indifferent.  Avoids.  Displacement.  Stares off.  Sudden interest in other thing.  Eager.  Hostile.

Jumped, pawed, bit, growls (1)

Jumped, pawed (2)

Cuddles tester, tries to lick face* (3)

Squirms, lick hands (4)

Rolls over, licks hands (5)

Went away (6)

 


 

ELEVATION DOMINANCE:

Suspend pup, holding under chest.  30-60 seconds

Acceptance of dominance while in position of no control

Undulates.  Slight stiffness.  Vocalizes.  Slight struggle

Fierce struggle, bit, growl.  (1)

Fierce struggle (2)

No struggle, relaxed (3)

Struggle, settle, licked (4)

No struggle, licked (5)

No struggle, froze* (6)

 

 

COMMENTS:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

OBEDIENCE APTITUDE

 

RETRIEVING:

Attract pup’s attention with toy or paper ball.  Throw 1-2 ft. from pup.  May repeat.

 

Willingness to work with a human.  High correlation with success in guide, obedience and field work.

Enthusiastic.  Slow to catch on.  Distracted.  Repeats.  Reluctant to leave person.  Hesitant about area.  Interested.  Avoids object.  Disinterested. 

Chases, picks up, runs off (1)

Chases, stands over, does not return (2)

Chases and returns it to tester* (3)

Chases, returns without it (4)

Starts to chase, loses interest (5)

Does not chase object (6)

 

TOUCH SENSITIVITY:

Pinch pup’s webbing and count to 10. Stop as soon as pup shows response

Degree of sensitivity to touch.  Pain inhibition not as effective on insensitive dogs.

No response at all.  Slight response.  Very sensitive.  Vocalizes.

8-10 (1)

6-7 (2)

5-6* (3)

2-4* (4)

1-2 (5)

SOUND SENSITIVITY

Loud noise is made outside test area.  When pup settles, repeat.

Sensitivity to sound.  Rudimentary test for deafness

Startles.  Whines softly.  Hears but disregards.

Listens, locates, moves toward it vocalizing.  (1)

Listens, locates, vocalizes (2)

Listens, locates, shows curiosity, moves towards it* (3)

Listens, locates* (4)

Cringes, backs off, hides (5)

Ignores sound, not curious* (6)

SIGHT SENSITIVITY:

Jerk a towel across floor in front of puppy.  Dangle and jiggle it. 

Response to strange object.  Drive to pursue moving object.  Useful for Schutzhund and hunting.

Notices but no chase.  Enthusiastic.  Tentative.  Loses interest.  Becomes more confident as attacks.

Looks, attacks and bites (1)

Looks, barks, tail up (2)

Looks curious, investigates (3)

Looks, barks, tail tucked (4)

Runs away and hides (5)

Ignores (6)

 

 

 

 

SCORING:

__________  1

__________  2

__________  3

 

__________  4

__________  5

__________  6

TOTAL   __________

 

 

 


Interpretation:

 

Mostly 1’s:  Very dominant animals with definite aggressive tendencies. May be quick to bite.  Not good with children and elderly.  If touch sensitive, may be difficult to train.  Not a dog for the inexperienced or timid handler.  Owner must establish dominance and provide leadership.  A candidate for schutzhund work might have some 1’s, especially in sight and touch.  But, 1’s in restraint and in touch promise a very difficult job in training. 

 

Mostly 2’s:  Dominant and can be provoked into biting.  Responds to firm, consistent, fair handling and are loyal and is devoted to humans it respects.  May be too boisterous, outgoing and active for elderly and too dominant for small children.

 

Mostly 3’s:  For most breeds, are the best prospects for the average owner.  Looks to owner for leadership, adapts well to new situations.  If calm, it is generally allright with children and elderly but, may be too exuberant or active.  This makes the best obedience prospect.  An exception, may be the Nordic breeds, such as Akitas and American Eskimos, which seem to be skewed toward the lower end of the scoring.  An Akita here may be equivalent to a mostly one score in another breed, German Shepherds, for instance. 

 

Mostly 4’s:  Submissive and adapt to most households.  They may be slightly less outgoing and active but, usually, get along with children and train well.  On the other hand, they are not suited to assertive people, men especially, or to particularly loud, active families.  He may need a little more exposure to develop confidence and should be treated gently.

 

Mostly 5’s:  Most are extremely submissive and need special handling to build confidence.  Cuddling and catering to his fears will only reinforce them.  He does not adapt well to change and confusion and needs a very regular, stable and structured environment.  May not be safe around small children, since he can be a biter when severely stressed.  Is also not a good choice for a beginner, since they tend to regard their fearful behavior by attempting to reassure the dog. 

 

Mostly 6’s:  Are independent dogs.  They are not affectionate and may dislike petting and cuddling.  Establishing a relationship with them may be difficult, especially a working one.  Not recommended for children who may force attention on them.  Not a good choice for a beginner.  When coupled with 1’s, especially in restraint, is likely to bite under stress. With 5’s,  this dog is likely to hide from people or freeze when approached by a stranger.  The independent puppy needs a lot of individual attention from an owner to encourage bonding with humans.  If left to his own devices, such as being put out in the backyard  and generally ignored, he will remain very aloof and unattached.  The behaviors one associates with a human-loving dog may be missing.  Likewise, if left with other dogs, he will form allegiances with them and never truly bond well with humans.  Most Nordic breeds tested have been independent and submissive.     


PROBLEM SOLVING

 

TEST

BEHAVIOR

COMMENT

HEIGHT:  Puppy is placed on box and encouraged to jump down.  Is replaced on box and again, encouraged or removed, petted and replaced. 

FIRST TIME:  Explores.  Jumps off side.  Back. Toward Tester.  Bounds off.  Steps off.  Hesitates.  Fearful.  Agitated.  Until makes up mind, turns circles.  Looks again.  Lies down.  Sits and stares at tester.  No jump.

SECOND JUMP:  Jumps off same side; different side.  Faster - slightly/much.    Slower:  Slightly-much.  No jump,  Same as first,  Responds to praise.  Avoids tester.

Many dogs are cautious by nature and want to check all sides.  Dogs with strong social attraction will tend to bound off.  Sensible response is to look before leaping.  Marked breed differences here. 

UP RAMP:  Puppy is placed on ground and urged up ramp.  Same as DOWN RAMP TEST.

 

 

FIRST TIME:  Goes up:  Quickly - Slowly.  Partially - Pushed up.  Fearful.  Avoids, Jumps off.  Refuses. 

SECOND TIME:  Repeats first.  Responds to

praise.  Goes up:  Faster - Same - Slower.  Refuses.  Jumps off. 

Many dogs have trouble with this.  They do not like the elevation or are not physically coordinated enough to do this without incentive.  Others are too cautious and refuse out of what they must consider good judgment.  The key in these is whether they learn from the first experience.  Tests confidence and how easily it is built motor ability and agility.

DOWN RAMP:  Puppy is placed on box and urged down ramp.  Same as UP RAMP TEST.

 

FIRST TIME:  Goes down quickly:  Slowly.  Partially.  Pushed.  Fearful.  Avoids.  Refuses. 

SECOND TIME:  Repeats first.  Responds to praise.  Goes down:   Faster - Same - Slower - Refuses - Jumps off.

 

Some puppies are so distrustful of the strange footing that they just jump off the box sides and refuse the ramp.  Others seem to see it as an easier way to get down.  Also tests motor ability and agility.

 

V BARRIER:  Pup is pushed into V and observed.  Repeated.

 

FIRST:  Exits:  Quickly - Slowly - Immediately.  Explores the exits:  Quickly - Slowly.  Turns around exits.  Tries to turn but can’t.  Freezes. 

SECOND:  Same as first.  Exits:  Quickly - Slowly - Immediately - Explores then exits - Tries to turn but can’t.  Freezes.  Enters more quickly.  Fearful.  Agitated. 

 

Most pups back out quickly and immediately on the second attempt.  Some resist entering.  Oddly, some breeds get better at entering but show no improvement in exiting.  They probably are one-step learners.  Some just can’t pass up an opportunity to check it out but, learn to get out quickly the second time. 

INVISIBLE BARRIER:  Pup is placed in the middle of a barrier, tester stands on other side opposite pup and calls. 

 

FIRST:  Right.  Left.  Test forward.  Cries.  Ignores.  Comes around:  Slowly - Quickly - Immediately - To tester - Around and ignores - Avoids - Greets tester -  Emotionally - Coolly - Ignores

SECOND:  Right.  Left.  Same as first.  Comes around:  Slowly - Quickly - Immediately - Explores - Vocalizes - Does nothing. 

Most puppies tested have been in pens so they do not try to approach directly.  Some never even try.  Dogs with little social attraction will be slower but make no false attempts since they are usually not emotional.  They will just wander off rather than approaching tester.  The best response slight distress with almost instantaneous problem-solving.  May be *handedness indicator. 

 

LARGE BALL:  Large ball is rolled in front of puppy. 

Attempts to pick up.  Once, then ignores.  Repeatedly.  Chases it.  Does not attempt to pick up.  Pushes it and persists in chasing.  Ignores.  Is afraid of it.

 

Give extra points to the guy who continues to play with the ball or persists in his efforts.  These are usually outgoing pups.  Fearful dogs are going to need a lot of exposure to strange stimuli.  Dogs that ignore may have no retrieving instinct.  Is not correlated with the RETRIEVE TEST, oddly enough.

 

STRANGE SCARY OBJECT:  An electrical car is placed on floor between tester and puppy then turned on.  When finished, pup is brought to switched off toy and petted to minimize fear imprinting.

 

Runs away.  To tester.  Turns and observes.  Looks at then ignores.  Attacks car.  Boldly approaches.  Hides behind tester.  Runs away and stays away.  Runs away then peeks out, no approach..  Circles. 

The t Most sensible response is a startle followed by flight to a safe distance.  The sensible pup will then ascertain there is no threat and either ignore or investigate.    Bolder pups will attack.  Very independent dogs tend to run away while social dogs run to the tester.  Often, Herding breeds will circle the car.  A very fearful response would indicate a dog which needs a lot of socialization and exposure to strange items in such a manner as to build confidence. 

 

GENERAL OBSERVATIONS: 

 

________  Inhibited            ________  Excitable            ________  Normal for breed (yes/no)            ________ Curious

 

________  Bold             ________  Timid            ________  Fearful            ________  Cautious

 

________  Careful            ________  Reckless            ________  Friendly            ________  Aloof

 

________  Sleepy            ________  Too immature            ________  Needs exposure

 

________  Calming            ________  Individual attention

 

Other: