Temperament test for puppies

[CorvusCorax]

Came across this earlier and bearing in mind some comments made on Bex's thread on what to look out for in choosing a pup, I thought it was very interesting!

I know it may seem a bit extreme for some people who are interested in a family pet, and obviously will apply to certain breeds more than others, but I think it is very interesting for anyone trying to select a working/sporting dog or anyone deciding to sell puppies to buyers who are looking for certain qualities over others. It is now saved in my favourites!

http://workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm

 

[SusieT]

hmm...but is there any actual proof it's correct??

 

[MurphysMinder]

I had a copy of this or something similar and couldn't find it, so thanks for posting.
This has reminded me of something, would be interesting of others views. Some years ago the sergeant of a police dog section was interested in a litter I was expecting. He said he would more than likely take 2 male puppies, and would come and character assess them at 7 weeks. However, prior to his assessment he didn't want them exposed to any unusual noises, did not want them coming in the house to hear tv, meet vacuum cleaner etc and basically wanted to assess totally unsocialised litter to see which ones reacted best to unusual things. Now bearing in mind I wanted to sell the rest of the litter as well balanced, outgoing puppies to pet homes I told him I felt I couldn't comply with this so it was best if he didn't have any of the litter. Would other breeders have done the same?
Interesting, one of the litter did end up with the police and became West Midlands Police Dog of the year, so the potential was obviously there.

 

[Spudlet]

I think I saw something similar in a book we had way back when we were getting ready to get Barney.

I'd love to know where Henry would have fallen! I reckon he'd be a 2 or a 3 for most of those, the little so and so

 

[CorvusCorax]

[ QUOTE ]
hmm...but is there any actual proof it's correct??

[/ QUOTE ]

Obviously every dog is different but I think this test is worthwhile and contains a lot of common sense - in terms of what I would look for in a puppy myself.
Like I say, it is quite breed/type specific.

Looking at the rest of this site and at the other resources, books and publications from the authors, I'd like to think they know what they are talking about.

MM don't know about isolating a whole litter, but as you say, obviously the potential was there!

 

[Booboos]

Very interesting, thanks for posting!

For anyone interested in more details the complete possibility of puppy tests are (of course, like the one on the web, they don't tell you whether this is a 'good' or 'bad' puppy but predict certain temperament charteristics that may be more or less suited to some owners/home environments/work the dog will be expected to do):

- Social attraction to a) passive handler, b) active handler
- Contact tolerance
- Physical control
- Impulse control, a) possessiveness, b) delayed gratification
- Ball play
- Rag play
- Separation reaction
- Reactivity and problem solving
- Startle reflex
- Cognition, a) expectancy, b) delayed response
- Social cognition a) passive direction, b) active direction

Caribb: They are all pretty well documented and studied, for a summary see
Lindsay S.R., "Applied DOg Behaviour and Training" vol3, Blackwell, 2005

 

[Spudlet]

**Rolls around on floor laughing hysterically at the idea of Henry having impulse control**

 

[CorvusCorax]

Cheers for that Booboos

also very interesting.

 

[kirstyhen]

I actually think at the time of Otto's puppyness he would have been in the lower half, he can be fairly timid at times, but he had grown up into a nuisance by the time we got hold of him!