The Temperament Test



A German Shepherd shows correct temperament during the Courage Test
when faced with a foe.
North American Sieger Show - San Diego 2001

***

W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, "The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing," defines temperament as:

"...the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment..."

The ATTS Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breed's inherent tendencies.

Personally in my *not so humble* opinion, I think that the temperament test is a valuable tool.  All breeding dogs should be tested before being used to reproduce.  The GSDCA (German Shepherd Dog Club of America) offers a Temperament Certificate for those tested with their version of the temperament test. 

A Summary Of The ATTS Test:

Station 1 - Neutral Stranger
Dog and handler are approached by a neutral stranger who stops and talks to the handler for a moment, ignoring the dog. The dog is graded on its response to the stranger.

Station 2 - Friendly Stranger
Dog and handler are approached by a friendly stranger who stops and talks to the handler for a moment, making friendly advances towards the dog. The dog is graded on its response to the stranger.

Station 3 - Hidden Noise
The dog and handler walk towards a blind that has a person hidden in it. The person in the blind shakes a bucket with bolts/rocks in it then steps out of the blind, puts the object down, and retreats back into the blind. The dogs is graded on its reaction to the noise, and willingness to investigate.

Station 4 - Gunshots
The dog and handler stand about 10 feet from a blind that has a person hidden in it. The handler has their back to the blind. The person in the blind fires a starter pistol once. Then after a pause, fires the pistol two more times. The dogs is graded on its reaction to the noise.

Station 5 - Umbrella
The dog and handler walk towards a person sitting in a chair. When they are about 5 feet from the tester, the tester opens an umbrella (dog and handler continue to walk forward). The dogs is graded on its reaction, recovery time, and willingness to investigate. It must be willing to get within a few inches of the umbrella to pass.

Station 6 - Plastic Surface
The dog and handler walk across a plastic surface (tarp on the ground). The dog is graded on its reaction to the surface and willingness to walk across it.

Station 7 - X-Pen
The dog walks across an x-pen laid out on the ground. The dog is graded on its reaction to the surface and willingness to walk across it.

Station 8 - Weird Stranger
A stranger comes out of a blind and approaches from approx. 40 feet away, dressed in lots of baggy clothes and acting drunk, reeling around and making weird noises. When the stranger is approx. 30 feet away, they begin to act more aggressive, hitting the ground with a stick or riding crop and making more noise. When they are approx. 20 feet away, they retreat back to the blind. The dog is graded on its reaction to the stranger.

Cowboy During the
ATTS version of the Temperament Test

Links:

The American Temperament Test Society

Interested In Seeing How A Breed Has Scored In The ATTS Test?

Puppy Aptitude Test

GSDCA Temperament Test (Guidelines For Clubs Sponsoring The Test)

Choosing The Right Dog

The Components of a Strong Working Dog Temperament

Tag watches the weird stranger during the GSDCA Temperament Test
at the 1999 National under the watchful eye of Bob Penny.

Tag during the gunshot test.  Evan Ginsburg pictured as the gunslinger.

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