Canine Psychology
[Puppy aptitude test] [A Lesson in Becoming Alpha ] [Coprophagia]
Puppy Aptitude Test
Volhard's puppy aptitude test, source:
* The New Bernese Mountain Dogs, Russ and Rogers

1. Social Attraction
Place puppy in test area. From a few feet away, coax puppy to come by clapping hands gently and kneeling down.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.

2. Following
Stand up and walk away from the puppy, encouraging him verbally.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of willingness to follow human leadership.

3. Restraint
Gently roll the pup on his back and hold him for 30 seconds.

Purpose :Evaluate the degree of dominance or submission. Response to social/physical dominance.

4. Social Dominance
Pup sits facing tester at 45° angle. Tester strokes pup from head to back. Continue stroking until recognizable behavior is established.

Purpose : Evaluatedegree of acceptance of human social dominance.

5. Elevation Dominance
Cradle pup under his belly, fingers interlaced, and elevate just off ground for 30 sec.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of accepting dominance while in position of no control.

6. Retrieving
Crouch beside pup and attract its attention with crumpled up paper ball. When pup shows interest and is watching, toss the paper 3 feet away, back up and encourage him to come back with the object.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of willingness to work with human.

7. Touch Sensitivity
Take webbing of one front foot and press between finger and thumb lightly, gradually increasing pressure on a scale from 1-10. stop as soon as pup shows discomfort.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of sensitivity to touch.

8. Sound Sensitivity
Place pup in center of area and make a sharp noise a few feet away. A large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal pan twice works well.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of sensitivity to sound.

9. Chase Instinct
Tie a string around a towel and drag it in front of pup from left to right.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of response to moving object; chase instinct.

10. Stability
Place pup in center of testing area. An umbrella is opened and set down so pup can investigate.

Purpose : Evaluate degree of intelligent response to a strange object.

11. Energy Level
Observe pup on other subtest and score according to most frequent activity observed. Check with breeder for confirmation.

Purpose : evaluate degree of physical energy.
Test Scoresheet
Test # 1
  1. Comes readily,tail up, jumps, bites at hands
  2. Comes readily, tail up, paws, licks at hands
  3. Comes readily, tail up
  4. Comes readily, tail down
  5. Comes hesitantly, tail down
  6. Does not come at all

Test # 2
  1. Follows readily, tail up, gets underfoot, bites at feet
  2. Follows readily, tail up, gets underfoot
  3. Follows readily, tail up
  4. Follows readily, tail down
  5. Follows hesitantly, tail down
  6. No follow or went away

Test # 3
  1. Struggles fiercely, flails, bites
  2. Struggles fiercely, flails
  3. Settles, struggles, settles with eye contact
  4. Slight struggle, then settles
  5. No struggle, tail tucked
  6. No struggle, strains to avoid eye contact

Test # 4
  1. Jumps, paws, bites, growls
  2. Jumps, paws, licks
  3. Cuddles up to tester, tries to lick face
  4. sits quietly, accepts petting, nudges/licks hands
  5. Rolls over, no eye contact
  6. Goes away and stays away

Test # 5
  1. Struggles fiercely, bites
  2. Struggles
  3. No struggle, relaxed, tail wags
  4. No struggle, relaxed
  5. No struggle
  6. No sruggle, froze, tail/rear legs tense

Test # 6
  1. Chases object, picks it up and runs away
  2. Chases object, stands over it, does not return
  3. Chases object, picks it up and returns to tester
  4. Chases object, returns without object to tester
  5. Starts to chase, loses interest
  6. Does not chase

Test # 7
  1. 9-10 counts before response
  2. 7-8 counts before response
  3. 5-6 counts before response
  4. 3-4 counts before response
  5. 1-2 counts before response

Test # 8
  1. Locates the sound, walks toward it
  2. Locates the sound, barks
  3. Locates the sound, shows curiosity, walks toward it
  4. Locates the sound
  5. Cringes, backs off, hides
  6. Ignores sound, shows no curiosity

Test # 9
  1. Looks, attacks, bites
  2. Looks, barks, tail up
  3. Looks curiously, attempts to investigate
  4. Looks, does not go forward, tail down
  5. Runs away, hides
  6. Ignores, shows no curiosity

Test # 10
  1. Walks forward, tail up, bites
  2. Walks forward, tail up, mouths
  3. Walks forward, attempts to investigate
  4. Looks curiously, stays put
  5. Goes away, tail down, hides
  6. Ignores, shows no curiosity

Test # 11
  1. Continually runs, pounces, wiggles, paws [High]
  2. Mostly trots, occasionally runs, pounces, wiggles [Medium]
  3. Walks slowly, sits quietly, remains in position usually [Low]
  4. Stands rigidly, eyes roll, tail down, ears back [stress]

Scores
  1. Lower temperament scores indicates higher dominant tendencies ( 11 à 20 ).
  2. A high score indicates submissive tendencies ( 40 à 50 ).
  3. The highest score indicates a high level of independence ( 55 à 60 ).
  4. An ideal score would likely be between ( 30 et 35).

    *N.B. These tests can not predict the adult dog temperament, however they will indicate to the tester the behavioral tendencies and aptitude of the dog for different tasks.

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