PUPPY APTITUDE TESTING

The research of Scott and Fuller, Clarence Pfaffenger, William Campbell and others, showed that temperwnent is composed of a nwnber of traits, such as dominant versus submissive, independent versus socially attracted. These traits are observable and measurable- The various combinatioons of these traits is what makes some dogs more tempmentally suited for certain tasks and enviromnunents than others.

The tendency for these traits is heredity. If it were not, we would not have the number of breeds we have today. For example, it's easier to teach a Greyhound to chase rabbits than to retrieve ducks because the Greyhound has been genetically selected for the instinct to chase rather than to retrieve.

However, enviroment has a tremendous influence on these traits. As research by Scott and Fuller indicates, the enviroment influences the puppy as early as three to 12 weeks. These early development stages are the same in all dogs regardless of breed. Traumatic events during a critical period may have a lasting influence on the dog. TRAINING CAN MODIFY THE EFFECTS OF TRAUMATIC EVENTS, BUT THE DOG MAY NEVER REACH HIS TRUE POTENTIAL.

Research by William Campbell devised a test to select puppies most likely to be a good family pet. Clarence Pfaffenberger developed tests to select puppies most likely to become responsible guide dogs for the blind, and Elliot Humphrey and Lucien Warner designed test to select puppies for the working German Shepherd Dogs.

Using items from these tests, Jack and Wendy Volhard trainers devised a system in the early seventies to select puppies with the greatest obedience potential. They also found it useful in matching the right puppy to the right owner.

Of course another application can be selecting those dogs that are temperarmently suited to become show dogs, perhaps going on to a long and demanding career as a specials dog. As these dogs must travel a great deal, spend many hours in crates or small x-pens and often times away from their owners, ft stands to reason they should be those dogs that have the temperaments to withstand such stress.

The tests attached here for your information have beenn modified several times over the years. A word of caution, The PAT is not without flaws. Puppies sometimes give responses which are not on the test. Depending on the amount of knowledge of dog behavior the tester has, these responses may be difficult to score. Also, some people have difficulty in giving the test correctly. For example, on the retrieving subtest, if the test tosses the crumpled up paper 12 feet away instead of four feet away, ft may be out of range of the puppy's vision.

A film of Wendy Volhard testing a litter of Newfoundlands was made. The 20 minute movie complete with soundtrack, playable on any Super 8 projector(1980) was entitled PUPPY APITUDE TESTING and it won the Dog Writer's Award for Best Film About Dogs in 1980. This film was available through the Newfoundland Club of America. I do not know if it is still available, perhaps in a new fonnat, but if interested you should contact the club.

Several articles have been written and published in the GAZETTE by Melissa Bartlett on the subject. Those used in this presentation were"A Novice Looks at Puppy Apitude Testing," March 1979, 'Puppy Apitude Testing", March 1985, "Puppy Aptitude Testing for Competition", February 1987, and "Follow-Up: Puppy Apitude Testing", May 1987. Reprints of all of these article are available by contacting the AKC GAZETTE

Puppy testing helps to pick the puppy which will best suit the owner's purpose. For example, a very quiet submissive puppy may become an excellent child's pet but may not be a good choice for the breed ring where a more energetic, bold animal will show the best. It can also help in training animals occasionally in giving the owner some insight into their puppy's behavior. For example, one owner had difficulty housetraining his Cocker Spaniel. The puppy turned out to be extremely submissive. By scolding the puppy, the authority figure, the owner, caused the little dog to urinate submissively. Therefore by understanding his dog's temperament, he was able to learm more effective, less authoriatarian methods of training his dog.

If the combination of traits which a dog has fits in with his owner's lifestyle and purposes, that owner is very likely to say his dog has good temperament. Of course, the best matched puppy in the world still needs training, proper environment and lots of TLC to reach his potential. NO DOG CAN FULFILL HIS POTENTIAL IF HE'S NEGLECTED.

Puppy Aptitude Test
The New Concise Chart and Score Sheet

Test and Purpose Score Comments                                
Social Attraction

Purpose: Degree of Attraction to people

Method: Place pup in testing area 4 feet
from tester, who coaxes puppy to her/him.
Comes readily, tail up. jumps,
bites at hands ...................................................... 1
Comes readily,tail up paws, licks at
hands .....................................................................2
Comes readily, tail up.......................................... 3
Comes readily, tail down .....................................4
Comes hesitantly, tail down ...............................5
Does not come at all ........................................... 6
.
Following

Purpose: Degree of willingness to follow
human leadership

Method: Stand up and walk away from
puppy, encouraging verbally.
Follows readily, tail up, gets under foot,
bites at feet ........................................................... 1
Follows readily,tail up gets
under foot...............................................................2
Follows readily, tail up......................................... 3
Follows readily, tail down ...................................4
Follows hesitantly, tail down .............................5
Does not follow at all ......................................... 6
.
Restraint

Purpose: Degree of dominance or submission;
response to social/physical dominance

Method: Gently roll pup on its back and
hold it for 30 seconds.
Struggles fiercely, flails,bites ............................ 1
Struggles fiercely, flails .......................................2
Settles, struggles, settles with
eye contact ........................................................... 3
Slight struggle, then settles ................................4
No struggle, tail tucked .......................................5
No struggle, strains to avoid
eye contact ........................................................... 6
.
Social Dominance

Purpose: Degree of acceptance of human
social dominanace; how "forgiving" the pup is.

Method: Pup sit facing tester at a 45 angle.
Tester strokes pup and puts his/her face close
to the pup
Jumps, paws, bites, growls ................................ 1
Jumps, paws, licks ................................................2
Cuddles up to tester, tries to
lick face ................................................................. 3
Sits quietly, accepts petting,
nudges/licks hands ..............................................4
Rolls over, no eye contact ..................................5
Goes away and stays away ................................ 6
.
Elevation Dominance

Purpose: Degree of accepting dominance
while in postion of no control.

Method: Cradle the pup under its belly,
fingers interlaced, and elevate just off the ground
for 30 seconds.
Struggle fiercely, bites ........................................ 1
Struggles ...............................................................2
No struggle, relaxd, tail wags ............................ 3
No struggle, relaxed .............................................4
No struggle ...........................................................5
No struggle, frozen, tail/rear
legs tense ............................................................. 6
.
Retrieving(Obedience and Aptitude)

Purpose: Degree of willingness to work with
humans. High correlation between ability to
retrieve and successfuk guide dogs, and field
trial dogs.

Method: Attract pups attention with crumpled
paper ball. When it is watching, toss paper 4
feet away. When pup goes after it back up 2
feet and encourage it to come back.
Chases object, picks it up and
runs away ............................................................. 1
Chases object stands over it,
does not return......................................................2
Chases object, picks it up and
returns it to the tester.......................................... 3
Chases object, returns without
object to tester ......................................................4
Starts to chase, loses interest .............................5
Does not chase .................................................... 6
.
Touch Sensitivity

Purpose: Degree of sensitivity to touch.

Method: Take webbing of one front foot and
place between finger and thumb lightly,
gradually increasing pressure on a scale from
1-10. Stop as soon as puppy shows
discomfort.
9-10 counts before response ............................. 1
7-8 counts before response ................................2
5-6 counts before response................................ 3
3-4 counts before response ................................4
1-2 counts before response ................................5
Does not follow at all ......................................... 6
.
Sound Sensitivity

Purpose: Degree of sensitivity to sound.

Method: Place pup in center of testing area
and make a sharp noise a few feet away. A
large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal
pan twice works well.
Locates the sound, walks towards it................. 1
Locates sound, barks ...........................................2
Locates sound, show curiousity,
walks towards it.................................................... 3
Locates the sound ...............................................4
Cringes, backs off, hides .....................................5
Ignores sound, shows no curiousity ............... 6
.
Chase Instinct

Purpose: Degree of response to moving
object; chase instinct.

Method: Tie a string around a towel and drag
it in front of the puppy from left to right.
Looks, attacks, bites ............................................ 1
Looks, barks, tail up .............................................2
Looks curiously, attempts to investigate ......... 3
Looks, does not go forward, tail down ..............4
Runs away, hides ..................................................5
Ignores, shows no curiousity............................. 6
.
Stability

Purpose: Degree of intelligent response to
strange odjects

Method: Place pup in center of testing area.
Closed umbrella is held 4 feet away and
pointed perpendicular to the direction the pup
faces. The umbrella is opened and set down
so the pup can investigate. *
Walks forward, tail up, bites............................... 1
Walks forward, tail up, mouths ...........................2
Walks forward, attempts to investigate ........... 3
Look curiously, stays put ...................................4
Goes away, tail down, hides ...............................5
Ignores, shows no curiosity............................... 6



*note:Puppies frequently startle
upon seeing the umbrella open.
Score the pup's response after
the umbrella is set down.
Energy Level

Purpose: Degree of physical energy


Method: Observe pup on the other sudtests
and score according to the most frequent activity
observed. Check with breeder for
confirmation.
Continually runs, pounces
wiggles, paws ............................................... High
Mostly trots, occasionally runs,
pounces, wiggles.....................................Medium
Walks slow, sits quietly,
remains in position usually...........................Low
Stands rigidly, eyes roll, tail
down, ears back...........................................Stress
.

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Chihuahua/Dog Education
Different Types of Breeders
Genetic Concerns and Standard
When to stay...When to run
Patella Photos Normal & Luxated
Hydrocephalus Article
Chihuahua Fact or Fiction
Puppy Aptitude Test
Early Neurological Stimulation
Why do you want to breed?
Chihuahua Pedigrees
Luxating Patella Article
Legg-Perthes Disease Atricle
Examples of Chihuahua Colors
Chihuahua Weight Chart
Chihuahua Sizes
Ruptured Anterior Cruciate Article
Think Carefully Before Breeding Article
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