DD Litter Temperament Test Results
Here's where the pups went:
Mr. Orange, Mr. Gold and Miss Yellow-Blue went for Search & Rescue.
Miss Red-White will be a Therapy Dog and also will help her owner, who has a therapeutic massage business, every day at work.
Miss Pink & Miss Purple will be Therapy Dogs. Miss Purple may also do Search & Rescue or possibly agility & herding competition.
Mr. Green will help his owner, a doctor, at his medical clinic - kind of a working therapy dog.
Miss Turquoise & Miss Lime are family pets who may also compete in agility.
The DD Litter was tested when 54 days old.
The main difference I see between the
police/narcotics test and the SAR test is the attitude of the tester.
In the police test, the tester is very quiet, talking little and using
very little body movements. No other
people are present and the environment is kept quiet.
In the SAR test, the tester is enthusiastic and uses lots of verbal
praise and body movements to get the pup “up” and gives lots of praise.
Other people are present, walking around, talking, and generally making
for a noisy, busy environment. This
would fit well with the ultimate purpose of the dogs being tested for both types
of training. In police work the dog
must be able to dig down deep inside himself or herself to find the courage and
aggression to confront a criminal and/or to search independently and at great
distance from the handler. In SAR
the handler is usually closer to the dog and is able to praise and encourage
him, especially in extended searches.
There is also generally all kinds of activity and distraction at a search
scene so the dog must be able to filter out the extraneous activity and focus on
her job. Both tests are fascinating
to watch as is the difference in the pups’ responses in each test.
My good friend Janet Wilts,
nationally know SAR handler and trainer, came over the weekend to test the
litter for me. I really appreciate
Janet, and another mutual friend and SAR handler, Beat Marti, driving 400 miles
on winter roads to test the pups for me.
The weather forecast had been good, but Friday night we received 5” of
snow and the temperatures plummeted.
We tested a few pups outside, on a part of my property they had never seen, but
it was just too cold for them. The
first ones tested did better than later ones who had been waiting at the gate of
the puppy yard for their turn, getting colder and colder.
We moved into the house to test the rest but as a result were not able to
do all the testing Janet usually does.
Sunday morning we retested all the pups inside the house, which of course
is very familiar to them as they come in every day to play and socialize.
Janet tested prey, tug, retrieve, noise test (dropped can of nuts &
bolts) and personality (attitude, submission, dog dominance).
She rated them on a scale of 1 – 10.
She also rated the females as to how concerned they would be with
dominance to other females ("bitchy").
Search And Rescue Test
– Janet Wilts
The DD Litter was tested when 52 & 53 days
old.
Orange Male:
SAR & Schutzhund prospect
Saturday: 7 - 8 Confident, dominant (can't read the rest of notes)
Sunday: 9 - 10 Good noise, dominance okay, good prey, good tug - noise with tug
Lime Female: dominant/bitchy
Saturday: 6 Cold, shaking - couldn't test
Sunday: 8 Good retrieve, good tug, good energy, good noise, might be bitchy
Pink Female: SAR prospect
Saturday: 9 Good retrieve
Sunday: 9 - 10 Good prey, great tug, good noise, good eye contact
Green Male: Therapy Dog prospect, pet
Saturday: 6 Cold, lower confidence
Sunday: pet
Gold Male: SAR prospect
Saturday: 8 - 9 Less dominant (10), Confident (10), tug OK, friends talking OK
Sunday: 8 - 9 Good dominance, kind of sensitive
Turquoise Female: Therapy Dog prospect
Saturday: 7 - 8 OK, confident
Sunday: good hold
Purple Female: Schutzhund prospect dominant/bitchy
Saturday: 7 A little dominant
Sunday: 9 - 10
Some dominance, good tug, retrieve good, could be bitchy
Red-White Female:
Therapy Dog prospect, pet
Saturday: Refused to test, left test area and found her way back to her puppy pen
Sunday: Good pet, tug OK, likes people
Yellow-Blue Female:
SAR prospect
Saturday: 8 - 9 retrieve--looked at, noise when tugging, tested confident, good with friends talking
Sunday:
10
good with noise, good with dominance, good retrieve
The Police
Dog/Narcotics Dog Temperament Test:
Results are listed after the description of each part of the Test.
1.
Acceptance/Attachment
The first test involves
evaluating the pup's acceptance of the strange place and its willingness to
interact with the stranger. Ideal reaction is eye contact and interest in
the stranger but no sign of nervousness in the interaction (we don’t want a
"Protect me!" attitude), followed by visual investigation of the surroundings
and then a return of attention to the tester.
Orange Male: Above Average Coaxed to me. Came tail wagging, licked
Lime Female: Above Average OK
Pink Female: Minimal Had to be coaxed to me
Green Male: Average to Minimal Hesitant but charged up with verbal
Gold Male: Above Average Good
Turquoise Female: Above Average Nice. Took a few more seconds to recognize me but did offer some licks.
Purple Female: Average OK. Will learn more.
Red-White Female: Average to Minimal Likes new person but doesn't attach
Yellow-Blue Female: Above Average OK
2. Pain Sensitivity The loose skin over the ribs is gently pinched and the pup's reaction is noted. Ideal reaction is to notice the pinch but be unconcerned by it. We also look for a willingness to forgive the tester.
Orange Male: Above Average OK
Lime Female: Average Good
Pink Female: Average Good
Green Male: Above Average Good
Gold Male: Average OK
Turquoise Female: Above Average Good
Purple Female: Above Average Good
Red-White Female: Average OK
Yellow-Blue Female: Average Good
3. Retrieve Next, willingness to retrieve is evaluated using different toys: a stuffed toy, and a tennis ball. Ideal reaction is to repeatedly being the toy back to the handler rather than moving off to "possess" it. The type of bite on the toys is evaluated: a full mouth bite shows more confidence and drive than a front-teeth-only bite.
Orange Male: Average OK - some interest but not a lot
Lime Female: Average No good retrieve although better than most
Pink Female: Average OK with checking things out
Green Male: Above Average Brought back 3 different toys
Gold Male: Above Average Likes chase
Turquoise Female: Above Average - Average Better
Purple Female: Above Average - Average OK
Red-White Female: Minimal No retrieve
Yellow-Blue Female: Minimal - Insufficient Little interest
4. Perseverance Then perseverance is evaluated by seeing how enthusiastically they will pursue, grab hold, and tug on a sack. Ideal reaction is to pursue enthusiastically, grasp with a full mouth bite, tug and do everything possible to posses the sack. We like to see a pup get its whole body on the sack in an effort to subdue it.
Orange Male: Average Good - liked it
Lime Female: Average - Minimal OK - liked chase, no tug
Pink Female: Average OK
Green Male: Above Average OK - likes chasing
Gold Male: Insufficient
Turquoise Female: Average Good
Purple Female: Average OK
Red-White Female: Minimal Minimal
Yellow-Blue Female: Minimal - Insufficient Went 1 time then no interest
5. Courage and Aggression Next, courage and aggression is evaluated using an electric train that when turned on moves erratically, whistles loudly, clanks, etc. Will they stand their ground? Will they go investigate it? Excellent reaction is to go to the moving, clanking train and check it out. Extremely excellent reaction is to actually attack it while it moves. Good reaction is to investigate it after the tester turns it off. The tester encourages the pup to investigate after it is turned off, if it wouldn't while it was “whistling” and moving. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Orange Male: Above Average Good with train
Lime Female: Average Did well investigating
Pink Female: Above Average Good
Green Male: Above Average
Gold Male: Average Lots of interest
Turquoise Female: Average Good
Purple Female: Above Average Very inquisitive with objects
Red-White Female: Above Average OK
Yellow-Blue Female:
Above Average
Good at checking things out
6. Fear Then a metal pan filled with metal items (horseshoes, nails, bolts, etc.) is dropped behind them from a height of about 2 feet while they are looking away from it. Will the pup hold its ground and then go look at what dropped from nowhere? Excellent reaction is to acknowledge and turn towards the sound and then confidently go see what made the racket. The tester encourages the pup to investigate, if it doesn't on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed. I find most of my pups look towards the racket and keep on playing with the toy they had, rather than stopping their play to go investigate.
Orange Male: Above Average OK
Lime Female: Above Average Good
Pink Female: Average Good
Green Male: Average OK
Gold Male: Above Average Good. Looked into can
Turquoise Female: Above Average Showed surprise - did not move out of place
Purple Female: Above Average Nice & calm
Red-White Female: Above Average Good
Yellow-Blue Female:
Excellent
Very nice, solid. Looked at
can.
7. Surprise The last test involves getting the pup to chase you (or a toy or the burlap sack) towards a doorway, from behind which an umbrella is opened suddenly and then lowered to the ground, still open. They are evaluated on how they recover from being startled and if they'll go investigate. Ideal reaction is for the pup to startle but hold its ground, then move right up to check out the umbrella. A super excellent reaction is to go up and bite it and/or walk all over it. The tester encourages the pup to investigate after the umbrella is on the ground, if it doesn't on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Orange Male: Above Average Walked towards it.
Lime Female: Average OK
Pink Female: Above Average OK. Took food drag over it & she did better.
Green Male: Above Average Investigated when coaxed
Gold Male: Above Average Did well
Turquoise Female: Average OK. Moved away then coaxed in.
Purple Female: Above Average Coaxed to look at
Red-White Female: Average OK. Couldn't coax.
Yellow-Blue Female: Excellent. Good. Walked across umbrella.
Search And Rescue Test
Submission & Confidence Tests The submission test is designed to give an idea of the pup’s tractability, trust in humans, and willingness to submit to a human’s directives. In the submission test the pup is held firmly on its back for a short period of time. The tester counts the seconds it takes for him to resist, then accept, the restraint. She should not passively accept the restraint, nor should she panic or show avoidance of eye contact. Ideal reaction is to resist, then submit and look the tester in the face. We also look for a willingness to forgive the tester. The confidence part of the test involves holding the pup out at arm’s length for several seconds. Again, the pup should accept the handler putting it in position and remain calm.
Orange Male: Average 20 seconds
Lime Female: Average Issues
Pink Female: Excellent Great
Green Male: Average 26 seconds
Gold Male: Minimal
Turquoise Female: Above Average OK. 12 seconds
Purple Female: Excellent Great
Red-White Female: Minimal 29 seconds
Yellow-Blue Female: Average OK
Unstable Footing Since SAR dogs will search in all kinds of terrain and areas of destruction, they must be confident in insecure situations. Since Janet used a plastic tarp on her test, we placed cardboard boxes on top and around pieces of bubble wrap. All pups did great.
Hunt for Toy The tester will play with the pup with a toy, then suddenly hide it under the tarp or other object (in this case the low dogwalk) to see if the pup will search for it, using its nose.
Orange Male: Minimal Not a huge interest
Lime Female: Minimal
Pink Female: Average OK
Green Male: Average - Minimal
Gold Male: Average OK
Turquoise Female: Average OK
Purple Female: Above Average - Average
Red-White Female: Minimal No long-term interest
Yellow-Blue Female: Minimal Didn't stay engaged long with playing.
Hunt for Food This test begins with a piece of jerky tied on a string and dragged to attract the pup's interest and see how interested it is, how hard it will work to get it, and how hard it will work to keep it as the tester jerks, tugs and generally prevents the pup from easily eating it. She then entices the pup to follow it to the area where she has hidden food, to see if it will use its nose, and how systematically, to find all the food. We did the test in an old kindergarten room which had shelves built along one wall. Suzan placed bits of dried meat in two upper and two lower-level cubicles. The pups really had to use their noses to find exactly where the meat was. To get into the upper cubicles, the pup had to accept help from her.
Orange Male: Above Average OK
Lime Female: Above Average Good
Pink Female: Above Average Great. Not as systematic as would like
Green Male: Average OK. Used nose. Not overly strong.
Gold Male: Average Good nose
Turquoise Female: Above Average Good nose. Systematic.
Purple Female: Above Average Good and strong. Not as methodical as others
Red-White Female: Average OK but not as strong. Good nose.
Yellow-Blue Female: Average Good. Used eyes more in boxes.
Tester Comments:
Orange Male: Independent. Stronger food drive - not totally using a combination of eyes and nose. Great tug of war.
Lime Female: Very happy pup. All these pups like to hear human voices. Vocal pup - likes and needs feedback.
Pink Female: More independent. Hasn't learned people are important! Thinker! Noticed and reacted to other things. Eye contact with hand good on food.
Green Male: Nice pup. Likes a variety of things. No overly strong or weak areas. Seems a little behind developmentally. He noticed a lot of things around him but I didn't see that he was nervous about those things - just busy.
Gold Male: Nice pup. No high prey. Likes people. Noticed food right away.
Turquoise Female: Happy pup. Easily trainable. Good tug of war. Easily coaxed over object with food.
Purple Female: Got distracted with food around. Strong tug of war. Eye contact with food strong.
Red-White Female: More independent. Slow, somewhat methodical. Solid, independent, likes voices. Hesitant when coaxed. Brought food over to eat, then looked.
Yellow-Blue Female: Smelled food and searched right away. Likes human verbal. More independent personality. When she heard voice and encouragement her confidence was really built up. She should have a lot of social interaction and direction with owner from the beginning to build the necessary bond and confidence.
Comparison
|
Test |
1 Excellent |
2 Above Average |
3 Average |
4 Minimal |
5 Insufficient |
|
Pain Sensitivity |
|
Orange, Green, Turquoise, Purple |
Lime, Pink, Gold, Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
|
|
|
Submission |
Pink, Purple |
Turquoise |
Orange, Lime, Pink, Green, Yellow-Blue |
Gold, Red-White |
|
|
Perseverance |
|
Green |
Orange, Lime, Turquoise, Purple |
Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
Gold |
|
Aggression & Courage |
|
Orange, Pink, Green, Purple, Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
Lime, Gold, Turquoise |
|
|
|
Retrieve |
|
Green, Turquoise, Purple |
Orange, Lime, Pink |
Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
|
|
Fear |
Yellow-Blue |
Orange, Lime, Pink, Gold, Turquoise, Purple, Red-White |
Green |
|
|
|
Hunt for Toy |
|
Purple |
Pink, Green, Gold, Turquoise, |
Orange, Lime, Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
|
|
Surprise |
Yellow-Blue |
Orange, Pink, Gold, Green, Purple |
Lime, Turquoise, Red-White |
|
|
|
Hunt for Food |
|
Orange, Lime, Pink, Turquoise, Purple |
Green, Gold, Red-White, Yellow-Blue |
|
|
|
Attachment |
|
Orange, Lime, Gold, Turquoise, Yellow-Blue |
Green, Purple, Red-White |
Pink |
|
Summary
Orange:
Above Average: Sensitivity, Aggression/Courage, Fear, Surprise, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Average: Submission, Perseverance, Retrieve
Minimal: Hunt for Toy
Lime:
Above Average: Fear, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Average: Sensitivity, Submission, Perseverance, Aggression/Courage, Retrieve, Surprise
Minimal: Hunt for Toy
Pink:
Excellent: Submission
Above Average: Aggression/Courage, Fear, Surprise, Hunt for Food
Average: Sensitivity, Perseverance, Retrieve, Hunt for Toy
Minimal: Attachment
Green:
Above Average: Sensitivity, Perseverance, Aggression/Courage, Retrieve, Surprise
Average: Submission, Fear, Hunt for Toy, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Gold:
Above Average: Retrieve, Fear, Surprise, Attachment
Average: Sensitivity, Aggression/Courage, Hunt for Toy, Hunt for Food
Minimal: Submission
Insufficient: Perseverance
Turquoise:
Above Average: Sensitivity, Submission, Retrieve, Fear, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Average: Perseverance, Aggression/Courage, Hunt for Toy, Surprise
Purple:
Excellent: Submission
Above Average: Sensitivity, Aggression/Courage, Retrieve, Fear, Hunt for Toy, Surprise, Hunt for Food
Average: Perseverance, Attachment
Red-White:
Above Average: Aggression/Courage, Fear
Average: Sensitivity, Surprise, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Minimal: Submission, Perseverance, Retrieve, Hunt for Toy,
Yellow-Blue:
Excellent: Fear, Surprise
Above Average: Aggression/Courage, Attachment
Average: Sensitivity, Submission, Hunt for Food
Minimal: Perseverance, Retrieve, Hunt for Toy