The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test
One ~60 minute session
Recommended for puppies under 6 months, but may be administered to dogs of any age
Thinking about adopting or purchasing a puppy or dog?
Not sure what kind of breed, age, or activity level is right for you?
Let us help you make your best-informed decision! Just like people, each dog has its own personality, interests, and behavior patterns. Puppy temperament tests can help measure a dog's reaction to various things like handling, exposure to household items, and interacting with people, kids, or other animals. This can help give you a good snapshot of the dog's overall personality and identify potential behavioral concerns.
Training and testing includes the following:
Social Attraction
The degree of social attraction to people, confidence, or dependence.
Following
The willingness to follow a person.
Restraint
The degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.
Social Dominance
The degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.
Elevation
The degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or groomer.
Retrieving
The degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following, these are key indicators for ease or difficulty in training.
Touch Sensitivity
The degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.
Sound Sensitivity
The degree of sensitivity to sounds, such as loud noises or thunderstorms.
Sight Sensitivity
The degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children, or squirrels.
Stability
The degree of startle response to a strange object.
A key thing to remember…
These tests are not perfect. Puppies can be tested as early as 6-7 weeks old, but sometimes the test results can be more accurate when the puppy is around 3-4 months old. Early experience, socialization, development, and the consequences of learning can all affect future behavior, and some personalities may not emerge until the puppy is older.
Shelter dogs being tested may behave very differently, especially older dogs. They can sometimes show fearfulness or aggression in the shelter, but then be happy, energetic, and loving companions once out of the stress of an overwhelming environment.
To learn more, please visit the Volhard Dog Nutrition website.