Aptitude test

Retrieving:

Crouch beside puppy & attract is attention with crumpled up paper ball. When pup show interest & is watching, toss the object 4-6 feet in front of puppy.

Purpose:

Degree of willingness to work with a human. High correlation between ability to retrieve and successful guide dogs, obedience dogs, field trial dogs.

Score:

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

Touch Sensitivity:

Press finger (not fingernail) and thumb lighty then more firmly till you get a response, while you count to 10. Stop as soon as puppy pulls away,or shows discomfort.

Purpose:

Degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.

Score:

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

Sound sensitivity:

Place pup in the center of area, tester makes a sharp noise a few feet from the puppy. A large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal pan works well.

Score:

Listens, locates sound, walks toward it barking. 1
Listens, locates sound, barks. 2
Listens, locates sound shows curiosity & walks toward sound. 3
Listens, locates the sound. 4
Cringes, backs off, hides. 5
Ignores sound, shows no curiosity. 6

Sight sensitivity:

Place pup in center of room. Jerk a towel across the floor a few feet from pup.

Score:

Looks,attacks,bites. 1
Looks,barks,tail up 2
Looks curiously,attempts to investigate 3
Loooks, barks,tail tuck. 4
Runs away,hides. 5

Structure:

Evaluated for structure in the following: Straight front,rear, shoulder lay back, front & rear angulation, croup angulation.

Good- Puppy is correct in structure.
Fair- Pup has slight fault or deviation.
Poor- Extreme fault or deviation.

Mostly 1's
A pup that consistently scores a 1 in the temperament section of the test is an extremely dominant, aggressive puppy who can easily be provoked to bite. His dominant nature will attempt to resist human leadership, thus requiring only the most experienced of handlers. This puppy is a poor choice for most people & will do best in a working situation as a guard or police dog.

Mostly 2's
Pup is dominant & self assured. Can be provoked to bite; however he readily accepts human leadership that is firm, consistent & knowledgeable. not a dog for a tentative, indecisive individual. In the right hands, he has the potential to become a fine working dog or show dog & could fit into any adult household, provided the owners know what they are doing.

Mostly 3's
Outgoing, friendly puppy & will adjust well in situations in which he receives regular training & exercise. Flexible temperament that adapts well to different types of environment, provided he is handled correctly. May be too much for a family with small kids or an elderly couple who are sedentary.

Mostly 4's
A majority of 4's is an easily controlled, adaptable puppy whose submissive nature will make him continually look to his owner for leadership. This pup is easy to train, reliable with kids, & though he lacks self confidence, makes a high quality family pet. He's usually less outgoing than a pups scoring in the 3's. His demeanor is gentle and affectionate.

Mostly 5's
This puppy is extremely submissive and lacking in self confidence. Bonds closely with his owner. Requires regular companisonship and encouragement. If handled incorrectly, this puppy will grow up very shy and fearful. He will do best in a predictable, structured lifestyle with owners who are patient and not overly demanding, such as and elderly couple.

Mostly 6's
This puppy is consistently independent and uninterested in people. He will mature into a dog who is not demonstrably affectionate and who has a low need for human companionship. It is rare to see a puppy test this way.

The obedience part evaluates the obedience, aptitude and working ability of the puppy, and provides a general picture of a intelligence, spirit & willingness to work with a human. For most owners, a good companion dog wil score in the 3 to 4 range in this section of the test. Puppies scoring a combination of 1's and 2's require experienced handlers who will be able to draw the best aspects of their potential, from them.