MM Litter Police Dog/Narcotics Dog Temperament Test
The MM Litter was tested at 49 Days
Miss Green went to southern Colorado to be a farm dog (dairy goats and chickens) and therapy dog. Miss Gold went to Virginia to be a Search & Rescue dog (their 3rd SAR dog from me). Miss Pink went to Washington state for Schutzhund, obedience and tracking. Miss Red went to Ft. Collins, CO to be a family companion and do obedience & nosework competition (their second dog from me). Mr. Blue went to the Denver area to be a therapy dog and family companion for two busy boys. Mr. Yellow went to Cheyenne, WY to be a therapy dog (her second dog & second therapy dog from me) but was rehomed at 16 months.
My good friend, Suzan Guilford, came to do the police/narcotics test. She is a former K9 handler and police officer, former police chief, and has taught at the Wyoming Police Academy. She has done my temperament tests for over seventeen years, except for a two year absence while she was working in Florida. Suzan and I over the years have incorporated most of the SAR exercises into her testing so she can include them in case Janet & Bonnie can’t come do the SAR testing. She didn’t do them this time.
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 (often two do the test together) is somewhat more enthusiastic, uses some verbal praise and body movements to get the pup “up” and gives praise. Other people are sometimes present to watch, though they are asked to be as quiet as possible. 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.
Results are listed after the description of each part of the Test. At the bottom, test results are listed for Spirit (mother), Lively (grandmother) and Lively’s mother & grandmother (maternal great-grandmother and great-great grandmother). Since my last litter, Suzan decided to change her test form. She compared what she was doing with other temperament tests and added what she liked from them. This is the first litter we’ve used her new test on.
1. Social 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Licked face; tail up, bit at hands, face
2 – above average: Licked hands; tail up
3 – Average – good: Came readily, tail up
4 – minimal: Acknowledged tail down
5 – insufficient: Hesitant
6 – unacceptable: Did not acknowledge
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Above average; “Licked face”
Gold Female: Excellent; “Did not bite at hands/face”
Green Female: Above average; “Wagger”
Pink Female: Rating 2 first (above average); then 3 (average-good)
Red Female: Excellent
Yellow Male: Above average; “Licked hands then face”
2. Following Observing willingness to follow handler, acceptance
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Followed tail up, underfoot, bit at feet
2 – above average: Followed, tail up, underfoot
3 – Average – good: Followed, tail up
4 – minimal: Followed, tail down
5 – insufficient: Followed hesitantly, tail down
6 – unacceptable: Did not follow, went away
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Average; “Licked face”
Gold Female: Above average
Green Female: Above average
Pink Female: Above average
Red Female: Above average
Yellow Male: Average – good
3. Restraint/Submission The submission test, done for 30 seconds, 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Settled, struggled, settled with some eye contact
2 – above average: Struggled fiercely, flailed
3 – Average – good: Struggled fiercely, bit, flailed
4 – minimal: Struggled, then settled
5 – insufficient: No struggle
6 – unacceptable: No struggle, strained to avoid eye contact
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Above average
Gold Female: Above average
Green Female: Excellent
Pink Female: Minimal
Red Female: Above average; ” Eye contact”
Yellow Male: Above average
4. Social Dominance Stroking pup until it reacts
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Cuddled up to tester, licked face
2 – above average: Jumped, pawed
3 – Average – good: Jumped, pawed, bit, growled
4 – minimal: Squirmed, licked at hands
5 – insufficient: Rolled over, licked hands
6 – unacceptable: Went away and stayed away
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Minimal
Gold Female: Excellent
Green Female: Excellent
Pink Female: Minimal
Red Female: Minimal
Yellow Male: Excellent
5. Confidence/Elevation 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Struggled, settled, struggled, settled
2 – above average: Struggled
3 – Average – good: Struggled, tried to bite
4 – minimal: No struggle, relaxed
5 – insufficient: No struggle, body still
6 – unacceptable: No struggle, body froze
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Average
Gold Female: Above average
Green Female: Excellent
Pink Female: Above average; “20 seconds”
Red Female: Minimal
Yellow Male: Minimal
6. Retrieve Ball/Toy 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Chased object, picked it up and returned with it
2 – above average: Chased object, picked it up and returned without it
3 – Average – good: Chased object, stood over it, did not return
4 – minimal: Chased object, picked it up, ran away
5 – insufficient: Started to chase, lost interest
6 – unacceptable: No chase
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Excellent & Average; “Both retrieved and stood over ball without returning with it”
Gold Female: Excellent; “Returned with ball about half the time”
Green Female: Average; “Loved chasing and holding in mouth”
Pink Female: Above Average
Red Female: 1 & 2; “Picked up 2 times”
Yellow Male: Insufficient
7. 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: 8 – 10 count for response
2 – above average: 6 – 8 count for response
3 – Average – good: 5 – 6 count for response
4 – minimal: 3 – 5 count for response
5 – insufficient: 2 – 3 count for response
6 – unacceptable: 1 – 2 count for response
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Above average
Gold Female: Above average
Green Female: Above average
Pink Female: Excellent
Red Female: Above average
Yellow Male: Above average
8. Prey/Perseverance Then perseverance is evaluated by seeing how enthusiastically they will pursue, grab hold, and tug on a rope sack. Ideal reaction is to pursue enthusiastically, grasp with a full mouth bite, tug and do everything possible to posses the object. If a sack is used, we like to see a pup get its whole body on the sack in an effort to subdue it.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Chases or tugs continually, full bite, uses body on object
2 – above average: Chases, tugs, good bite, uses feet.
3 – Average – good: Chases, tugs, bites, may release and re-bite, tail up
4 – minimal: Chases, follows object, may bite, releases, may tug, tail down
5 – insufficient: Chases, may bite with front-teeth bite, loses interest
6 – unacceptable: Little or not chase or engagement
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Minimal
Gold Female: Average
Green Female: Average – good
Pink Female: Excellent
Red Female: Average – good
Yellow Male: Average – good; “Minimal bite”
9. Sound sensitivity A metal can filled with rocks 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.
An electric train, that when turned on moves erratically, whistles loudly, clanks, etc., is also used 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.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Heard, located sound & ran toward it
2 – above average: Heard, located sound, walked toward it
3 – Average – good: Heard, located sound and showed curiosity
4 – minimal: Heard and located sound
5 – insufficient: Cringed, backed off, tried to hide
6 – unacceptable: Ignored sound ad showed no curiosity
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Minimal; “Looked at train, rocks”
Gold Female: 2 on train; 4 on rocks
Green Female: Minimal on both; “Easily coaxed”
Pink Female: 1 on rocks; 2 on train
Red Female: 2 on rocks; 3 on train
Yellow Male: Minimal
10. Surprise/Stability The last test involves getting the pup to chase you (or a toy) towards a place with a hidden person, from behind which an umbrella is opened suddenly and then lowered to the ground, still open. The pups 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 top step, if it doesn’t on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Possible Ratings General Description
1 – excellent: Looked, ran to umbrella, attacked/bit
2 – above average: Looked, walked to umbrella, smelled
3 – Average – good: Looked, went to investigate
4 – minimal: Sat and looked, did not investigate
5 – insufficient: Showed little or no interest
6 – unacceptable: Ran away from umbrella
Pup/Rating/Comments
Blue Male: Insufficient
Gold Female: Minimal
Green Female: Unacceptable; “Looked for a few seconds”
Pink Female: Minimal
Red Female: Minimal; “Stood & looked; did not investigate; waited before leaving; encouraged to go up to it”
Yellow Male: Minimal; “Encouraged”
Tester Comments
Blue Male: (none)
Gold Female: Liked various objects; bite minimal – front teeth
Green Female: Likes people; easily coaxed
Pink Female: Great bite; likes all different objects
Red Female: Very people oriented – looks to handler for all
Yellow Male: Stresses easily – looks to handler & owner for assurance; good looking at objects
Summary
Blue Male
Excellent: Retrieve
Above average: Social attachment, Restraint/Submission, Sensitivity
Average-good: Confidence/Elevation, Following, Retrieve
Minimal: Social dominance, Sound sensitivity
Insufficient: Prey/perseverance, Surprise/Stability
Gold Female
Excellent: Social Attachment, Social Dominance, Retrieve ball/toy
Above average: Following, Restraint/Submission, Confidence/Elevation, Sensitivity, Sound Sensitivity (train)
Average-good: Prey/Perseverance
Minimal: Sound sensitivity (rocks)
Green Female
Excellent: Restraint/Submission, Confidence/Elevation
Above average: Social Attachment, Following, Social Dominance, Sensitivity
Average-good: Retrieve Ball/Toy, Prey/Perseverance
Minimal: Sound Sensitivity (both train & rocks)
Unacceptable: Surprise/Stability
Pink Female
Excellent: Social Attachment, Sensitivity, Prey/Perseverance, Sound sensitivity (rocks)
Above average: Social Attachment, Following, Confidence/Elevation, Retrieve ball/toy, Sound Sensitivity (train)
Minimal: Restraint/Submission, Social Dominance, Surprise/Stability
Red Female
Excellent: Social Attachment, Retrieve ball/toy
Above average: Following, Restraint/Submission, Retrieve ball/toy, Sensitivity, Sound Sensitivity
Average-good: Prey/Perseverance
Minimal: Social Dominance, Confidence/Elevation, Surprise/Stability
Yellow Male
Excellent: Social Dominance
Above average: Social Attachment, Restraint/Submission, Sensitivity
Average-good: Following, Prey/Perseverance
Minimal: Confidence/Elevation, Sound Sensitivity, Surprise/Stability
Insufficient: Retrieve ball/toy
Comparison by Ratings
Attachment
Excellent: Gold, Pink, Red
Above Average: Blue, Green, Pink, Yellow
Following
Above Average: Gold, Green, Pink, Red
Average: Blue, Yellow
Restraint/Submission
Excellent: Green
Above Average: Gold, Red, Yellow
Average: Blue
Minimal: Pink
Social Dominance
Excellent: Gold, Yellow
Above Average: Green
Minimal: Blue, Pink, Red
Confidence/Elevation
Excellent: Green
Above Average: Gold, Pink
Average: Blue
Minimal: Red, Yellow
Retrieve Ball/Toy
Excellent: Blue, Gold, Red
Above Average: Pink, Red
Average: Blue, Green
Insufficient: Yellow
Pain Sensitivity
Excellent: Pink
Above Average: Blue, Gold, Green, Red, Yellow
Prey/Perseverance
Excellent: Pink
Above Average:
Average: Gold, Green, Red, Yellow
Insufficient: Blue
Sound Sensitivity (can of bolts)
Excellent: Pink
Above Average: Gold, Red
Minimal: Blue, Green, Yellow
Sound Sensitivity (train)
Above Average: Pink, Red
Minimal: Blue, Gold, Green, Yellow
Surprise (umbrella)
Minimal: Gold, Pink, Red, Yellow
Insufficient: Blue
Unacceptable: Green
For interest, I include the puppies’ mother’s, grandparent’s and great-grandparent’s temperament test results below. All of these tests were done by Suzan, former police K9 handler, except for Lively’s & Quinta’s SAR tests, done by Janet Wilts. (Spirit’s sire, Quasi, was purchased as an adult and his breeder did not do puppy testing.)
Spirit’s Police/Narcotics Temperament Test 2015
(mother of this litter)
Test/Rating/Comments
Acceptance/Attachment: Excellent; “Very nice. Noticed me immediately and gave kisses.”
Pain Sensitivity: Excellent; “Good”
Retrieve: Minimal; “Would chase often but not bring back.”
Perseverance: Average-good; “OK”
Fear: Average, “Looked at can but no overreaction.”
Courage and Aggression: Average-good; “OK, moved off slightly and watched.”
Surprise: Average-good; Jumped but stood ground and looked.”
Submission: Above Average; “She gave me eye contact within the first three seconds and then started rolling and crawled and pushed her way up and out after 10 seconds.”
Confidence: Above average
Hunt for Food I: Above Average; “She really uses her nose and was able to pick up the scent prior to me even starting the food search.”
Hunt for food II: Above Average; “Nice. Definitely uses nose & picks up scent really well.”
Tester Comments: Good pup. Not high retrieve drive but good prey drive. Definitely SAR prospect. Will look to handler for instructions/guidance but may not naturally work at a long distance. Not a police candidate.
Spirit’s SAR Test
Two SAR testers, Janet Wilts & Bonnie Whitman, did this test. (10 is top score)
Rating is followed by any comments in quotes.
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.
Rating/ Additional Observations
Janet: 9
Bonnie: 10; “tail up”
Eye Contact (Janet only)
Janet: 2
Independence (Bonnie only)
Bonnie: independent
Confidence 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.
Janet: 7
Bonnie: 10; “no panic”
Pain Sensitivity
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10
Retrieve Toy
Janet: N/A
Bonnie: 6
Retrieve Ball
Janet: (8 on notes); “More into keeping toy/ball than Mr. Blue.”
Bonnie: 6; “Eye contact, faced person – more ready to take it and leave in order to keep it.”
Retrieve Metal Object Tester tosses a set of car keys or other piece of metal and observes to see if pup will put mouth on it, pick it up and/or retrieve it.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 9; “Picked it up but would get the plastic fob instead of the metal.”
Lamb We put a stuffed rocking sheep about 3′ high off to the side, and drug the tug toy over to get the pup to notice it and to see the pups’ reactions. A lot of times things like that will blow a puppy’s mind and it will bark and carry on, but she went right up to it and wanted to bite it, wanted the moving rockers.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “Approached tail up and was into biting when it moved.”
Perseverance (Chase) Then perseverance is evaluated by seeing how enthusiastically they will pursue and grab hold of an object. Ideal reaction is to pursue enthusiastically and grasp with a full mouth bite.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “Adjusted for better bite when she could, made eye contact.”
Tug (Janet only) Ideal reaction is a full mouth bite, tug and do everything possible to posses the object. We like to see a pup get its whole body on the sack in an effort to subdue it.
Janet: 10 – 9; “Tug with green ball: She’s controlling the game.”
Prey Drive Strength of desire to chase and attack is evaluated.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “Very aware of everything, engaged right away.”
Hunt for Toy While playing with ball or soft toy, hide it and encourage pup to use nose to find. Interest? How long will pup search? Uses nose or eyes?
Janet: 7; “No interest in searching for green ball under carpet; when hid fox tug she showed more interest in attacking the carpet than looking underneath, second time did look under…”
Bonnie: 6; “She stayed in the area, just didn’t seem to understand the “game” when the toy was gone & engaged with the carpet rather than hunt for the toy. She was more motivated with the food component, and this was done after the umbrella surprise event.
Hunt for Food I 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.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “Great prolonged hunt – good nose!”
Hunt for Food II Janet placed treats on and under a tarp. The pups had to use their noses to find where the meat was. They were judged on how they how they used their noses and how systematic their searching was.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10
Cadaver A jar with human cadaver scent was opened and placed a distance away. Both pups showed immediate and enthusiastic reactions to it, honing in quickly from a distance and ignoring the treats Janet offered as rewards, trying to push her hands away so that they could get to the scent jar. No aversion at all.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “Very interested and used nose to completely search it out after the first sniff. Not that interested in the food reward (especially since she was all about the food earlier), but was much more interested in getting to the cadaver source. No aversion at all – instead a very heightened interest in this new smell.”
Unstable Footing Since SAR dogs will search in all kinds of terrain and areas of destruction, they must be confident in insecure situations. We used a tarp and a float cushion on top of pieces of plywood resting on pvc pipes, plus a strip of plywood on a wooden sawhorse set on its slide, which made a see saw.
Janet: 10; “seesaw = 10”
Bonnie: 10
Runaway Tester shows pup food, gets its interest, then runs away. She observes how eagerly the pup comes and how naturally it uses its nose to find her once she hides. This test was only done on Day 1.
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10; “All about that food. No hesitation going to stranger to get it. Used her nose.”
Submission 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.
Janet: 8
Bonnie: 7; “Didn’t submit – she was mad! No panic, just determined to get up.”
Courage and Aggression Courage and aggression is evaluated using a police car that when turned on plays sirens and loud voices. Will they stand their ground? Will they go investigate it? Excellent reaction is to go to the car 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 making noise. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Janet: 8
Bonnie: 8; “Not really interested in the car but not afraid of it either.”
Fear A metal can 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.
Janet: 8
Bonnie: 8; “Ran off a few feet but came back with a wary eye on the can.”
Surprise This test involves getting the pup to chase you (or a toy) towards a place with a hidden person, from behind which an umbrella is opened suddenly and then lowered to the ground, still open. The umbrella this year was opened with great vigor. The pups 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 top step, if it doesn’t on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Janet: 6; “Did come back but ran away again.”
Bonnie: 8; “Seemed “betrayed” by this event. I think she likes to control her world and this lack of control flustered her for a while.”
Interaction with Strange Dog
Janet: 10; “Stressed but wanted to check out.”
Bonnie: 10; “Sought some support when he barked but remained engaged and wanted to check out on her terms.”
Tester Comments (from Bonnie; none from Janet):
Nice dog!!! Very confident, independent, mind of her own! Explores things, takes life in stride. Wants to be in control of her world. I think she will be very loyal but independent thinking girl!
Lively’s Temperament Tests 2009
(maternal grandmother of this litter)
Search And Rescue Test by Janet Wilts, done at 52 & 53 days of age (10 is top score)
SAR & Schutzhund prospect
Day/Rating/Comments
Saturday: 9 – 10; “Confident, good prey”
Sunday: 10; ” Good nose, good eye contact, good prey, good tug”
Lively’s Police Dog/Narcotics Dog Temperament Test, done at 54 days
Since Janet can seldom come to test my pups, Suzan and I over the years have incorporated most of the SAR exercises into our testing. This was especially nice this time because Janet was unable to do her regular tests due to the weather.
Test/Rating/Comments
Acceptance/Attachment: Excellent; “Great. Ran up, licked & nipped at my face.”
Pain Sensitivity: Excellent; “Excellent!!”
Retrieve: Above Average; “Lots of chase – no bringing.”
Perseverance: Excellent; “LOTS of prey, good speed.”
Courage and Aggression: Above Average; “Good!! “
Fear: Above Average; “Good – didn’t investigate.”
Surprise: Above Average; “OK – looked and stopped.”
Lively’s Search And Rescue Test
Test/Rating/Comments
Submission & Confidence: Above Average; “Good – no eye contact right away.”
Unstable Footing: Excellent
Hunt for Toy: Above Average; “Stayed with specific toy for a long time.”
Hunt for Food: Excellent; “Great. Not intimidated, willing to go the distance.”
Tester Comments: Full of “Reckless Abandonment.” Fantastic. Good full mouth bite. Drug on blanket (perseverance test). Cel’s note: What Suzan is referring to is that she had her whole body on the blanket and stayed there while Suzan drug her all around.) Summary
Rating/Tests
Excellent: Sensitivity, Perseverance, Hunt for Food, Attachment
Above Average: Submission, Aggression/Courage, Retrieve, Fear, Hunt for Toy, Surprise
Quinta’s Temperament Tests 2004
(Lively’s mother; maternal great-grandmother of this litter)
The Q Litter was tested on October 30th & 31st, when they were 46 & 47 days old. Results are listed after the description of each part of the Test. An extensive Search & Rescue test was done on the 30th, with some retesting on the 31st after the police/narcotics test, if the SAR tester (Janet) hadn’t been satisfied with the pup’s reactions the day before. For the SAR test, we took the pups to a rural schoolyard which had a very large grassy field. Heavy rain the day before made the field too soggy for the entire test, so most of the exercises were done in the playground area which is deep in wood chips. The chips proved to be way too highly tempting to the pups and Janet had to clear their mouths often to get them to go after the toys rather than the chips. Results are listed after the description of each part of the Test. You will note that some exercises are done in both tests and other exercises are unique to one test or the other. Janet was the primary tester, with Kelly, another SAR person, adding her ratings on some tests. A table with scores from every phase of the test is listed after the test explanation. Pups reactions are rated on a scale from 1 to 10, with 10 being excellent.
Temperament Test 1: the Search & Rescue test
Tug, Prey Drive, Chase, Retrieve Drive, Bite The first series of tests involve the pup’s desire to play, chase the toy, how well the pup bites and hold the toy when he or she gets it, and whether the pup will bring it back to the tester.
Tug
Janet: 10+, “Really grips.”
Kelly: 10
Prey
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Retrieve
Janet: 5
Kelly: 6
Bite:
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Chase:
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Strange Noise, Unstable Surface The pups are exposed to both a strange, potentially scary noise and an unstable surface. In this particular test we used a plastic tarp draped over a camp chair. Janet also invented some additional tests by asking the pups to negotiate a metal grating on the playground equipment, to climb a series of wood sections that ended with a widow and a 6’ drop to the ground. Janet tested the pups’ trust by handing them down to a helper and noting their reactions.
Unstable Surface
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Noise
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Hunt for Food and Hunt for Toys The pups are tested to determine their desire to find the toy when it’s hidden, and to find food. The toy was hidden under the tarp and the pup encouraged to look for it. A piece of bacon on a string was drug and bounced past the pups to test their desire to use their noses when they couldn’t see the bacon. Janet took off fast with the bacon drag and ran way out into the field behind the school. Quinta was one of only three pups that noticed this first run; Janet had to repeat it twice more to give all pups a chance to be tested. It is fascinating to see those little noses go to the ground and guide the galloping pups after Janet when she outruns them.
Hunt for Food
Janet: 10
Hunt for Toy
Janet: no
Submission, Forgiveness, Socialability The pups are graded on their desire to interact with and play with the tester. For the submission test, each pup was placed on its back and held down firmly for about 10 seconds. Desirable reaction includes struggle followed by acceptance. Undesirable reactions include total passivity or frantic struggle with refusal to “give” to the human, or trying to bite. The pup is judged afterwards on its willingness to forgive the tester for the submission test. The pup is also held in the air at arm’s length to judge its confidence in being unsupported.
Submission
Janet: 8
Kelly: 8
Forgiveness
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Socialability
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Trust
Janet: 10
Kelly: 10
Confidence Janet also invented some additional tests by asking the pups to negotiate a metal grating on the playground equipment, to climb a series of wood sections that ended with a widow and a 6’ drop to the ground. Janet then further tested the pups’ trust and confidence by handing them down to a helper and noting their reactions.
Temperament Test 2: The police dog/narcotics dog test
Saturday had been a beautiful day, but Sunday brought a storm with wind and rain mixed with snow. We had to do the test in a large unheated garage. The police test is quite different from the Search & Rescue Test. The main difference I noticed in the SAR test was that the testers played with the pups at the same time, and evaluated them for all of the above as they played with them. They were also much more physically active and used excited voices and clapping to encourage the pups, while the tester in the police test is very calm and low key, asking the pups to draw the excitement forth from within themselves. Another difference was that other people stood around just feet from and in full view of each pup as it was tested. In the police test only the tester is within sight or scent of the pup during the testing and everyone was required to be very quiet.
Suzan was the main tester, with Janet hiding to open the umbrella on the surprise test. Janet also gave ratings on some of the test.
Test/ Rating/Comments
Acceptance/Attachment
Suzan: Excellent
Janet: 8
Pain Sensitivity
Suzan: Excellent
Retrieve
Suzan: High Average
Janet: 5
Unstable Surfaces
Suzan: Excellent
Janet: 10
Perseverance
Suzan: Excellent
Janet: Tug 10; prey 10
Courage and Aggression
Suzan: Above Average
Janet: 10
Fear
Suzan: Excellent
Janet: 10
Surprise
Suzan: Excellent
Janet: 10
Submission
Suzan: Above Average
Forgiveness
Suzan: Above Average
Janet: Medium
Social
Suzan: Above Average
Janet: 8
Tester Comments: Very nice, independent pup. For the most part, full bites & lots of interest. Puts full body into what she is doing. Very curious and friendly.
Jubilee’s Temperament Test 1998
(Quinta’s mother, Lively’s great-grandmother; maternal great-great-grandmother of this litter)
Jubilee was tested at 52 days
This was Suzan’s straight police/narcotics test, before Janet’s Search & Rescue influence caused us to incorporate more items into our test.
Test/Rating/Comments
Attachment: Excellent; “Had no problem following another person.”
Sensitivity: Excellent; “High pain tolerance – came back to handler.”
Retrieve: Above Average; “No retrieve – did not bring back.”
Perseverance: Above Average; “Chased everything.”
Fear: Excellent; “No reaction – turned and looked into can.”
Aggression & Courage: Above Average; “Stood over and sniffed.”
Surprise: Excellent; “Stopped. Barked. Looked at umbrella.”