A Mess of Tests: Temperament Testing Research and Resources
Introduction
While many breeders believe that puppies in their program should be temperament tested in order to predict adult temperament prior to placing puppies in new homes, many other breeders believe that temperament testing is ineffective, or not worth the investment of effort and resources required. The goal of this article is to recognize and share information about both viewpoints, understanding that each breeder must make a decision that is optimal for their individual program. This article will present some of the current information and data that is available regarding temperament testing puppies, to support breeders as they make their own determination about temperament testing for their program.
Join us as we explore this topic from nose to tail!
Research That Shows Pros and Cons of Temperament Testing
Research has shown both pros and cons to various assessment methods and to the overall effectiveness of temperament testing puppies as a predictor of future adult behavior in a particular dog.
Most researchers seem to form conclusions that include data to support both the potential value of temperament testing puppies, as well as the obvious shortcomings when it comes to evaluating test results and relying on them for future temperament predictions.
For example, in a study regarding temperament and personality in dogs, titled Temperament and personality in dogs (Canis familiaris): A review and evaluation of past research, conducted through The University of Texas at Austin, researcher Sam Gosling reflects on both sides of the discussion. Gosling’s findings showed that while it may be possible to measure dog temperament through assessment methods, it is not clear how reliable each method may be and also that more research still must be done in this area:
“Over the past 70 years, great strides have been made in our understanding of personality and temperament in dogs. This review, based on the published empirical research over this period, generally supports the viability of assessing canine temperament. In addition, the review provides a roadmap specifying the major empirical questions that need to be addressed in the next generation of studies.”
(PDF) Temperament and personality in dogs | Sam Gosling - Academia.edu
Dr. Jim Ha, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist (CAAB), and one of his former students, Dr. Lauren M. Robinson, discuss some of the findings from a study titled Puppy Temperament Assessments Predict Breed and American Kennel Club Group but Not Adult Temperament in a blog post on Dr. Ha’s personal website on the perplexing reality of the matter:
“Temperament tests are very reliable when they’re used with working dogs so why didn’t it work with companion dogs? Well, we’re not sure but we think this has to do with the age of testing. We tested puppies at seven weeks and working dogs are usually tested at six months, or even 2 years old. This makes the tests more reliable because the dogs aren’t changing as much.”
Our New Research on Puppy Temperament – Dr Jim Ha
While research suggests that temperament testing has conflicting findings with its predictive abilities, some believe that temperament testing can predict temperament for certain types of dogs at certain ages. Similar to Dr. Ha and Dr. Robinson, other researchers have found that temperament testing is not as effective for puppies; however, those studies have shown that temperament testing can be effective for adult dogs as a predictor of future behavior and suitability for certain working dog roles.
“The question, “Can early temperament tests predict the behavior of adult dogs?” is far more complex than a simple yes-no question. There are conflicting findings, and the results from predictive studies depend on which variables (such as the age of the dog) are being evaluated (Fratkin et al., 2013; Robinson et al., 2016). Temperament may be more likely to be predictive when testing is done with certain categories of dogs, such as police/military dogs and service/guide dogs. Possible reasons for this include that these dogs are often tested at a later age, they have often received training that is administered by a very specific protocol, and they are often raised in a kennel or by trained puppy raisers where socialization and training procedures are consistent day after day. This is very different than what happens with a litter of pet dogs, who, as early as 8 weeks old, may be sent by a breeder to eight different homes where they are raised, trained (or not) under widely disparate circumstances.”
Assessment of Canine Temperament: Predictive or Prescriptive?
Similarly, the previously mentioned study titled Puppy Temperament Assessments Predict Breed and American Kennel Club Group but Not Adult Temperament also found that “puppy assessments for companion dogs have shown mixed long-term reliability.”
Other researchers reflect notable outcomes regarding testing young puppies, concluding that because “puppies are tested during a period when behaviour changes rapidly it makes correspondence to adult behaviour less likely to be found.”
Though many researchers seem to share valuable insights reflecting some positive outcomes in predicting future adult temperament as a result of testing puppies, many researchers also strongly suggest that temperament testing puppies holds little value overall.
“Our results suggest that early behavioural tests yield poor predictability regarding future behaviour in pet dogs. While there are some indications that puppy tests may have the potential to identify negative extremes (e.g. [27]) and may serve to predict outcomes such as working dog success, we want to caution against over-interpreting results from these early assessments and highlight the importance of experiential factors in the course of ontogeny in influencing the adult dog's behaviour.”
And finally, the “nature vs nurture” controversy supplies the discussion surrounding temperament testing puppies with some interesting insight based on data as well as anecdotal evidence from decades of observation and independent research.
“Puppy temperament testing has been widely publicized as a means of selecting the right pet for the right person. These tests include a variety of situational experiences for the puppy and its response to those situations is purported to predict the puppy’s future temperament or ability to perform certain tasks as an adult. These tests lack scientific studies supporting their reliability.”
“In summary, it is critical to remember that both genetics and environmental influences play an important role in the behavioral development of dogs. Through both responsible breeding and raising it will be possible to produce puppies that will successfully integrate into our lives.”
Temperament Testing for Adult Dogs
More than a few organizations have developed temperament tests for adult dogs. The American Temperament Test Societyand the American Kennel Clubboth offer testing materials and certifications or titles for dogs that complete testing. The ASPCA is well-known for its SAFER temperament test, which aids shelter workers in identifying and evaluating potential aggression in new shelter dog intakes.
Temperament Testing for Puppies
While some breeders feel that the efficacy of temperament testing is a black and white issue, others believe that temperament tests are just one tool out of many that they can utilize to understand a puppy’s future temperament or suitability for a home or family pairing. In addition to these tests, breeders rely on their experiences from being with the puppies from birth and comparability to other, prior litters.
Puppy temperament tests can also help serve as a marketing tool for pet parents, who want to understand as much as they can about their newest family member. With that said, it is always important for the pet parent to contextualize the information, understanding that temperament testing results may be fun, and may even be useful, but they may not be determinative of the puppy’s ultimate personality or temperament throughout its lifetime.
According to Sara L. Bennett of the Purdue Animal Behavior Clinic, “Most experts agree that at this time, the information gained from a temperament test should be used as an ancillary tool that should be added to the information gathered from other sources.”
An Overview of a Few Available Temperament Tests for Puppies
So now that we’ve covered the spectrum of views on temperament testing, if you are a breeder who is in favor of temperament testing your puppies, how do you know where to begin? There are several tests that exist already for puppies under the age of 16 weeks, and each one conducts the testing in different ways.
Volhard’s Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) : [PDF]
While there is no authoritative test for temperament available to breeders, the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test is arguably the most popular, most commonly used, and most widely accepted temperament test. This test was developed by Wendy Volhard in the 1980s, modeled after several other temperament tests that had already been developed in the 60s and 70s. The Volhard test was developed to be used for Volhard's private breeding program and took off in popularity about 20 years ago. The Volhard PAT was a very small part of their program and business but became a huge part of their legacy. The Volhard test looks at the dominance and submission of young puppies to help predict their future personality traits.
One key fact that distinguishes Volhard from other tests is that Volhard’s test adheres to a very strict testing-age rule: “The ideal age to test the puppy is at 49 days of age when the puppy is neurologically complete and it has the brain of an adult dog.”
Examples of temperament traits evaluated include: Degree of social attraction to people and the willingness to follow a person, the degree of social dominance a puppy is willing to accept from a person, the degree of a puppy’s willingness to do something for a person, and the degree of sensitivity to various environmental stimuli such as touch, sound, and sight.
Avidog Puppy Evaluation Test (APET) : [PDF]
Another temperament test used by many breeders is the Avidog Puppy Evaluation Test (APET), which is a temperament test that was created by breeder Gayle Watkins as part of her Avidog breeder education and certification materials. This test (as well as Ms. Watkins!) is well-regarded among the breeder community. The APET remains to be one of the most popular temperaments tests for young puppies closely behind the Volhard test.
Unlike the Volhard PAT’s ten-step test, the APET has over thirty steps! The APET also categorizes each trait as either “generally stable” or “tweakable,” implying that some traits are most likely permanent, while others can be tweaked through focused training and socialization.
Examples of temperament traits evaluated include: Assertiveness (with people & dogs), Biddability, Courage, Energy Level, Environmental Focus, Forgiveness, Handshyness, Pain Threshold, Self-Confidence, etc.
The Behavior Checklist test is designed for puppies and adults. This test is particularly useful for guide dog organizations, as it looks at a dog’s reaction to environmental stimuli. The BCL is primarily used by guide dog breeding programs in order to evaluate their stock (whether it be a litter of puppies, or adolescents in training) to choose the very best animals for future breeding. Examples of temperament traits evaluated include: Anxiety in Unfamiliar Locations, Noise Sensitivity, Fear of Novel Objects, Fear of Dogs, Fear of Stairs, Separation Anxiety, etc.
Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool (CARAT)
This test was developed by Suzanne Clothier in 2007. The test categorizes behavior traits and creates a chart to display each dog’s results. The CARAT was not developed specifically for puppies, but rather as an all-encompassing tool for breeders, trainers, and pet owners. As such, the CARAT test is only available through certified evaluators.
Turning a Mess into a Medley
While it can be helpful to follow one test or another, it is also important – as with all things – for each breeder to choose a test, and elements of the tests, that are right for them and for their program. Many breeders that we have spoken with actually take pieces of several puppy temperament tests and blend them together into a medley that incorporates key elements that they wish to evaluate. Some of this is, of course, trial and error, so should you choose to test your puppies, you may also evolve your test over time.
Conclusion: To test, or not to test?
We conducted an informal TellTail survey to gather breeders’ thoughts on temperament testing and found that a breeder’s decision to temperament test can rely on several considerations, not limited to only scientific data.
Some breeders ultimately reject the practice of temperament testing puppies due to a lack of available data showing strong predictive abilities. Data aside, others may choose not to temperament test their puppies because temperament testing can consume significant time and resources. As such, some breeders feel that the practice takes time away from their puppies that could otherwise be spent offering additional enrichment and socialization.
Still others may choose to conduct temperament tests because they believe that these tests are one way to identify potential aspects of the puppy’s temperament to address through training and socialization and otherwise provide pet parents with additional information about their puppy. Even for those who do not believe in the efficacy of temperament tests, some believe that conducting the tests can be a fun exercise and tool to communicate additional information about their puppy to pet parents.
The decision to temperament test, or not, remains to be a very intimate topic for breeders who have the best interest of their puppies in mind. Comment below and tell us – what have your experiences been with temperament testing in your program? Do you temperament test, and if so which test do you use? Have your puppies matured into dogs that display the predicted behaviors from their puppy temperament tests?
Sources
1 Puppy Temperament Assessments Predict Breed and American Kennel Club Group but Not Adult Temperament
4 https://www.volharddognutrition.com/choosing-your-puppy-pat/
