Temperament Testing

Temperament Testing

We do temperament evaluations, which is a BIG DEAL! This is done when puppies are close to 60 days old and old enough to receive an appropriate assessment. I received my training through a variety of Badass Breeder Courses and Classes, as well as assistance from other breeder mentors. We can show you a video of the test and explain the results so you can pick a puppy that is a fantastic match for you and your family's requirements and desires! This is incredible! It prevents a lot of pups from being rehomed, and it spares a lot of people the aggravation of having a dog that isn't a good fit for them.

It would be so much easier for us if we could just let you choose your puppy at birth, but that would be a terrible disservice to both you and your puppy. We may use the Dog Evaluations to discover what your puppy still needs help with or is sensitive to. It also helps us to understand where your puppy's abilities lie and the type of environment in which they would grow and fit in best. It takes a lot more time and work to complete the Puppy Evaluations, but I am a firm believer in the magic that happens when you find your ideal match. The dog that talks to your heart and matches your way of life.

Some qualities in puppies are fixed (like the way the puppy is), while others can be changed (we can shape them). While we see and record a variety of qualities beginning at 5-6 weeks of age, the following are the most important ones we look for during our testing:

Stable Traits:
Assertiveness (with humans and dogs) -how at ease a dog is around people. Do they adamantly resist human power (high) or do they simply yield to it (low)? We watch to see if the puppy approaches the tester on its own impulse without the tester engaging in conversation with them to try this.

Motivation -Does the dog want to labor for people naturally? During this part of the exam, the puppy will be instructed to play fetch, pull at the person's clothing, and interact with them. Does the dog do as the tester asks, or does the individual have to exert a lot of effort to train the puppy to comply?

Energy Level -How animatedly does the dog move throughout the test? Do they take pauses and relax, or do they roam around all the time?

Prey Drive -Five distinct behaviors are involved in prey drive: seeking, watching, pursuing, biting to capture, and biting to kill. These habits vary by type among canine species with strong levels of prey drive. Hounds prefer to pursue and flush out targets, whereas herding breeds have a strong chasing urge. How eager is the dog to pursue, spot, and pounce on tiny animals? Low indicates that the puppy has no interest in hunting, while high indicates that they can be taught to scavenge and should be kept away from tiny animals. (birds, ferrets hamsters, etc.)

Human Focus - How eager are they to pay heed to the person and "follow the pack"? Low scores indicate a desire to learn on one's own, while high scores indicate a concentration on people and attention to them.

Tenderhearted - When a person has an emotional outburst, to what extent are the puppy's feelings overwhelming? Scores of "not tenderhearted" indicate that the dog is not influenced by the owner's emotions. Extremely tenderhearted canines will "feel" with their owners and are incapable of handling emotionally fraught situations. A canine with a very tenderhearted shouldn't be an ESA because it would feel just as overwhelmed as a person. The finest emotional support canines have a medium to high level of tenderheartedness.

Adjustable Traits:
Confidence -How self-assured is the canine about its prowess in unfamiliar settings? How does the dog react when it enters the assessment area to the strange surroundings and objects?

Nerve Strength/ Resiliency -How does the canine respond under pressure and in various scenarios? High means they are able to adjust more readily to stressful circumstances, while low means they are easily stressed. Throughout the exam, the puppy's nerve strength is monitored, and we look to see how they respond to stress and whether they can face their anxieties.

Touch Tolerance (compliance only-not if they like it) -How does the dog respond when it is rough-housed? (have their tail tugged, toes touched, etc.) High scores indicate that the dog was relaxed the entire time and liked being touched, while low scores indicate that the puppy doesn't manage unwanted contact well. This part of the exam will be appealing to many of the pups.

Sound Sensitivity -Does the puppy readily flinch at sudden, startling noises? High scores indicate that the puppy is susceptible to loud sudden sounds, while low scores indicate that the puppy has a high tolerance for loud noises.

Sight Sensitivity -When there is an unanticipated disturbance, how anxious is the puppy? Low means they are not readily stressed by visual cues, whereas high means they may conceal if they notice something unexpected, like an exposed umbrella.

The Badass Breeders Curriculum we utilize aids in the development of our puppy's adaptable characteristics. It aids in the development of confident pups who are bold and fast to recover when startled; they are cooperative when touched all over; and they manage new noises and sights well since we work hard to desensitize them to things that would commonly shock puppies at a later age. It's awe-inspiring and delightful to witness our puppies grow self-assurance and faith in humans. Our objective is to instill in our pups the belief that the world is a safe place, that humans are nice, and that dogs are friendly.

We try our best to get to know our puppies' personalities as well as the needs of their new families, but this does not rule out the possibility that the puppies will change with time. A more quiet puppy may emerge out of his shell and exhibit more confidence with the correct home, patience, and training. A fun-loving and confident puppy, on the other hand, may grow more apprehensive after a poor encounter with a nervous dog. Home training is critical for a smooth transfer and a happy home life!