Puppy Evaluations

Tester sits in the middle of the room and does not engage puppy for 30 seconds.

Low – takes time to approach, and may need coaxing. May do so in an army, crawl or approach tester from behind our side. Innately, polite and will rarely challenge tester space.

Medium- Approaches with politeness. Crawls into lap or sits next to tester. May mouth hands. Generally challenges tester’s space more as they grow more comfortable.

High– approaches tester with authority without regard to personal space. Jumps on tester/base, back, etc.

Belief in own abilities approach to a new situation.

Low - unsure of self and abilities. Army crawls or goes and hides. Exhibit stress throughout the test. Yawning, lip, licking, avoidance, shaking.

Medium -some hesitation, or startle to test situations, but stays the course or quickly returns. Overall relaxed body posture. May seek mild human reassurance.

High - approaches new situations with curiosity and eagerness. Tail high, keen interest in surroundings, and truly enjoys the challenge of the test.

Intrinsic desire to work with you.

Low – very little effort to do as asked. May not fetch, could take toys and leave. Often ignores when you call. Does not always follow. Could be considered self-serving, disinterested, or distractible. What’s in it for me?

Medium – shows interest in fetching, following, and bringing toys to you for more interaction. Just as happy playing on their own. Give-and-take interactions with tester Rene. OK, why not?

High– nothing more than to work, please and underfoot. Pup works hard to understand what you want and maintain focus and in interaction with a tester. Gladly catches items. What’s next? 

Ability to handle stress.

Low – Stress is displayed frequently throughout the test. The pup needs time to recover before moving to another part of the test and able to recover.

Medium – display some stress throughout the test, but covers within three seconds

High – the puppy does not exhibit any real stress during the test. The puppy may start once or twice, but immediately recovers and investigates. Pup is relatively bombproof and not bothered by much. 

10 step puppy handling exercises: Open mouth, cover eyes, turn on ears, turn on color, heavy petting, tug on tail, press on paw, tap, nails, circular tummy rub.

Low - fights handling and acts annoyed. Tries to wiggle out of the testers arms.

Medium – is compliant most of the time, but certain handling irritates the pup and they protest. The pup may also comply to test, but remains tense.

High – pup is compliant with touch and often enjoys it. 

Movement during test.

Low - puppy often lays down, sits or stands still during the test.

Medium – has movements of faster, movement, but just as often will slow down.

High – moving is faster and fairly intense, larger than life, and pup never slows down.

Response to making loud unfamiliar noise, pit and pan banging

Low – no startle or signs of stress resulting from sound.

Medium – startles, takes a moment to assess the sound, and then shakes it off or investigates. May need encouragement.

High – start to sound, and then please, looks to hide, barks and retreats, shakes, visibly stressed, and may not recover.

Response to an unpredictable movement with unfamiliar object - umbrella opening.

Low – no startle or signs of stress resulting from unpredictable movement.

Medium – startles, takes a moment to assess the sound, and then then shakes it off or investigates. May need encouragement.

High – startles to decide and then please, looks to hide, barks, and retreats, shakes, visibly stressed, and may not recover. 

Interest in toys, tug, and movement of tester that encourages puppy to chase, stalk, and pounce

Low - little to no interest seen in toys, playing tug, and or Chase.

Medium – interest in toys, tug, and Chase is seen, but pup is easily distracted from toys by other activity.

High - immediately gravitate towards toys were shaking and chomping a scene. Puppy is intensely focused and hard to distract from toys. Drive is easily triggered by movement.

Overall interest in tester

Low - little to no interest in tester.

Medium - interested in tester, but easily distracted by other activity.

High – immediately seeks tester connection. Pup eagerly stays with tester and focus is difficult to break. 

Response when tester falls to ground crying showing intense emotion.

None – no concern, just wants to play, or investigate, might mouth, pool, chew unclose, but unaware of distress or disinterested.

Moderately – concerned with testers well-being. May huddle, lick or otherwise try to console, but loses interest quickly and wonders offer wants to play.

Highly – concerned with testers well-being. May cuddle, lick, or otherwise try to console. Puppy stays with a tester, and feels responsible for their well-being.

Extremely – too overwhelmed with intense emotions, puppy, tries to flee, avoid, cries, etc.… Puppy may initially approach, but then leaves out wanting anything to do with the tester.

How the pup approaches an interacts with the stuffed dog.

Submissive – may tail, crouch, crawl to greet dog. May present, Billy, lick mouth and face.

Neutral - notices dog, but does not approach, doesn’t show signs of fear only disinterest.

Assertive – tail raised, proud posture, confident in dog space, tugging on ears, jumping on neck, trying to engage and play. 

Important to note:

In an optimal testing scenario, background noise from other dogs would be absent. The parents were present on-site during testing, resulting in occasional audible barking in the background.

Please note that the dog friendliness assessment might lean towards assertiveness for the majority of the litter. The stuffed dog used in the assessment resembles a littermate.

This litter has also been nurtured in the company of several friendly adult dogs. Consequently, they exhibit comfort in approaching and engaging with other dogs.