Volhard Aptitude Testing

Volhard Aptitude Testing

This litter's testing is saturday!

please remember these are purebred poodles and this test was designed for police training dogs, a poodle will interpret much different than another breed.

Poodles are social, loving, high quality companions

 Look for fun training classes from AKC and UKC

this litter will be tested with the Volhard guidelines

http://www.volhard.com/pages/pat.php

WHAT IS PUPPY TESTING?

Some of the tests we use were developed as long ago as the l930’s for dogs bred to become Guide Dogs.  Then in the 1950’s, studies on puppies were done to determine how quickly they learned.  These studies were actually done to identify children’s learning stages.  

Later on in the early 60’s more tests were developed to determine if pups could be tested for dominance and submission.  These tests determined that it was indeed possible to predict future behavioral traits of adult dogs by testing puppies at 49 days of age.  Testing before or after that age, effected the accuracy of the test, depending on the time before or after the 49th day.  

These tests were put together what is now known as the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, or PAT.  PAT uses a scoring system from 1-6 and consists of ten tests.  The tests are done consecutively and in the order listed.  Each test is scored separately, and interpreted on its own merits.  The scores are not averaged, and there are no winners or losers.  

The entire purpose is to select the right puppy for the right home.  

The tests are as follows:  

1. Social Attraction - degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.  

  
2. Following - willingness to follow a person.  

3. Restraint - degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.

4. Social Dominance - degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.  

5. Elevation - degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or groomer.  

6. Retrieving - degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.

7. Touch Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.
8. Sound Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms. 

 
9. Sight Sensitivity - degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels.

10. Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.  

During the testing make a note of the heart rate of the pup, which is an indication of how it deals with stress, as well as its energy level.  Puppies come with high, medium or low energy levels.  You have to decide for yourself, which suits your life style.  Dogs with high energy levels need a great deal of exercise, and will get into mischief if this energy is not channeled into the right direction.

Finally, look at the overall structure of the puppy.  You see what you get at 49 days age.  If the pup has strong and straight front and back legs, with all four feet pointing in the same direction, it will grow up that way, provided you give it the proper diet and environment in which to grow.  If you notice something out of the ordinary at this age, it will stay with puppy for the rest of its life.  He will not grow out of it.

SCORING THE RESULTS

Test	Response	Score
SOCIAL ATTRACTION	Came readily, tail up, jumped, bit at hands	1
	Came readily, tail up, pawed,  licked at hands	2
	Came readily, tail up	3
	Came readily, tail down	4
	Came hesitantly, tail down	5
	Didn’t come at all	6
FOLLOWING	Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot, bit at feet	1
	Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot	2
	Followed readily, tail up	3
	Followed readily, tail down	4
	Followed hesitantly, tail down	5
	Did not follow or went away	6
RESTRAINT	Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit	1
	Struggled fiercely, flailed	2
	Settled, struggled, settled with some eye contact	3
	Struggled, then settled	4
	No struggle	5
	No struggle, strained to avoid eye contact	6
SOCIAL DOMINANCE	Jumped, pawed, bit, growled	1
	Jumped, pawed	2
	Cuddled up to tester and tried to lick face	3
	Squirmed, licked at hands	4
	Rolled over, licked at hands	5
	Went away and stayed away	6
ELEVATION DOMINANCE	Struggled fiercely, tried to bite	1
	Struggled fiercely	2
	Struggled, settled, struggled, settled	3
	No struggle, relaxed	4
	No struggle, body stiff	5
	No struggle, froze	6
RETRIEVING	Chased object, picked it up and ran away	1
	Chased object, stood over it and did not return	2
	Chased object, picked it up and returned with it to tester	3
	Chased object and returned without it to tester	4
	Started to chase object, lost interest	5
	Does not chase object	6
TOUCH SENSITIVITY	8-10 count before response	1
	6-8 count before response	2
	5-6 count before response	3
	3-5 count before response	4
	2-3 count before response	5
	1-2 count before response	6
SOUND SENSITIVITY	Listened, located sound and ran toward it barking	1
	Listened, located sound and walked slowly toward it	2
	Listened, located sound and showed curiosity	3
	Listened and located sound	4
	Cringed, backed off and hid behind tester    5	5
	Ignored sound and showed no curiosity	6
SIGHT SENSITIVITY	Looked, attacked and bit object	1
	Looked and put feet on object and put mouth on it	2
	Looked with curiosity and attempted to investigate, tail up	3
	Looked with curiosity, tail down	4
	Ran away or hid behind tester	5
	Hid behind tester	6
STABILITY	Looked and ran to the umbrella, mouthing or biting it	1
	Looked and walked to the umbrella, smelling it cautiously	2
	Looked and went to investigate	3
	Sat and looked, but did not move toward the umbrella	4
	Showed little or no interest	5
	Ran away from the umbrella	6

The scores are interpreted as follows:

Mostly 1’s - 

Strong desire to be pack leader and is not shy about bucking for a promotion.  Should be placed into an experienced home where the dog will be trained.

Mostly 2’s - 
    
Has leadership aspirations and self-confidence
Has the potential to be a great show dog with someone who understands dog behavior  

Mostly 3’s     - 

Can be a high-energy dog

an energetic poodle is happiest with companionship and learning new things

Good with people and other animals 
Does well at training, learns quickly and rewarding for their owner
Great dog for second time owner.

Mostly 4’s     - 

The kind of dog that makes the perfect pet for someone that enjoys their puppy to look to them for guidance and companionship.  Good choice for the first time dog owner
Rarely will buck for a promotion in the family  
Easy to train, and rather quiet
Good with elderly people, children.  

Take this doggie to obedience classes

you’ll be the star, without having to do too much work!

Mostly 5’s     - 

Can be fearful, shy unless this puppy gets positive socialization which is up to their owner.  Children and other compatible animals will help build their confidence.  Likes their environment not to have a lot of surprises or upsets

Does well with loving and affectionate household

Mostly 6’s     - 

This puppy is fairly independent

For a poodle as a six, they are like warm clay, they can be left to themselves and become more independent, or with a family of children and well socialized, they will stay playful and affectionate and one of your best companions you could ever have.

Our Tigre' was tested as a "6" she was loving and wonderful, she was a tiny aloof but always affectionate.  She has an independent side which means she can entertain herself.  She was one of the best personality poodles we've ever had.  As a poodle she was always concerned about pleasing her people, wanted to be right next to you in an affectionate manner.  Really an awesome poodle.

Please take into consideration the testing and the nature of a poodle.

I doubt any of Everad's puppies will test as a "6", he's all about affection and getting hugs, most of his puppies are tested as 3s 4s and 3-4s.

Hilde wasn't tested as a young one puppy, her last litter they were just like Everad's litter.  We did have the most Stellar puppy ever with Hilde and Joaquin.  He was not too much, not too less, calmly balanced and would shake off anything that might bother him.  He never overreacted and would go off by himself if things got too rowdy.  He is a fabulous puppy.

check back after the testing see who's available