VOLHARD PUPPY APTITUDE TEST

Getting a dog or puppy on impulse is rarely a good idea. Remember that dogs, like cars, were designed for a
particular function. You need to decide what you want, a Corvette or a Suburban, a Fox Terrier or an Australian Shepherd.

When the various breeds were originally developed, there was a greater emphasis on the ability to do a job, such as herding, guarding, hunting, drafting, etc., than appearance. If a particular breed interests you, find out first what the dog was bred to do. There are so many different breeds to choose from and if there is a secret to getting that “perfect puppy”, it lies in doing your homework.

Years ago, Wendy Volhard, developed Volhard Aptitude Testing which she felt could help predict the temperament of a puppy or dog by assessing the litter at a young age.

The guidance of this test dictates that 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. With each passing day after the 49th day the responses will be tainted by prior learning.

How the Test Works

Test Document

The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test, or 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.

After being in and around Aussie breading for almost 35 years, I’ve always found this test to be a bit amusing, and at times incomplete as so much about the puppy changes, adapts and morphs when they go to their future home. Things like socialization, formal training, influence from older pets, diet, greatly impact anyone, and a dog is no different. This leads me to some nuggets on wisdom:

My first nugget of wisdom - the results of these tests should be used as insight into your future furbaby and used to help inform your approach to rearing. It can assist you in choosing your pet but should not be seen as a tool to totally define them.

My second nugget of wisdom, 16 weeks is the age of full development of personality and behavior. At 7 weeks old, they are not fully psychologically developed like a full-grown dog yet.

My third nugget, these tests are not BREED specific at all. Many breeders of various breeds used this testing tool - German Shepherds, Labradors, Poodles, Newfoundland... If you want a guard dog (one of the result types), an Aussie is probably not the best choice. The scores of each puppy should be taken in consideration to what the intent of the breeds was - for Aussies, this was herding. That has evolved over time to include sport dog, but our lines can produce both a good herding dog or a great sport dog - a balance we try to achieve in our crosses.

The Tests Consist of the Following:

Social Attraction – degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.
This can be helpful when looking for a hunting dog or service dog.
Following – willingness to follow a person.
Restraint – degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.
Social Dominance – degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.
Elevation – degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or groomer.
Retrieving – degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.
Touch Sensitivity – degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment.
Sound Sensitivity – degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms.
Sight Sensitivity – degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels. The tester ties a string around a bath towel and jerks it across the floor, two feet away from the puppy.
Stability – degree of startle response to a strange object.
They suggest opening and umbrella and placing it on the floor to see how the puppy reacts to it, in order to assess its stability apparently.

I'll stress nugget one again - some of these test steps don't always line up to your pup's eventual temperament, some may be spot on. This is important to keep in mind as you review your pups' results. Remember, there are other factors that will help shape the pup after testing occurs (environment, training, diet, etc). So, the results should be one factor in assisting you to better understanding your pup or possibly a tool - among others - for choosing your pup. We spend a great deal of time with our litters and get a good idea of their potential temperaments based on those experiences. We also know the parents and most of the grandparents to the pups, and we know our lines and the offspring they have produced. These factors are just as important for you to understand and appreciate as you look to assess your pup.

You can expect a copy of your selected pups test results included in your take home pack along with other useful information. The day of pick-up I will be happy to go over the results and provide specific insight into the needs of your new baby.