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""Temperament Test Results
“Brindi”

Wednesday, June 13, 2012
Homeward Bound City Pound


The purpose of a temperament test is to establish the predisposition of a dog’s behaviour’s under stress when behavioural concerns are most likely to present and ascertain the dog’s strengths and weaknesses. As it is the job of a shelter to minimize the stress factors on a dog in confinement and rarely make a dog do something she doesn’t want to do. The tests are designed to measure what happens when the dog is required to deal with a variety of situations similar to the ‘real world’ environment under the owner’s leadership.

The dog, Brindi, was transported from her long-term care shelter by the Owner of the shelter. She has travelled with her in the car to the vets and to the Homeward Bound Shelter on previous occasions. For a perfectly set test, it would have been more accurate to not have moved the dog as she was ‘energized’ slightly by the unusual activity. To counter this concern and in order to carry out the test, Brindi was taken into the evaluation room at 11:00 a.m. and placed in a kennel. The muzzle and leash were removed. The door was closed and she was left to settle in.

Tester (Susan Jordan) and Observer entered the room at 11:38 a.m. The necessary tools for testing were gathered and testing commenced at 11:45 am.

General observations: Upon entry the dog wagged her tail and whimpered in response to our presence. She settled quickly when no attention was directed to her. She was taken by the Tester from the crate with the use of the cotton slip leash.

1. Sociability:
Phase 1: Taking the dog out of the kennel to the testing area and ignoring the dog. Response was “high” – took less than one minute to respond and seek the Human attention.
Phase 2*: Sitting down, ignoring the dog. Response was “high” – the dog checked in and out several times, and then put her paws on the lap within 40 seconds seeking attention.
Phase 3: Backstroking x 3 repetitions (no verbal interaction). Both during and after the strokes, the dog responded at a “high” level, orienting and seeking the attention.
Phase 4: An affectionate interaction (20 seconds of direct attention). Initially, Brindi responded quickly and with interest. She did disengage and move away before the 20 seconds had elapsed. This is a “medium” level response.

* During Phase 2, the dog urinated on the test room floor without offering any signals. This shows, due to long-term confinement in a kennel, that the housetraining skills have become weak.
Conclusion: (Sociability): Brindi exhibits normal to high need for human interactions and desires the bond/connection in the Human/dog relationship. She does not show any measureable signs that indicate concern or aggression towards Humans.

2. Dominance:
Phase 1: Teeth exam level one (amateurish handling). Response was medium to submissive as the Tester was able to complete five repetitions, but the dog struggled mildly each time.
Phase 2: Teeth exam level two (stronger handler skills revealed). Response was medium to submissive as the tester was able to complete five repetitions, but the dog struggled mildly each time. Remained social.
Phase 3: Safe Hug (reaction to hugs/close contact): First attempt to execute “vet safe” hug was unsuccessful – the dog backed away. On the second attempt, she struggled slightly, and then settled. Body was a little stiff, but tolerant. This is a medium level reaction. She was still comfortable with close contact after the hug and did not move away.

Conclusion: (Dominance): Brindi is well within the acceptable norms of canine response to these tests. She does not exhibit any reason for concerns in this area.

3. Play and Prey Response:
Phase 1: Tug and competitiveness. Brindi was happy to chase the squeaky toy, but did not engage actively in the tug component. Fleeting eye contact, calm grip. When reaching or the toy, she showed submission by rolling and exposing her belly and portraying an eye roll/fearful expression.
Phase 2: Retrieve. Brindi was only mildly interested in fetching the toy. She was only mildly competitive in toy possession.
Phase 3: Calming down after play. The dog disengaged quickly, ready to move onto another activity.

Conclusion: (Play and Prey Drive): Brindi measures on the low end of this canine scale.

4. Food and Aggression:
Phase 1: Give the dog a chew toy. Brindi was given a piece of a “pig’s ear” (a highly valued dog treat). She was permitted to engage with it before the tester attempted to remove it from her possession. She responded at mid-level with turning/chewing but there was no growling.
Phase 2: The food bowl. The bowl was filled with a half can of wet (high value) food. Brindi was permitted to become fully engaged in the consumption. Tester tries to touch dog, move bowl, gently “interfere’ with eating. Brindi’s tail was wagging, but she was freezing over the bowl, breathing faster and pushing it away from the Tester. The moment she was finished, she relaxed. This is a medium level response.

Conclusion: (Food and aggression): Brindi has developed some mild resourcing behaviour due to extended confinement.

Mental Sensitivity:
A loud clap is delivered behind the dog when she was distracted. This was complicated by the fact that Brindi stopped and had a bowel movement (no signals given) in the room. She did startle and move away from the stool.

Conclusion: (Mental sensitivity): This result is not conclusive, but the response is mild lack of sensitivity to surroundings.

Reactions to Strangers:
The Tester and dog were positioned facing the door. The Tester is to ‘act anxious” when the stranger knocks/enters/exits. Brindi had a medium to low response (good). She stared, stiffened and held a slightly conflicted position. As soon as the woman exited the room, the dog returned complete focus to the Tester.

Conclusion: (Reactions to strangers): Brindi’s results are indicative that she is comfortable with strangers.

Reactions to Strangers with Dogs:
Once again, Tester and dog are positioned facing the door. Tester gives stranger/dog permission to enter but continues to act anxious. Brindi began to escalate upon hearing the dog outside. Upon entry, she shows signs of anticipation (whining, pulling, lip licking, whiskers forward, body animation.) She was not able to stay contained beside the Tester without leash control. When stranger/dog exited, Brindi’s posture did change and she displayed a “prey bow”. There were no “dog friendly calming” signals displayed and she needed a minute to calm herself. After about 50 – 60 seconds, the dog was able to reorient back from her alert state to both Tester and Observer.

Conclusion: (Reactions to strangers with dogs): Extended isolation has been detrimental to the social skills, play and calming signals and acceptance of a dog moving away.

The test was concluded at 12:20 p.m.

Overall Conclusions:

1. Sociability: Brindi exhibits normal to high need for human interactions and desires the bond/connection in the Human/dog relationship. She does not show any measureable signs that indicate concern or aggression towards Humans.
2. Dominance: Brindi is well within the acceptable norms of canine response to these tests. She does not exhibit any reason for concerns in this area.
3. Play and Prey Response:
4. Food and Aggression: Brindi has developed some mild resourcing behaviour due to extended confinement.
5. Mental Sensitivity: This result is not conclusive, but the response is mild lack of sensitivity to surroundings.
6. Reactions to Strangers: Brindi’s results are indicative that she is comfortable with strangers.
7. Reactions to Strangers with Dogs: Extended isolation has been detrimental to the social skills, play and calming signals and acceptance of a dog moving away.*

If this was a dog from the general dog shelter population, these test results would indicate that the dog could be placed on the adoption floor with a few provisions for specific training. These would include housetraining, food guarding exercises, handling exercises and heavy dog-dog socialization training.
There were no significant “flags” that would preclude this dog from being adopted in to a home.

Knowing the background for this dog in more detail, these tests merely substantiate that the dog is not dog-human aggressive, she seeks human social bonding, is not dominant in nature and has only mild play/prey drive. The issue of territorial guarding is isolated and can be modified.

It is the Humans who have helped shape Brindi into the dog she is today, especially considering the length of confinement over the past four years (in addition to the original two years prior to her adoption to Ms. Rogier). It is the Humans who can also help her to overcome and modify her current behavioural issues.


Susan Jordan
Paws for Family and Friends
Canine Behavioural Consultant / Professional Pet Dog Trainer

http://freebrindi.blogspot.ca/p/temperament-test-results-and-statement.html""