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by cphudson on 23 February 2011 - 18:02
About Canine Temperament
Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today's dog fancier. The ATTS Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog's behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog's behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.
What is temperament?
W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, "The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing," defines temperament as:
"the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment"
The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breeds inherent tendencies.
The test simulates a casual walk through the park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
Test description - http://www.atts.org/testdesc.html
I'm surprised this test isn't more widely used with our breed? Any comments as to why or if you used it before? Think it would be a wonderful test to encourage within our breed. I've tested a couple dogs with them in the pasted & really enjoyed the testing process.
ATTS Breed Statistics for GSD's = 84.2% passed the test out of 3,038 dogs tested since 1977.
We should help increase the % passed by testing our GSD's.
Because of breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs, temperament testing has assumed an important role for today's dog fancier. The ATTS Temperament Test provides breeders a means for evaluating temperament and gives pet owners insight into their dog's behavior. It can have an impact on breeding programs and in educating owners about their dog's behavioral strengths and weaknesses as well as providing a positive influence on dog legislation.
What is temperament?
W. Handel, German Police Dog Trainer, in his article, "The Psychological Basis of Temperament Testing," defines temperament as:
"the sum total of all inborn and acquired physical and mental traits and talents which determines, forms and regulates behavior in the environment"
The ATTS test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat. The test is designed for the betterment of all breeds of dogs and takes into consideration each breeds inherent tendencies.
The test simulates a casual walk through the park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
Test description - http://www.atts.org/testdesc.html
I'm surprised this test isn't more widely used with our breed? Any comments as to why or if you used it before? Think it would be a wonderful test to encourage within our breed. I've tested a couple dogs with them in the pasted & really enjoyed the testing process.
ATTS Breed Statistics for GSD's = 84.2% passed the test out of 3,038 dogs tested since 1977.
We should help increase the % passed by testing our GSD's.
by cphudson on 23 February 2011 - 18:02
Description of the Temperament Test
The ATTS Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat.
The test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
Dogs must be at least 18 months old to enter this test. The test takes about eight to 12 minutes to complete. The dog is on a loose six-foot (6') lead. The handler is not allowed to talk to the dog, give commands, or give corrections.
Failure on any part of the test is recognized when a dog shows:
Unprovoked aggression
Panic without recovery
Strong avoidance
The ATTS Temperament Test consists of ten subtests divided into five subcategories:
Behavior Toward Strangers
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to strangers in a non-threatening situation.
Subtest 1: Neutral stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with the handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's reaction to passive socialization and the dog's protective instinct.
Subtest 2: Friendly stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's active social skills.
Reaction to Auditory Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to auditory stimuli and the dog's investigative behavior.
Subtest 3: Hidden Noise
The handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a metal bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the bucket, not on the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.
Subtest 4: Gunshots
The handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back towards a well hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22 caliber starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog's recovery response to a sudden noise.
Reaction to Visual Stimulus
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to a sudden visual stimulus.
Subtest 5: Umbrella
The handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair holding a closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the umbrella is opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the umbrella, not on the dog.
Tactile Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to unusual footing.
Subtest 6: Plastic Footing
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot by 6-foot clear plastic strip.
Subtest 7: Wire Footing
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by 3-foot unfolded exercise pen.
The purpose of these subtests is to measure the dog's sensitivity to unusual footing, its ability to recover from the fear of unusual footing and to measure its investigative behavior to the unusual footing.
Self Protective/Aggressive Behavior
Objective: These tests collectively ev
The ATTS Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat.
The test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective reactions.
Dogs must be at least 18 months old to enter this test. The test takes about eight to 12 minutes to complete. The dog is on a loose six-foot (6') lead. The handler is not allowed to talk to the dog, give commands, or give corrections.
Failure on any part of the test is recognized when a dog shows:
Unprovoked aggression
Panic without recovery
Strong avoidance
The ATTS Temperament Test consists of ten subtests divided into five subcategories:
Behavior Toward Strangers
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to strangers in a non-threatening situation.
Subtest 1: Neutral stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with the handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's reaction to passive socialization and the dog's protective instinct.
Subtest 2: Friendly stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's active social skills.
Reaction to Auditory Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to auditory stimuli and the dog's investigative behavior.
Subtest 3: Hidden Noise
The handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a metal bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the bucket, not on the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.
Subtest 4: Gunshots
The handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back towards a well hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22 caliber starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog's recovery response to a sudden noise.
Reaction to Visual Stimulus
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to a sudden visual stimulus.
Subtest 5: Umbrella
The handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair holding a closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the umbrella is opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the umbrella, not on the dog.
Tactile Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to unusual footing.
Subtest 6: Plastic Footing
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot by 6-foot clear plastic strip.
Subtest 7: Wire Footing
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by 3-foot unfolded exercise pen.
The purpose of these subtests is to measure the dog's sensitivity to unusual footing, its ability to recover from the fear of unusual footing and to measure its investigative behavior to the unusual footing.
Self Protective/Aggressive Behavior
Objective: These tests collectively ev
by Ryanhaus on 23 February 2011 - 18:02
I temperament test all my adult dogs.
I have seen a GSD and a St. Bernard flunk cause of the opening umbrella, that makes it or breaks it for a few.
Here's Theo taking the test, and also his wife Tessie testing in 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/v/FFZtkmzxajc
http://www.youtube.com/v/igFLjZuKCyY
That day I tested, Theo Tessie, Bonnie & Sam, the next day was my B-Day, so I was able to shame my kids into helping me out, my daughter took the videos, my son helped out in the ring, I got a really neat present that year!
I'll be doing Rollie & Caroline in April...
I have seen a GSD and a St. Bernard flunk cause of the opening umbrella, that makes it or breaks it for a few.
Here's Theo taking the test, and also his wife Tessie testing in 2008:
http://www.youtube.com/v/FFZtkmzxajc
http://www.youtube.com/v/igFLjZuKCyY
That day I tested, Theo Tessie, Bonnie & Sam, the next day was my B-Day, so I was able to shame my kids into helping me out, my daughter took the videos, my son helped out in the ring, I got a really neat present that year!
I'll be doing Rollie & Caroline in April...
by SportySchGuy on 23 February 2011 - 18:02
So what is the point of the test? Most of the things they test for can be changed by training or influenced by the handler whether they know it or not.
by Ryanhaus on 23 February 2011 - 19:02
Can you influence an aggressive dog from lunging and trying to bite the people that greet you, some dogs can't be trained to be non-aggressive, I'm pretty sure that's one of the things they are looking for.
Can you train a nervous high strung dog not to have a heart attack when the umbrella opens and just freeze and show strong avoidance.
What if your dog hasn't been trained to attack when provoked and barks loudly and tugs towards the stranger at the end of the test, even when the threat goes away.
You are not supposed to give the dog any commands, and you are walking on a loose lead, like you said, can be changed by training,
what if some dogs just don't do well out for a walk in public, what better way to record your dogs behavior than in front of a bunch of strangers.
If I had a dog that I couldn't do this test with cause maybe I though he would bite someone or act totally weird about being there, then I wouldn't test him, and I also wouldn't want to use him to breed.
I met a GSD that is fearful of men and children and will attack when you least expect it.
And I've seen a GSD that's afraid of it's own shadow,
someones breeding them.
Can you train a nervous high strung dog not to have a heart attack when the umbrella opens and just freeze and show strong avoidance.
What if your dog hasn't been trained to attack when provoked and barks loudly and tugs towards the stranger at the end of the test, even when the threat goes away.
You are not supposed to give the dog any commands, and you are walking on a loose lead, like you said, can be changed by training,
what if some dogs just don't do well out for a walk in public, what better way to record your dogs behavior than in front of a bunch of strangers.
If I had a dog that I couldn't do this test with cause maybe I though he would bite someone or act totally weird about being there, then I wouldn't test him, and I also wouldn't want to use him to breed.
I met a GSD that is fearful of men and children and will attack when you least expect it.
And I've seen a GSD that's afraid of it's own shadow,
someones breeding them.
by VKGSDs on 23 February 2011 - 19:02
So what is the point of the test? Most of the things they test for can be changed by training or influenced by the handler whether they know it or not.
True. It all depends on what the handler is looking for. If you just want the certificate, then train/desensitize the dog. If you truly want a more accurate picture of the dog, then just go into the test and take it for what it is. If you feel the handler may influence the dog uninentionally, have someone else take the dog and do the test.
I've done this test before and think it's as good as any test. It really depends on 1) the handler's motivations (see above) and 2) the tester. I take the test under a tester who is a SchH trainer and training helper so he truly judges a GSD based on what a GSD should be. I've not been allowed any interaction with the dog other than holding the end of a 6' leash.
Also I've heard that the ATTS test is not the same TT as the ones done by the GSDCA?
by SportySchGuy on 23 February 2011 - 20:02
You can train almost any dog to be under control be it aggressive or fearful. It may not have the perfect picture of a happy dog but it is very possible. I just do not believe in these one time tests for dogs or puppies to evaluate what a dog is genetically or what it could be with proper training. Determining the temperament of a dog takes knowing the dog over a period of time and assessing what is genetic, what is environmental, what can be changed and to what level and what cannot be changed by any amount of conditioning. These types of tests are only a snapshot where the dog and handler are at .....at a given point in time. If you just want a certificate and you know the dog will pass then great but to me that is not so much a test as it is a title. CGC would more productive IMO.
by VKGSDs on 23 February 2011 - 21:02
True but considering how many of them still fail, there's a good number of people going in without training it, or trying to train it and their dog's temperament still shines through!
by SportySchGuy on 23 February 2011 - 23:02
Mine probably wouldn't without training and I don't consider them to have bad or faulty temperaments. I know many that would fail miserably without training for it and their temperaments are totally adequate for their breeds. So I still don't believe in such a "test".
by VKGSDs on 24 February 2011 - 00:02
What would they fail?
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