Search & Rescue Test, page 11

Fear A metal can filled with metal items (hinges, bolts, etc.) is dropped behind them from a height of about 2 feet while they are looking away from it. Will the pup hold its ground and then go look at what dropped from nowhere? Excellent reaction is to acknowledge and turn towards the sound and then confidently go see what made the racket. The tester encourages the pup to investigate, if it doesn’t on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed. I find most of my pups look towards the racket and keep on playing with the toy they had, rather than stopping their play to go investigate.

Pup Rating                                              Additional Observations

Blue Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

Brown Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                              no reaction

Gray Male
Janet: 9 – 10
Bonnie: 10

Green Male
Janet: 6
Bonnie: 10

Pink Female
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                              no concern, no interest

Purple Female
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

Red Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                              no concern

White Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                              came back to investigate

Yellow Female
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                              no reaction other than slight pause in play

Miss Purple

Mr. Red

Also see the sound sensitivity test in the other temperament test

Surprise This test involves getting the pup to follow you (or a toy) towards a place with a hidden person, from behind which an umbrella is opened suddenly and then lowered to the ground, still open. The umbrella this year was opened with great vigor. The pups are evaluated on how they recover from being startled and if they’ll go investigate. Ideal reaction is for the pup to startle but hold its ground, then move right up to check out the umbrella. A super excellent reaction is to go up and bite it and/or walk all over it. The tester encourages the pup to investigate after the umbrella is on the top step, if it doesn’t on its own. She notes how much encouragement is needed.

Pup Rating                                               Additional Observations

Blue Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

Brown Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                               Umbrella came from above. Cowered at first, then came right back to engage.

Gray Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

Green Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

Pink Female
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                               No real reaction, came back to check on person who “did it.”

Purple Female
Janet: 10+
Bonnie: 10                                               Good reaction

Red Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10

White Male
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                                Not a good presentation of umbrella

Yellow Female
Janet: 10
Bonnie: 10                                                Nice – stopped, looked, checked out then came to person who opened umbrella.

Miss Pink

Miss Purple

Also see the surprise test in the other temperament test

to SAR Test, page 12 (Independence, Aggression/Courage)
back to SAR Test, page 13 (Hunt for Food I)
to SAR Test, page 14 (Hunt for Food II)
to SAR Test, page 15 (Puppy Drag & Summaries)
back to SAR Test, page 1 (Attachment, Eye Contact, Confidence, Retrieve)
back to SAR Test, page 2 (Retrieve cont’d, Perseverance, Tug)
back to SAR Test, page 3 (Tug, cont’d)
back to SAR Test, page 4 (Metal Object, Prey Drive)
back to SAR Test, page 5 (Hunt for Toy)
back to SAR Test, page 6 (Pain Sensitivity, Unstable Footing)
back to SAR Test, page 7 (Submission, Cadaver)
back to SAR Test, page 8 (Runaway)
back to SAR Test, page 9 (Runaway cont’d, Reaction to Strange Object)
back to SAR Test, page 10 (Wagon, Wheelbarrow)