WW Litter Search & Rescue Test
The WW Litter was tested at 55 Days
Whelped 1/16/22: 2 black and tan females (Miss Green & Miss Pink) and 1 black male (Mr. Purple)
Miss Green went to Colorado for competition and therapy dog work. Miss Pink went to Utah for therapy dog work. Mr. Purple stayed here and, as a therapy dog, will help his owner in his counseling work.
My Search & Rescue friend, Bonnie, came from Bozeman to test the pups for Search & Rescue (and other working) potential. She tests most of my litters and I greatly appreciate it. Bonnie is a SAR dog handler and trainer. Bonnie’s husband, Craig, helped with some of the tests but did not score. The SAR test scores from 10 – 1, 10 being the highest; 1 the lowest. They also use 10-9, 9.5 and 9-8 as scores.
The main difference I see between the police/narcotics test and the SAR test is the attitude of the tester. In the police test, the tester is very quiet, talking little and using very little body movements. No other people are present and the environment is kept quiet. In the SAR test, the tester (often two do the test together) is somewhat more enthusiastic, uses some verbal praise and body movements to get the pup “up” and gives praise. Other people are sometimes present to watch, though they are asked to be as quiet as possible. This would fit well with the ultimate purpose of the dogs being tested for both types of training. In police work the dog must be able to dig down deep inside himself or herself to find the courage and aggression to confront a criminal and/or to search independently and at great distance from the handler. In SAR the handler is usually closer to the dog and is able to praise and encourage him, especially in extended searches. There is also generally all kinds of activity and distraction at a search scene so the dog must be able to filter out the extraneous activity and focus on her job. Both tests are fascinating to watch as is the difference in the pups’ responses in each test.
SAR TEST COMPONENTS:
Attachment: Willingness to acknowledge, come to and follow tester, to accept a new person
Eye contact
Confidence: Reaction to being held at arm’s length in the air
Independence
Sensitivity: Pinch on ribs, ears and/or feet; reaction & forgiveness
Retrieve: Desire to chase, willingness to bring back to handler
Metal: See if pup will pick up/carry set of car keys or other piece of metal
Perseverance: Chase after sack or rope, tug, note desire to possess; not give up; solidness of grip; use of body to possess
Tug
Prey Drive
Hunt for Toy: While playing with ball or soft toy, hide and encourage pup to use nose to find. Interest? How long will pup search? Use nose or eyes?
Unstable Footing: Judge pup’s willingness to cross plastic tarp, wobbly planks, etc. Submission: Pup placed on back and held loosely. How long accepts? Reaction? Runaway: One person holds pup while another teases with toy or food and then runs away and hides – will pup follow/search?
Reaction to Strange Object (large stuffed animals, mirror, remotely controlled mouse)
Cadaver: Interest shown? How intense? Aversion?
Wagon: Judge pup’s confidence in riding in moving wagon or wheelbarrow Courage: scary object – startle and recovery. Retreat, approach, sniff, investigate? Attack? Refuse to approach?
Hunt for Food I: Show pup smelly food on string, drag, then accelerate away so pup will use nose to find food. Encourage, show food again if needed.
Hunt for Food II: Hide bits of food. See if pup will seek food on its own. If necessary, encourage pup to use its nose to find food; indicate food if needed. Eyes? Nose? Methodical? Systematic?
Puppy Drag: Usually I use the puppy drag (a rope with gunny sacks tied on that I tie around my waist) during Lovely’s ball sessions to keep the pups from attaching to my legs. They are diverted to chase and tug on the gunny sacks. The weather had been so bad that I hadn’t gotten it out, so this was totally new to the pups.
Acceptance/Attachment The first test involves evaluating the pup’s acceptance of the strange place and its willingness to interact with the stranger. Ideal reaction is eye contact and interest in the stranger but no sign of nervousness in the interaction (we don’t want a “Protect me!” attitude), followed by visual investigation of the surroundings and then a return of attention to the tester.
Pup – Rating – Comments
ALL: 10
Eye Contact Desire to connect with the tester by looking them in the eye was noted.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10-9; some throughout tugging
Pink Female: 8
Purple Male: none
Confidence The confidence part of the test involves holding the pup out at arm’s length for several seconds. Again, the pup should accept the handler putting it in position and remain calm.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10-9; some whining
Independence How comfortable is the pup, will it work away from the tester or does it stay underfoot? Or does it avoid dealing with the tester by staying away and playing on its own.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10; very nice mix of people and independence
Purple Male: 10-9
Pain Sensitivity The loose skin over the ribs is gently pinched and the pup’s reaction is noted. Ideal reaction is to notice the pinch but be unconcerned by it. We also look for a willingness to forgive the tester.
Pup – Rating
Green Female: 9.5; a little drama
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10-9
Retrieve Next, willingness to retrieve is evaluated using different toys and balls. Ideal reaction is to repeatedly being the toy back to the handler rather than moving off to “possess” it. The type of bite on the toys is evaluated: a full mouth bite shows more confidence and drive than a front-teeth-only bite.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10; excellent
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10-9
Metal Object Tester tosses a set of car keys and observes to see if pup will put its mouth on it, pick it up and/or retrieve it.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10-9
Perseverance (Chase) Then perseverance is evaluated by seeing how enthusiastically they will pursue and grab hold of an object. Ideal reaction is to pursue enthusiastically and grasp with a full mouth bite.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10-9; hesitant at first but got right into it.
Pink Female: 10; really nice!
Purple Male: 10+
Tug Ideal reaction is a full mouth bite, tug and do everything possible to possess the object. We like to see a pup get its whole body on the sack/rope/toy in an effort to subdue it.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10+; very dedicated
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10+
Prey Drive Strength of desire to chase and attack is evaluated.
Pup – Rating – Comments
ALL: 10
Hunt for Toy While playing with ball or soft toy, hide it and encourage pup to use nose to find it. Interest? How long will pup search? Uses nose or eyes? When thrown through tunnel, will it go after it?
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10-9
Purple Male: 10
Unstable Footing Since SAR dogs will search in all kinds of terrain and areas of destruction, they must be confident in insecure situations. We made a rough, unsteady surface. Toys were thrown or drug over the unstable area.
Pup – Rating
ALL: 10
Submission The submission test is designed to give an idea of the pup’s tractability, trust in humans, and willingness to submit to a human’s directives. In the submission test the pup is held firmly on its back for a short period of time. The tester counts the seconds it takes for him to resist, then accept, the restraint. She should not passively accept the restraint, nor should she panic or show avoidance of eye contact. Ideal reaction is to resist, then submit and look the tester in the face. We also look for a willingness to forgive the tester.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 9-8; did not submit
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 9.5; did not submit
Runaway The tester shows pup food or a toy, gets its interest, then runs away. She observes how eagerly the pup comes and how naturally it uses its nose to find her once she hides.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10; very nice
Purple Male: 10; used his nose (rather than eyes)
Reaction to Strange Objects We used a battery-operated, remote-controlled mouse and a mirror propped against the wall.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10-9; checked it out, didn’t run away, went back closer each time
Purple Male: 10-9; aware of it but it didn’t seem to affect him
Cadaver Test A jar containing cadaver material was placed on the floor where the pup would pass it. It’s reaction and interest or lack of interest were noted.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10; loved it
Pink Female: 10
Purple Male: 10+
Wagon Test The pup was placed in a wagon. One tester walked to the side to keep the pup from jumping out, while the other pulled it around the room.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10-9
Pink Female: 10; very confident
Purple Male: 10-9; wanted out but he was pretty jacked up (from previous test)
Courage Test Courage is normally evaluated using something that vibrates, makes noise and moves erratically. Today we used a battery-operated robot that moved, makes noise and flashes all kinds of brilliant lights. Will they stand their ground? Will they go investigate it? Excellent reaction is to go to it and check it out. Extremely excellent reaction is to actually attack it while it moves. Good reaction is to investigate it after the tester turns it off. The tester encourages the pup to investigate after it is turned off, if the pup wouldn’t while it was making noise. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10
Pink Female: 10-9; really nice reaction – thinking, investigating
Purple Male: 10
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. One tester does this when the pup was intent on whatever the other tester is doing. 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 – Comments
Green Female: 10; no reaction
Pink Female: 10; noticed but no reaction
Purple Male: 10
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 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 – Comments
Green Female: 10; went right over
Pink Female: 10; startled, then came back to accept person (male)
Purple Male: 10
Hunt for Food I This test begins with a piece of chicken jerky tied on a string and dragged to attract the pup’s interest and see how interested it is, how hard it will work to get it, and how hard it will work to keep it as the tester jerks, tugs and generally prevents the pup from easily eating it. They also hold it high to see if the pup will look up to search for it.
Pup – Rating – Comments
ALL: 10
Hunt for Food II The testers hid treats under a tarp. I took homemade salmon treats. The pups had to use their noses to find where the treats were. They were judged on how they how they used their noses and how systematic their searching was.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10-9
Pink Female: 10-9; not as focused as on Food I test; loved the mousethe
Purple Male: 10
Puppy Drag I took my puppy drag, which is a piece of rope I fasten around my waist. Gunny sacks are attached to the rope and move enticingly as I move around, so the pups focus on biting and tugging on them instead of me. I normally wear this as I exercise the puppies’ mother each morning, to divert them from biting my legs or pants, but not with this litter due to the snow and bad weather. This was the first time they had seen it, but the tester hardly believed it because they had a great time as it was drug around the room, chasing, tugging and at times riding on it.
Pup – Rating – Comments
Green Female: 10-9; hesitant at first, then all in
Pink Female: 10; excellent mix of possessive and fun
Purple Male: 10; he loved it!
Tester Comments
Green Female: “Very nice! Great mix of independence and people affection. Really fun girl -would be great for anything! Excellent balance.”
Pink Female: “Very nice drives! Quite independent, yet a people girl too. Well balanced!”
Purple Male: “Very nice drives! Quite independent, yet a people girl too. Well balanced!”
Ratings Summary
Acceptance/ Attachment
10: ALL
Eye Contact
10-9: Green
8: Pink
Other: no rating for Purple
Confidence
10: Green, Pink
10-9: Purple
Independence
10: Green, Pink
10-9: Purple
Pain Sensitivity
10: Pink
10-9: Purple
9.5: Green
Retrieve
10: Green, Pink
10-9: Purple
Metal
10: ALL
Perseverance (chase)
10+: Purple
10: Pink
10-9: Green
Tug
10+: Green, Purple
10: Pink
Prey Drive
10: ALL
Hunt for Toy
10: Green, Purple
10-9: Pink
Unstable Footing
10: ALL
Submission
10: Pink
9.5: Purple
9-8: Green:
Runaway
10: ALL
Strange Object (mouse)
10: Green
10-9: Pink, Purple
Cadaver
10+: Purple
10: Green, Pink
Wagon
10: Pink
10-9: Green, Purple
Courage (robot)
10: Green, Purple
10-9: Pink
Fear (can of bolts dropped)
10: ALL
Surprise (umbrella)
10: ALL
Hunt for Food I (jerky on string)
10: ALL
Hunt for Food II (hidden treats)
10: Pink, Purple
10-9: Green
Puppy Drag
10: Pink, Purple
10-9: Green
Comparison
Miss Green:
10+ on Tug (“very dedicated”).
10 on Attachment, Confidence, Independence, Retrieve (“excellent”), Metal, Prey Drive, Hunt for Toy, Unstable Footing, Runaway, Unstable Footing, Strange Object, Cadaver (“loved it”), Courage, Fear (“no reaction”), Surprise (“went right over”), Hunt for Food I.
10-9 on Eye Contact (throughout tugging), Sensitivity, Wagon and Puppy Drag (“hesitant at first, then all in.”)
9-8: Submission (“did not submit” 😊)
Miss Pink:
10 on attachment, Confidence, Independence (“very nice mix of people and independence”), Retrieve, Metal, Perseverance (“really nice!”), Tug, Prey Drive, Unstable Footing, Submission, Runaway (“very nice”), Cadaver, Wagon (“very confident”), Fear (“noticed but no reaction”), Surprise (startled then came back to accept Craig), Hunt for Food I and Puppy Drag (“excellent mix of possessive and fun”).
10-9 on Hunt for Toy, Strange Object, Courage (“really nice reaction – thinking, investigating”) and Hunt for Food II
8 on Eye contact (none),
Mr. Purple:
10+ on Perseverance, Tug and Cadaver
10 on Attachment, Prey Drive, Hunt for Toy, Unstable Footing, Runaway (“used his nose”), Courage, Fear, Surprise, Hunt for Food I & II and Puppy Drag (“he loved it!”).
10-9 on Confidence, (“some whining”), Independence, Sensitivity (“some whining”), Retrieve, Metal, Strange Object (“aware of it but didn’t seem to affect him”), Wagon (“wanted out, but he was pretty jacked up [from the food search]”).
9.5 on Submission (“did not submit”)
No rating on Eye Contact (none)
to WW litter page
to WW litter background information
to WW litter pedigree