Mercy’s Best Photos from the Temperament Tests
She was Miss Purple from the JJ Litter.
See Mercy’s Ratings in both the Search & Rescue and Police/Narcotics Tests
See the results for the entire litter: Police/Narcotics Test and Search & Rescue Test
Search & Rescue Test
I took over 100 photos of each pup. The testers move all over the big room so it’s hard to get photos of every test for every pup. These are the best ones of Mercy.
Acceptance/Attachment Test
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.
The Fear Test
A metal can filled with metal items (horseshoes, nails, 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.
The Aggression/Courage Test
Courage and aggression is evaluated using a police car that when turned on plays sirens and loud voices. The testers roll it towards and past the pup. Will they stand their ground? Will they go investigate it? Excellent reaction is to go to the car 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 Lamb
The friend whose shop we used if from a sheep ranching family, so instead of a rocking horse they have a rocking lamb, about
life sized, stuffed, with fleece. The testers put it out in the middle of the room just to see the pups’ reactions to it. It can elicit interesting reactions the first time they see it.
The Retrieve Test
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. I didn’t get any real good ones of the actual retrieve but I love this photo after she gave Bonnie the toy.
The Runaway Test
In the Runaway Test, the tester shows the pup food, 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. I managed to get a good photo sequence on this test. Both testers complimented mercy on her natural use of a scent cone to find the hidden tester.
The Surprise Test
The Surprise test involves getting the pup to chase 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.
Police/Narcotics Temperament Test
The Perseverance Test
Then perseverance is evaluated by seeing how enthusiastically they will pursue, grab hold, and tug on a rope or sack. Ideal reaction is to pursue enthusiastically, grasp with a full mouth bite, tug and do everything possible to posses the object. If a sack is used, we like to see a pup get its whole body on the sack in an effort to subdue it.
Nice eye contact
The Courage/Aggression Test
Courage and aggression is evaluated using an electric train that when turned on moves erratically, whistles loudly, clanks, etc. Will they stand their ground? Will they go investigate it? Excellent reaction is to go to the moving, clanking train 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 it wouldn’t while it was “whistling” and moving. She notes how much encouragement is needed.
The Surprise Test
The last test involves getting the pup to chase 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.
There’s a person operating that umbrella. Who is it?????
Gotcha!
Now just what is that you’re holding?
The Food Search Test
Suzan hid treats in the middle of the room. The pups had to use their noses to find where the treats were. They were judged on how they followed her direction for where to search and how systematic their searching was.
