Hi everyone, I believe I missed mentioning the age range for puppies to be for this test, I’m sorry guys! The general age range for puppies to be in order to perform this test (most optimally and ethically) is reported as between 7-10 weeks old. Some trials of the Volhard Temperament Test can be performed on adults, though there are physical restrictions like the elevation dominance test. The link I provided in the description goes a bit more in depth with this. If you want to learn even more about it, I’m sure there are vids about how to test specifically adult dogs. :) I also just want to thank everyone for your support and time! Hope you all are staying healthy! 💕
@@The_Service_DoodlesIf you don't have a second person for scoring, either film the test for later scoring by yourself, or record the test voice only and just say what you see, for example: "test x / sound, puppy startled, runs over tail up to investigate".
I dislike the paw pinch test, because it can prime a puppy to not want it's paws checked or nails cut later in life. That's why I also just touch the puppy everywhere like a vet or a judge in a ring would do it also.
I've never used this particular test just kind of went off my experience with dogs and puppies. I just received a new replacement puppy for my current service dog. The breederer picked it out and gave it to me. She made a excellent choice and I couldn't be happier. I called the breeder up told her what I was looking for and what his purpose would be as my mobility assist service dog. She just said, how about I give you a puppy 🥰🐕🦺 I was a little disconcerned with the toe pinching also, I just look for being able to touch and handle and move the dog around easily.
I have found through trial and error that mostly 3's with some 4's actually work best for what I need personally (tho an odd 2 is never a deal breaker) I LOVE the adjustment to the borderline pain response as I was NEVER comfortable with that and would often skip it so TYSM for the workaround!!!
I’m getting a puppy to train to be a therapy dog to bring when I volunteer at the hospital. The little girl I picked out scored mostly 3s and I’m very excited to bring her home and begin working with her. My plan is that once Covid is finally over and she’s fully trained and certified, we can start working. I’d really like to be able to help out young victims of abuse in a court setting with her one day, but that will be far in the future. My shorter term goal is to be at the hospital with the pediatric patients in 18 months.
I’ve researched countless hours and watched tons of videos on how to choose a dog. This is the best one I’ve come across. Most insightful and really well done. Great job and thanks so much
Wow. As I thought, mine would absolutely knock this out of the park. I was shocked that he instantly fetched a toy and brought it back. He's extremely outgoing with people, a little more shy with dogs. Incredibly smart too. Everything he has learned he learned on the first time he got it right. You can literally see things click. I will say he needs quite a bit of excercise but with it he will lay quietly by my feet most of the time. Especially on a lead by me while I work. I had been thinking about a service dog for a while, and when I got him I had initially just planned on him being an ESA but was just shocked at how quickly he learned and how quiet and behaved he is when he is supposed to be, especially while I work.
This was very helpful I don't have the money for a service dog so I wanted to get a puppy to train my self but I didn't know which puppy was right for the job I watched this video and I ended up picking a female border collie puppy and she's now 7 months old doing awesome with training thank you so much
The toe pinch test is actually important for a service dog. It will tell you how much discomfort they tolerate. For example, if you step on his foot, or run over it with a wheelchair, it is very helpful to know how he will react. A dog with a high pain tolerance will be a good thing, a pup with a low pain tolerance could result in a dog yelping or potentially reacting with a bite. I did not hear you mention the correct age to do the test. That is also important. And doing the test at least twice (especially in your situation) will give you a better idea of the real temperament. I had to laugh when you talked about aloof and stubborn pups who look to be too difficult to train, and are not good with relationships. My best dog (a Rottie) was just such a dog. I took the very experienced breeder’s advice (she picks the puppies for you) and took him home. He turned out to be an absolutely amazing dog who excelled in everything from therapy work to conformation to competition obedience. And was my constant companion for almost 13 yrs. Good luck with your training!
Hi! Thanks for your comment! The toe-pinch test can be done by anyone who is comfortable with doing it, my dog’s breeder and I just didn’t want to do it. When it comes to service dogs, (dogs who are task-trained to aid their handler with their one or more disabilities), high pain tolerance is not usually on many handlers’ top list of required traits. Some service dogs are just not going to have a high pain tolerance, but will still be amazing service dogs. High pain tolerance doesn’t always equal a great service dog candidate. Service dogs are still dogs, if they get hurt by something you can’t expect them to not yelp. They not machines. Biting is a whole other issue that no service dog should have (because then they cannot be a service dog as long as that problem exists), no matter what pain tolerance the dog has. The source I linked in the description tells the reader how to do the pinch test, and I would assume that anyone doing the Volhard Test would read the source since it has all the info I talked about and much more. The amount of times that someone wants to do the tests are somewhat subjective. From what I’ve read, the issue with doing the trials multiple times on the same pup is this: when a sudden, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable situation is introduced, the puppy’s first reaction is most likely the one they will display they next time something unfamiliar and unexpected happens. If you do the trial again, it is no longer as unexpected or unfamiliar. The pup will (once again, usually) have a different reaction since they already experienced the trial. I hope that makes sense. Many service dog handlers value the first reaction to the trials since they are organic reactions. But people can certainly modify the test rules for themselves as they see fit. Lastly, I’m glad to hear that your dog (love rotties!) excelled with everything you taught him! You sound like you’ve owned dogs before, which is most likely why you were able to do well with your, as you put it, aloof/stubborn pup. But for first or second-time owners, that type of dog will be hard for them to work with. It’s not the dog’s fault, it’s the inexperience of the owner/handler. I noticed that you said your breeder chose your dog for you, and that worked out for you, which is great! But when looking for a service dog prospect, I strongly recommend to any and all future or current handlers that they go and see the pups in person if they can. Anyway, as I’ve said, the test is not a 100% guarantee of anything, it is just a guide. You can follow every single rule to a T, or you can modify it. It really depends on the person’s experience and research. I hope you’re staying healthy during these crazy times, and thank you for your well-wishes!
Wow how accurate! My rescued dog is a « 4 ». All the points listed are 100% him, and are all issues we’re constantly working on. We’ll be using the chart to choose our next companion as unfortunately despite the recommendation of the shelter, it’s not a match with our very loved Buster (because yes we still adore him and will give him the best we can till his last breath). It would be interesting to see how we can train the « types » of dogs in your document!
The temperament test isn't 100% accurate for dogs in shelters. There is a huge difference between staying in a loud cage in the shelter, and staying in your house. It can take a few years for your shelter doggo to get used to your home too.
You have done a tremendous job on this very informative video as well as the other two you have done. Definitely, Gold Star material! Congrats!!!! I'm not a service dog owner or trainer, but I really appreciate the insight you have shared. Based on my own research you are very balanced in your presentation, execution, and thoughts. You have provided a great service to the dog community at large. I realize that some say the vollhard test is outdated, but I am not sure that is true. It seems to me that it is doing some accurate prediction of temperament and capabilities. It really is a great GUIDE (as you say in the video). Many many thanks for your great work on ALL three of your videos. I wish you great success in your owner training for your service dog.
I was directed to this video by a family member, it will really be helpful in choosing a puppy! Also, congrats on your Gold Award!!! I am a troop leader for juniors, my daughter is one of them, she's in fourth grade. All the girls in our troop love animals and I'm going to show them your video as inspiration for future higher awards projects. Thank you for this.
I have a Jackpomchi that I chose because of his temperament. I got him when he was 10 weeks old He's now 2 years old. I didn't plan on him being my service dog. He's doing great now. Easy to train.
Please take this testing with a grain of salt. Puppies can have an “off” day. They can be affected by recently being with their litter mates, or recently being removed from mom. They could easily score all 4s and end up being super dominant or all 1s and make a lovely family dog. Most dogs can be trained to differ circumstances. Real things that are helpful for 1st time owners- food interest. A dog who is driven by treats will preform to get more. A dog who doesn’t care takes a lot more care to train. Energy level is the real key though. If you’re a couch potato don’t get a puppy! Match your current energy level to the dogs current energy level. Dogs of al numbers do well with kids who are trained. Please stop spreading the misinformation that only 4s do well with kids. This hurts dogs and kids! A lot of shelters have started similar scoring and won’t adopt to families with kids because of skewed testing. This just means families have to buy rather than adopt.
I have a well bred standard poodle service dog who passed this test with flying colors but gets very nervous out in public so I just use her at home. This test really doesn't prove much.
@@fre58050-80% of dogs fail as service dogs. Being out in public and inaide of stores is a very hard task for most dogs, so even if they have the perfect temperament, they can still fail. I just picked up my standard poodle pup, he will be my prospect. He is the smallest and smartest of his litter! We are actually on our way home right now and he has been asleep the whole time. I haven't heard him make any noises, I've never seen such a calm puppy before. I hope he will be calm tonight for crate training..
Very nicely done, I appreciated the added graphics, the music was pleasant and not distracting, your voice is charming! Thank you for an informative video and the link to Volhard documents.
Really helpful video thank you! I will be getting a golden retriever prospect soon to be my Autism assistance dog and will be sure to temperament test to make sure I get the right one for me.
I know this is a year old video, but thank you so much for the information you provided and for explaining what you were looking for and why. I'm currently looking for my next service dog prospect and will be using the tips here to help me find the one with compatible personality and traits. ❤️❤️❤️
This was a really informative video! Thank you! We are going to be training a service dog soon and this was a great video to show some of the things we need to look for in a puppy.
This is such an informative and well made video! I will be getting my puppy next month and I was interested in doing a temperament test on the first day [even though the breeder will already be doing personality testing] so that I can compare it to a temperament test I will conduct when theyre a bit older to see if anything changed :) I'm also hoping to train a service dog later down the line when I feel experienced enough with training. I'd love to learn more about how you got into service dog training!
Thank you! Good luck with your training, it’ll be a lot of work but a whole lot of payoff and bonding 😊 I may make a video in the future about what made me decide to owner train, but the short synopsis is I wasn’t willing (or able) to pay $45,000 upfront and wait 4-5 years that it would take for an organization to train a service dog for me. So, I decided to take the route of owner training because I knew that though it would be really hard work, it would definitely help me with my disabilities (and it was more affordable). :)
Fabulous job on this video! Very informative without being boring; great video clips to show what you’re talking about; excellent guidance on your part to the more gray areas. Super.
Hi there. Good presentation. I can't find the video you mention at the end... the one about emotional support animals. Everett is stunning, by the way.
Well done , u and the breeder made the right decision regarding the foot squeezing test . I have nvr agreed with it as it's counter productive , idk why anyone ever thought it was a good idea to add discomfort and pain to a puppy evaluation test ! 🙄. The rest of the Volhard test can b very useful , however I have found its just 1 part of choosing a puppy...whatever u r choosing one for ...so please don't use this solely to make your choice. Make use of the many tools available as well as learning at least the basics of dog psychology , which is different from training .
This is a WONDERFUL video & I sincerely appreciate the information shared - I do have the following 3 questions : 1. How accurate is the correlation between the results of this or similar tests conducted when a dog is a pup to when it becomes an adult ? Do the inherent “character/qualities” supersede the experiences the dog experiences during its journey from a pup to an adult ? 2. Also, does one need to connect this test more then one time ? I ask for what if the pup is unwell, has not rested well, hungry or is simply “not having a good da” at the time the test is being conducted ? Is there a more appropriate time during a day when such a test should be conducted, mornings from 20am to 12:00, to dhubgs, etc. - When is it best to evaluate pup ? Is there an optimal age ( in weeks ) when a pup should undergo such a test, ie not too young ? 3. Is there a way to downl this test ? Will really appreciate a reply. Thanks in advance. 🙏🏼
I did find a link to the test n have downloaded it - Tried a few times to provide the link here, but that port keeps getting deleted. Am sure others find the link without much difficulty as I did.
@@jaivora423 So sorry that my reply is late! I’m working on a response to your questions right now :) if you ever want to contact me you can dm me @golden_irish_sd on Instagram!
Here are my responses to your questions, which are based off of credible published literature I’ve read on the subject (I am not a professional on the subject of Volhard temperament testing, I’ve just researched it and conducted it). These answers are the general consensus: 1.) The results of the Volhard test when you perform it on a puppy vs the same pup when it is an adult will vary because of its life experiences once it goes into the world. For example, lets say you do the test on a pup born with a slightly anxious temperament. It will most likely develop fearfulness shaped by later environments and experiences, and will require a lot of positive reinforcement and training to be confident in new situations. Or, you could test a pup and see that it has a generally confident demeanor. If that dog is attacked by a dog or multiple dogs later on, then re-testing it as an adult will most likely reflect its experiences and fear (from trauma). But there is the possibility that the effects from lasting trauma in the dog wouldn’t be reflected in the test, because nothing is absolute. So, puppies are best to test [between 7-10 weeks of age] because they are usually ‘blank slates’ (unless they are in a horrible living situation and develop fears, which would most likely be reflected in the test). The limiting factor here is you can’t conduct every trial as intended on all adult dogs, because it would be very hard to lift a big dog in the proper way without hurting it or yourself. There are definitely trials you can conduct on adult dogs, discussed in the website I linked. The inherent qualities that you see in a puppy certainly can be displayed through its life experiences, but I don’t think there’s a way to know if its qualities will supersede any life experiences. For example, my puppy tested as quite a confident pup. If I didn’t take him to puppy class to expose him to many different types of floorings and smells, he would be very hesitant to walk on any floor that is different than the ones we have at home. But since I did, he has no problem walking on concrete floors, tile, rugs, cold floors, bumpy floors, plastic wrap, foam floors, sand, grass, rocks, etc. and this is made easier for him by his natural confidence. I hope that makes sense, basically what I’m trying to say is there’s no guarantee if a dog’s qualities will supersede life experiences as it grows up because experiences that dogs have are so broad. Proper and careful training will make a huge difference for how dogs act later as adults. 2.) If a puppy is feeling unwell, unrested, or if it just ate, then it should not be tested until it is feeling better or is hungry for its next meal. The reason that puppies shouldn’t be tested after they just ate is because they will feel more sluggish and sleepy (we know the feeling, after a nice meal you don’t wanna go be active, you wanna go take a nap lol). So puppies experiencing any of these issues should be tested at a later date or time. I ran into this issue when testing my pup’s brothers. One of them had hurts its leg when it was bumbling around, so I didn’t test him at all (I had already found my match so that helped, but if I didn’t I would have waited however many days the vet recommended and then conducted the test). As for best times to test the pups, there are generally 2 restrictions: not super super early in the morning when they should be sleeping or super late in the evening when they should be sleeping, and not just after the puppies have eaten. You would have to communicate with the breeder, foster home, or shelter to coordinate this time with them and be specific about the pups not eating right before you test them. 3.) Temperament tests are typically conducted on puppies between seven and ten weeks of age. As I mentioned before, they are usually ‘blank slates’ at this time. But, a number of behaviors of personality might not emerge until the puppy matures. Like an example aforementioned, a pup born with a slightly anxious temperament can develop fearfulness shaped by environments and experiences. I personally wouldn’t test a puppy before eight weeks old, or when the puppy is typically weaned from its mother. Most of this temperament test can be conducted on adult dogs, but usually not every trial. It would be hard to turn a full grown husky or Great Dane on its back for that trial, or do the elevation dominance trial on big dogs. The website I linked discusses this a little bit more in-depth. Again, my answers provided above are a reflection of the hours of research I’ve done (and double-checking my sources today to make sure I’m providing the most accurate information I can), but if you find something that contradicts it, of course explore it and just make sure it comes from credible and ethical sources, and has been ethically tested! I’m not an expert on this, I didn’t study it in a formal setting, and I definitely don’t want to misrepresent myself as such. I just have experience with researching and conducting this test many times over. :) Finally, make sure to remember that this test will only give a surface level snapshot of how the puppy will act later on; the test isn’t meant to 100% guarantee anything, but rather to be a help in predicting what general characteristics the puppy will display as it grows up. I really hope this helped, sorry again for the delay!
No worries about the delay in replying - I SINCERELY appreciate the answers you have provided and they are pretty much what I had considered them to be but wanted to double check based on your experience and expertise. A BIG thank you for taking the time to research and reply
I was so happy to come across your video on TH-cam. I currently Have a service dog but she has soft tissue sarcoma so I find myself having to think about getting another dog. I have wondered if there was anything standardized that people used. Wouldn't try to choose a puppy to be a service dog. I was so happy to find out that there was. Then I go and look to subscribe to your channel and it looks like you did a few videos but they're all 2 years ago. Are you done with this subject? I just hate the fact that you are not an ongoing resource lol
I'm currently looking into getting a pup from a breeder who temperment tests and socializes with alot of different animals. I will speak to her about this test and see if I can go to the property and we can do this test together! When doing this, do you do the test with each individual pup that meets your preferences (color or sex) or do you pick your favorite and see how it does? I would assume the first but I dont know haha. I'll be thinking hard about it after the testing and I wont even be getting one for a couple years unless something were to happen to my current SD. My dog very well may wash after my friends dog bit her, so hopefully I can get a pup that will work perfectly for me ❤
I’m so sorry to hear about the trauma your current SD went through, I really hope she doesn’t wash🤞 when I was looking for my prospect pup, the breeder posted temperament testing results on FB that they got when they tested. I looked through those and had an idea of the pups I wanted to test first, but to my surprise my choice #3 became #1 after I tested him! So I would say just test all of the pups that you can. I tested only male pups since I knew I needed a male for the future mobility work that he will be trained to do. I tested about 6, and though it was tiring, having someone film for me so I could review it after really really helped. So I would suggest bringing along someone to score and film for you, just make sure the breeder isn’t the one scoring :) I hope this answered your question, please ask more if you have any! 😊
@@goldenirishsd8319 Can I ask why specifically a male for mobility work? I plan to eventually get and train a dog primarily for medical alert and response but also with some light mobility work (stabilizing me when I get wobbly, helping me get up from chairs, guiding me when I'm disoriented) and would like to know why you specifically looked for a male for mobility work.
So, I want to get a SD to help with my autism, anxiety and a few other things but they are all non physical, from what you said on the scores, I thought a 4-3 puppy would work, what would be your idea? Also I'm most likely not going to get a puppy for years because of current life so my needs may change, also that puppy will be my fist service dog, so what do you recommend score wise, again mostly 4's and 3's sounded good but I know very little about the test so I wanted to ask your advice.
I think a puppy who scores 3s and and 4s could absolutely make a great service dog in general (for any other future sd handlers also reading this), and if you learn about how to train the pup for obedience and the tasks you’d like it to do (if you’re owner-training) then you would have a good chance for success. Also, reaching out to independent sd trainers is always a good idea! Success isn’t 100% guaranteed unfortunately, and that’s the risk that we take when owner-training. I would recommend looking on Instagram for sd teams who specify that their dog is trained for assistance with autism and anxiety, and ask them for advice on what to look for in your future pup. They’ll know more about what your looking for in a dog, and be more helpful with that than I am lol. I did this when looking for my sd, and I found that many handlers were happy to share their experience. If you’re getting your sd from an organization, they will chose a puppy that they think is best suited to your needs. I wish you the best of luck with your future sd! 😊
Oh, also watching TH-cam and Instagram videos about sd obedience and task-training helps a lot! There’s no guide on how to owner-train, so a lot of the before-you-get-a-puppy-process is gathering as much info as possible available on the internet about what sd raising and training involves.
I have a 5-year-old GSD, from the age of 7 1/2 weeks. She would have done poorly on every test. She would not have been a good candidate for service training; she is not even food-motivated. However, as a companion she is fine, especially compared to most GSDs I have seen or heard of. She impresses everyone with her calm nature and beauty. She walks well beside me after exercise, on a leash or off, loves to chase a ball but generally will not bring it all the way back, and is invariably gentle with all animals and people. So, these tests are valuable, but getting a passing grade does not necessarily make for a bad or untrainable dog.
They can change as they age. Puppies are like clay, you can mould them but you can't change what they are made out of, you can add different ingredients to the clay though. You can train them, socalize them, and work on things they are scared of. All puppies will have their own personalities but you can't change that.
Would this test work on a 1 year old dog? We’ve gone through beginner-advanced puppy training and all of the trainers who’ve met Zuko say that he would be a great service dog. He is so eager to please, very smart and easy to train. I wasn’t looking for a service dog at the time we got him but my partner is in a wheelchair and I’m neurodivergent so he actually could potentially help us a lot! He already picks things up for my partner
I just adopted my prospect at 12 weeks. She has a great temperment and working on the basics of puppy hood before getting into tasking. Would you recommend a good citizenship test for service dogs as well?
It can absolutely be modified based on preference, but remember that very young puppies need lots of sleep. Feel free to look into it if you’d like, it’s a guide created by a well-known professional dog behavioralist and trainer.The important thing to note is that there isn’t one set-in-stone, tried and true way to raise or train a puppy, which is why I say that the info in this video is meant to *guide* dog owners, not for them to follow everything to a T. 😊
This is fun but the breeder that we're planning on going with allows people to pick their puppy before 7 weeks, which is when the test is performed. You can get an idea of their personalities from different things before 7 weeks, like their reaction to ENS and other interactions. I hope I can pick a winner!!
Hi, thanks for watching! My channel name is ‘Golden Irish SD’ because the breed of my service dog (the pup in the vid) is a Golden Retriever and Irish Setter mix, called a Golden Irish. The SD part stands for service dog. 😊 We don’t live in Ireland, though I’d love to go there!
Yikes. My breeder isnt letting us choose until theyre ready to go, and unfortunately i only get to choose between 3 males bc they do the deposit by gender....😳
Are these test accurate tho? Should u test them maybe 2 times? What if they change as they get older like way more playful and not calm around children as you thought when testing? I'm looking for a good family pup that's why I'm asking so many questions 😅
The intentions for your video are absolutely phenomenal and I understand you trying to educate people and you definitely are on the right path congratulations for this. However sadly when you were not physically or mentally capable to follow out each step so that way the dogs/puppies can get evaluated properly it is extremely important so when you have a habit sometimes because of your level of discomfort of the situation the dog could develop things in the long run. God bless keep up the great work 🙂
I'm having an issue. My parents don't listen to me when I tell them 6 weeks is too young to bring our puppy home, and we're getting her this weekend. (I think the breeders are having us bring her home at 6 weeks since shes weaned off her mom and they don't wanna take care of her anymore). As excited as I am, I know this can cause several behavioral issues that my parents dismiss. I've got her a heating pad, and wrapped a phone in a towel to play a heartbeat sound for the puppy at night. I don't know what to do since puppies learn so many lessons from their mom at this age. Us picking her up this weekend has been set and stone, and I want to be as prepared as possible to teach her the lessons her mom would have. How do I do this? Any advice on what's best to do?
I wish I could help you and give some advice but unfortunately I don’t know enough about taking care of puppies who have been weaned too young to give advice on the subject. The most I can say is do a lot of research about how to accommodate a puppy who is weaned too young and learn as much as you can about it. Also, call the vet that you will take the puppy to and ask them if they have advice and/or supplies to help you out. I hope everything turns out well for you, I’m sorry I can’t be of more help!
@@goldenirishsd8319 6 wks is too young to be taken away, but if the owner/breeder chooses to separate, there isn't much one can do other than not opt to purchase. I also work with guide dogs as well, but under an organization. Service pups do not leave mom under 8 wks. I would rather be out a deposit on the pup than take a pup knowing possible problems down the road.
This test is not a good indicator if the puppy is service dog material. It’s based on the old and debunked alpha and dominance theory. How they act here does not define them later
I’m not sure I understand your question, but I will try to answer to the best of my ability. If you are testing a litter of puppies that you are raising, the test results will be inaccurate because the tester must be a complete stranger. If you have a complete stranger test the puppies and you are out of the testing area, the results should be as accurate as they can be depending on the stranger’s testing ability. Ethically speaking, you should not be the scorer if you are selling the puppies. A neutral third-party (neither the seller or the tester) should be acting as scorer.
@@555sanjana You are correct, a stranger should be the one to conduct it :) @brooke ashley the person conducting it is supposed to be someone the puppies never met, so not the owner, breeder, caretaker, or foster family. It should usually be the person interested in adopting/buying a puppy, who the pups have never met, so it should be done on your first visit with the pups. If you planned to visit the hypothetical litter of pups before they are 8 weeks old but also want to temperament test them, you must wait until they’re at the optimal age of at least 8 weeks. The best (and most ethical) age for the puppies to be in order to do this test is between 8-10 weeks.
Absolutely! If you click on the link to the Volhard Temperament Test website in the description, it is listed there. You may just need to scroll down a lot to get to it haha.
Thank you for the video. Iam currently training my dog for medical service this will be interesting to see what one she is. I assume she may be a 4. I also have a new pup already alerting to my medical issues as well.
Hi everyone, I believe I missed mentioning the age range for puppies to be for this test, I’m sorry guys! The general age range for puppies to be in order to perform this test (most optimally and ethically) is reported as between 7-10 weeks old.
Some trials of the Volhard Temperament Test can be performed on adults, though there are physical restrictions like the elevation dominance test. The link I provided in the description goes a bit more in depth with this. If you want to learn even more about it, I’m sure there are vids about how to test specifically adult dogs. :)
I also just want to thank everyone for your support and time! Hope you all are staying healthy! 💕
According to the instructions they should be tested on day #49 for the most accurate results.‘breeder here.
Would 12 weeks be okay?
Also, is it okay if I test and score myself as I don’t have someone else to help me?
@@The_Service_DoodlesIf you don't have a second person for scoring, either film the test for later scoring by yourself, or record the test voice only and just say what you see, for example: "test x / sound, puppy startled, runs over tail up to investigate".
I dislike the paw pinch test, because it can prime a puppy to not want it's paws checked or nails cut later in life. That's why I also just touch the puppy everywhere like a vet or a judge in a ring would do it also.
I've never used this particular test just kind of went off my experience with dogs and puppies. I just received a new replacement puppy for my current service dog. The breederer picked it out and gave it to me. She made a excellent choice and I couldn't be happier. I called the breeder up told her what I was looking for and what his purpose would be as my mobility assist service dog. She just said, how about I give you a puppy 🥰🐕🦺
I was a little disconcerned with the toe pinching also, I just look for being able to touch and handle and move the dog around easily.
I have found through trial and error that mostly 3's with some 4's actually work best for what I need personally (tho an odd 2 is never a deal breaker) I LOVE the adjustment to the borderline pain response as I was NEVER comfortable with that and would often skip it so TYSM for the workaround!!!
I’m getting a puppy to train to be a therapy dog to bring when I volunteer at the hospital. The little girl I picked out scored mostly 3s and I’m very excited to bring her home and begin working with her. My plan is that once Covid is finally over and she’s fully trained and certified, we can start working. I’d really like to be able to help out young victims of abuse in a court setting with her one day, but that will be far in the future. My shorter term goal is to be at the hospital with the pediatric patients in 18 months.
That’s amazing, good luck! 😊
Out of curiosity, how's your 3 girl doing one year out?
Gg
@jalexoneschanel1356 how is your therapy dog doing
I’ve researched countless hours and watched tons of videos on how to choose a dog. This is the best one I’ve come across. Most insightful and really well done. Great job and thanks so much
Wow. As I thought, mine would absolutely knock this out of the park. I was shocked that he instantly fetched a toy and brought it back. He's extremely outgoing with people, a little more shy with dogs. Incredibly smart too. Everything he has learned he learned on the first time he got it right. You can literally see things click. I will say he needs quite a bit of excercise but with it he will lay quietly by my feet most of the time. Especially on a lead by me while I work.
I had been thinking about a service dog for a while, and when I got him I had initially just planned on him being an ESA but was just shocked at how quickly he learned and how quiet and behaved he is when he is supposed to be, especially while I work.
This was very helpful I don't have the money for a service dog so I wanted to get a puppy to train my self but I didn't know which puppy was right for the job I watched this video and I ended up picking a female border collie puppy and she's now 7 months old doing awesome with training thank you so much
The toe pinch test is actually important for a service dog. It will tell you how much discomfort they tolerate. For example, if you step on his foot, or run over it with a wheelchair, it is very helpful to know how he will react. A dog with a high pain tolerance will be a good thing, a pup with a low pain tolerance could result in a dog yelping or potentially reacting with a bite.
I did not hear you mention the correct age to do the test. That is also important.
And doing the test at least twice (especially in your situation) will give you a better idea of the real temperament.
I had to laugh when you talked about aloof and stubborn pups who look to be too difficult to train, and are not good with relationships. My best dog (a Rottie) was just such a dog. I took the very experienced breeder’s advice (she picks the puppies for you) and took him home. He turned out to be an absolutely amazing dog who excelled in everything from therapy work to conformation to competition obedience. And was my constant companion for almost 13 yrs.
Good luck with your training!
Hi! Thanks for your comment! The toe-pinch test can be done by anyone who is comfortable with doing it, my dog’s breeder and I just didn’t want to do it. When it comes to service dogs, (dogs who are task-trained to aid their handler with their one or more disabilities), high pain tolerance is not usually on many handlers’ top list of required traits. Some service dogs are just not going to have a high pain tolerance, but will still be amazing service dogs. High pain tolerance doesn’t always equal a great service dog candidate. Service dogs are still dogs, if they get hurt by something you can’t expect them to not yelp. They not machines. Biting is a whole other issue that no service dog should have (because then they cannot be a service dog as long as that problem exists), no matter what pain tolerance the dog has. The source I linked in the description tells the reader how to do the pinch test, and I would assume that anyone doing the Volhard Test would read the source since it has all the info I talked about and much more.
The amount of times that someone wants to do the tests are somewhat subjective. From what I’ve read, the issue with doing the trials multiple times on the same pup is this: when a sudden, unfamiliar, and uncomfortable situation is introduced, the puppy’s first reaction is most likely the one they will display they next time something unfamiliar and unexpected happens. If you do the trial again, it is no longer as unexpected or unfamiliar. The pup will (once again, usually) have a different reaction since they already experienced the trial. I hope that makes sense. Many service dog handlers value the first reaction to the trials since they are organic reactions. But people can certainly modify the test rules for themselves as they see fit.
Lastly, I’m glad to hear that your dog (love rotties!) excelled with everything you taught him! You sound like you’ve owned dogs before, which is most likely why you were able to do well with your, as you put it, aloof/stubborn pup. But for first or second-time owners, that type of dog will be hard for them to work with. It’s not the dog’s fault, it’s the inexperience of the owner/handler. I noticed that you said your breeder chose your dog for you, and that worked out for you, which is great! But when looking for a service dog prospect, I strongly recommend to any and all future or current handlers that they go and see the pups in person if they can.
Anyway, as I’ve said, the test is not a 100% guarantee of anything, it is just a guide. You can follow every single rule to a T, or you can modify it. It really depends on the person’s experience and research.
I hope you’re staying healthy during these crazy times, and thank you for your well-wishes!
Wow how accurate! My rescued dog is a « 4 ». All the points listed are 100% him, and are all issues we’re constantly working on. We’ll be using the chart to choose our next companion as unfortunately despite the recommendation of the shelter, it’s not a match with our very loved Buster (because yes we still adore him and will give him the best we can till his last breath). It would be interesting to see how we can train the « types » of dogs in your document!
The temperament test isn't 100% accurate for dogs in shelters. There is a huge difference between staying in a loud cage in the shelter, and staying in your house. It can take a few years for your shelter doggo to get used to your home too.
You have done a tremendous job on this very informative video as well as the other two you have done. Definitely, Gold Star material! Congrats!!!! I'm not a service dog owner or trainer, but I really appreciate the insight you have shared. Based on my own research you are very balanced in your presentation, execution, and thoughts. You have provided a great service to the dog community at large. I realize that some say the vollhard test is outdated, but I am not sure that is true. It seems to me that it is doing some accurate prediction of temperament and capabilities. It really is a great GUIDE (as you say in the video). Many many thanks for your great work on ALL three of your videos. I wish you great success in your owner training for your service dog.
Thank you so much!
I was directed to this video by a family member, it will really be helpful in choosing a puppy! Also, congrats on your Gold Award!!! I am a troop leader for juniors, my daughter is one of them, she's in fourth grade. All the girls in our troop love animals and I'm going to show them your video as inspiration for future higher awards projects. Thank you for this.
Thank you so much, you are so kind!
I have a Jackpomchi that I chose because of his temperament. I got him when he was 10 weeks old He's now 2 years old. I didn't plan on him being my service dog. He's doing great now. Easy to train.
Please take this testing with a grain of salt. Puppies can have an “off” day. They can be affected by recently being with their litter mates, or recently being removed from mom. They could easily score all 4s and end up being super dominant or all 1s and make a lovely family dog. Most dogs can be trained to differ circumstances. Real things that are helpful for 1st time owners- food interest. A dog who is driven by treats will preform to get more. A dog who doesn’t care takes a lot more care to train. Energy level is the real key though. If you’re a couch potato don’t get a puppy! Match your current energy level to the dogs current energy level. Dogs of al numbers do well with kids who are trained. Please stop spreading the misinformation that only 4s do well with kids. This hurts dogs and kids! A lot of shelters have started similar scoring and won’t adopt to families with kids because of skewed testing. This just means families have to buy rather than adopt.
I have a well bred standard poodle service dog who passed this test with flying colors but gets very nervous out in public so I just use her at home. This test really doesn't prove much.
@@fre58050-80% of dogs fail as service dogs. Being out in public and inaide of stores is a very hard task for most dogs, so even if they have the perfect temperament, they can still fail. I just picked up my standard poodle pup, he will be my prospect. He is the smallest and smartest of his litter! We are actually on our way home right now and he has been asleep the whole time. I haven't heard him make any noises, I've never seen such a calm puppy before. I hope he will be calm tonight for crate training..
All tests should be taken with a grain of salt but that doesn't mean they aren't worth doing. Our whole education system is built around that idea.
Very nicely done, I appreciated the added graphics, the music was pleasant and not distracting, your voice is charming! Thank you for an informative video and the link to Volhard documents.
Really helpful video thank you! I will be getting a golden retriever prospect soon to be my Autism assistance dog and will be sure to temperament test to make sure I get the right one for me.
This is literally perfect! I need 3-4s though 2s will be just as good but this is honestly so helpful thank you
Reviewing this before going to look at some prospects today. Thanks for the starting point on what to consider!
I know this is a year old video, but thank you so much for the information you provided and for explaining what you were looking for and why. I'm currently looking for my next service dog prospect and will be using the tips here to help me find the one with compatible personality and traits. ❤️❤️❤️
added to watch later, as I am hoping to handle and train service dogs and maybe keep one, so thank you for making this video.
This was a really informative video! Thank you! We are going to be training a service dog soon and this was a great video to show some of the things we need to look for in a puppy.
Thank you, good luck! 😊
This is very well done! Very well explained, and that is missing from many videos I have watched.
Excellent information! Thanks you for sharing.
This is such an informative and well made video! I will be getting my puppy next month and I was interested in doing a temperament test on the first day [even though the breeder will already be doing personality testing] so that I can compare it to a temperament test I will conduct when theyre a bit older to see if anything changed :) I'm also hoping to train a service dog later down the line when I feel experienced enough with training. I'd love to learn more about how you got into service dog training!
Thank you! Good luck with your training, it’ll be a lot of work but a whole lot of payoff and bonding 😊 I may make a video in the future about what made me decide to owner train, but the short synopsis is I wasn’t willing (or able) to pay $45,000 upfront and wait 4-5 years that it would take for an organization to train a service dog for me. So, I decided to take the route of owner training because I knew that though it would be really hard work, it would definitely help me with my disabilities (and it was more affordable). :)
Thank you just had An accidentally litter and now I know how to temperament test them to best find the home for them and there needs
Fabulous job on this video! Very informative without being boring; great video clips to show what you’re talking about; excellent guidance on your part to the more gray areas. Super.
Hi there. Good presentation. I can't find the video you mention at the end... the one about emotional support animals. Everett is stunning, by the way.
Excellent job explaining the process!
Thank you!
This video was the most helpful video Ive ever seen about how to choose puppies. God bless you and thank you
Well done , u and the breeder made the right decision regarding the foot squeezing test . I have nvr agreed with it as it's counter productive , idk why anyone ever thought it was a good idea to add discomfort and pain to a puppy evaluation test ! 🙄. The rest of the Volhard test can b very useful , however I have found its just 1 part of choosing a puppy...whatever u r choosing one for ...so please don't use this solely to make your choice. Make use of the many tools available as well as learning at least the basics of dog psychology , which is different from training .
This is a WONDERFUL video & I sincerely appreciate the information shared -
I do have the following 3 questions :
1. How accurate is the correlation between the results of this or similar tests conducted when a dog is a pup to when it becomes an adult ?
Do the inherent “character/qualities” supersede the experiences the dog experiences during its journey from a pup to an adult ?
2. Also, does one need to connect this test more then one time ? I ask for what if the pup is unwell, has not rested well, hungry or is simply “not having a good da” at the time the test is being conducted ?
Is there a more appropriate time during a day when such a test should be conducted, mornings from 20am to 12:00, to dhubgs, etc. - When is it best to evaluate pup ?
Is there an optimal age ( in weeks ) when a pup should undergo such a test, ie not too young ?
3. Is there a way to downl this test ?
Will really appreciate a reply.
Thanks in advance.
🙏🏼
Is there a way to contact you ?
🙏🏼
I did find a link to the test n have downloaded it - Tried a few times to provide the link here, but that port keeps getting deleted.
Am sure others find the link without much difficulty as I did.
@@jaivora423 So sorry that my reply is late! I’m working on a response to your questions right now :) if you ever want to contact me you can dm me @golden_irish_sd on Instagram!
Here are my responses to your questions, which are based off of credible published literature I’ve read on the subject (I am not a professional on the subject of Volhard temperament testing, I’ve just researched it and conducted it). These answers are the general consensus:
1.) The results of the Volhard test when you perform it on a puppy vs the same pup when it is an adult will vary because of its life experiences once it goes into the world. For example, lets say you do the test on a pup born with a slightly anxious temperament. It will most likely develop fearfulness shaped by later environments and experiences, and will require a lot of positive reinforcement and training to be confident in new situations. Or, you could test a pup and see that it has a generally confident demeanor. If that dog is attacked by a dog or multiple dogs later on, then re-testing it as an adult will most likely reflect its experiences and fear (from trauma). But there is the possibility that the effects from lasting trauma in the dog wouldn’t be reflected in the test, because nothing is absolute. So, puppies are best to test [between 7-10 weeks of age] because they are usually ‘blank slates’ (unless they are in a horrible living situation and develop fears, which would most likely be reflected in the test). The limiting factor here is you can’t conduct every trial as intended on all adult dogs, because it would be very hard to lift a big dog in the proper way without hurting it or yourself. There are definitely trials you can conduct on adult dogs, discussed in the website I linked.
The inherent qualities that you see in a puppy certainly can be displayed through its life experiences, but I don’t think there’s a way to know if its qualities will supersede any life experiences. For example, my puppy tested as quite a confident pup. If I didn’t take him to puppy class to expose him to many different types of floorings and smells, he would be very hesitant to walk on any floor that is different than the ones we have at home. But since I did, he has no problem walking on concrete floors, tile, rugs, cold floors, bumpy floors, plastic wrap, foam floors, sand, grass, rocks, etc. and this is made easier for him by his natural confidence. I hope that makes sense, basically what I’m trying to say is there’s no guarantee if a dog’s qualities will supersede life experiences as it grows up because experiences that dogs have are so broad. Proper and careful training will make a huge difference for how dogs act later as adults.
2.) If a puppy is feeling unwell, unrested, or if it just ate, then it should not be tested until it is feeling better or is hungry for its next meal. The reason that puppies shouldn’t be tested after they just ate is because they will feel more sluggish and sleepy (we know the feeling, after a nice meal you don’t wanna go be active, you wanna go take a nap lol). So puppies experiencing any of these issues should be tested at a later date or time. I ran into this issue when testing my pup’s brothers. One of them had hurts its leg when it was bumbling around, so I didn’t test him at all (I had already found my match so that helped, but if I didn’t I would have waited however many days the vet recommended and then conducted the test).
As for best times to test the pups, there are generally 2 restrictions: not super super early in the morning when they should be sleeping or super late in the evening when they should be sleeping, and not just after the puppies have eaten. You would have to communicate with the breeder, foster home, or shelter to coordinate this time with them and be specific about the pups not eating right before you test them.
3.) Temperament tests are typically conducted on puppies between seven and ten weeks of age. As I mentioned before, they are usually ‘blank slates’ at this time. But, a number of behaviors of personality might not emerge until the puppy matures. Like an example aforementioned, a pup born with a slightly anxious temperament can develop fearfulness shaped by environments and experiences. I personally wouldn’t test a puppy before eight weeks old, or when the puppy is typically weaned from its mother. Most of this temperament test can be conducted on adult dogs, but usually not every trial. It would be hard to turn a full grown husky or Great Dane on its back for that trial, or do the elevation dominance trial on big dogs. The website I linked discusses this a little bit more in-depth.
Again, my answers provided above are a reflection of the hours of research I’ve done (and double-checking my sources today to make sure I’m providing the most accurate information I can), but if you find something that contradicts it, of course explore it and just make sure it comes from credible and ethical sources, and has been ethically tested! I’m not an expert on this, I didn’t study it in a formal setting, and I definitely don’t want to misrepresent myself as such. I just have experience with researching and conducting this test many times over. :)
Finally, make sure to remember that this test will only give a surface level snapshot of how the puppy will act later on; the test isn’t meant to 100% guarantee anything, but rather to be a help in predicting what general characteristics the puppy will display as it grows up.
I really hope this helped, sorry again for the delay!
No worries about the delay in replying - I SINCERELY appreciate the answers you have provided and they are pretty much what I had considered them to be but wanted to double check based on your experience and expertise.
A BIG thank you for taking the time to research and reply
I was so happy to come across your video on TH-cam. I currently Have a service dog but she has soft tissue sarcoma so I find myself having to think about getting another dog. I have wondered if there was anything standardized that people used. Wouldn't try to choose a puppy to be a service dog. I was so happy to find out that there was. Then I go and look to subscribe to your channel and it looks like you did a few videos but they're all 2 years ago. Are you done with this subject? I just hate the fact that you are not an ongoing resource lol
This is an amazingly well put together video. So helpful. thank you.
My puppy scored mostly 3,s and 4,s I’m looking to train him for medical alert ❤️
Good luck!!
Thank you for this video. I’m getting my SD prospect here soon and this video rlly helped me a lot more. So thank you!!
Super helpful info and getting to watch you test your pup was perfect! thank you so much!
fantastic informative video.
Thank you so much!
oh my gosh, your voice is so so pretty
I'm currently looking into getting a pup from a breeder who temperment tests and socializes with alot of different animals. I will speak to her about this test and see if I can go to the property and we can do this test together!
When doing this, do you do the test with each individual pup that meets your preferences (color or sex) or do you pick your favorite and see how it does?
I would assume the first but I dont know haha. I'll be thinking hard about it after the testing and I wont even be getting one for a couple years unless something were to happen to my current SD. My dog very well may wash after my friends dog bit her, so hopefully I can get a pup that will work perfectly for me ❤
I’m so sorry to hear about the trauma your current SD went through, I really hope she doesn’t wash🤞 when I was looking for my prospect pup, the breeder posted temperament testing results on FB that they got when they tested. I looked through those and had an idea of the pups I wanted to test first, but to my surprise my choice #3 became #1 after I tested him! So I would say just test all of the pups that you can. I tested only male pups since I knew I needed a male for the future mobility work that he will be trained to do. I tested about 6, and though it was tiring, having someone film for me so I could review it after really really helped. So I would suggest bringing along someone to score and film for you, just make sure the breeder isn’t the one scoring :) I hope this answered your question, please ask more if you have any! 😊
@@goldenirishsd8319 Can I ask why specifically a male for mobility work? I plan to eventually get and train a dog primarily for medical alert and response but also with some light mobility work (stabilizing me when I get wobbly, helping me get up from chairs, guiding me when I'm disoriented) and would like to know why you specifically looked for a male for mobility work.
It’s actually health and temperament first
Gender and color last
@@indigosky1002i believe its because males in dog breeds are typically bigger (and sometimes thicker) than females!
Great video. Good content. Wish the background music was not that loud.
Great thank you
This helped me learn a lot
Definitely the pick of the litter.
So, I want to get a SD to help with my autism, anxiety and a few other things but they are all non physical, from what you said on the scores, I thought a 4-3 puppy would work, what would be your idea? Also I'm most likely not going to get a puppy for years because of current life so my needs may change, also that puppy will be my fist service dog, so what do you recommend score wise, again mostly 4's and 3's sounded good but I know very little about the test so I wanted to ask your advice.
I think a puppy who scores 3s and and 4s could absolutely make a great service dog in general (for any other future sd handlers also reading this), and if you learn about how to train the pup for obedience and the tasks you’d like it to do (if you’re owner-training) then you would have a good chance for success. Also, reaching out to independent sd trainers is always a good idea! Success isn’t 100% guaranteed unfortunately, and that’s the risk that we take when owner-training. I would recommend looking on Instagram for sd teams who specify that their dog is trained for assistance with autism and anxiety, and ask them for advice on what to look for in your future pup. They’ll know more about what your looking for in a dog, and be more helpful with that than I am lol. I did this when looking for my sd, and I found that many handlers were happy to share their experience. If you’re getting your sd from an organization, they will chose a puppy that they think is best suited to your needs. I wish you the best of luck with your future sd! 😊
Oh, also watching TH-cam and Instagram videos about sd obedience and task-training helps a lot! There’s no guide on how to owner-train, so a lot of the before-you-get-a-puppy-process is gathering as much info as possible available on the internet about what sd raising and training involves.
Thank you! 😄
That little tail in turbo mode. Sweet.
I have a 5-year-old GSD, from the age of 7 1/2 weeks. She would have done poorly on every test. She would not have been a good candidate for service training; she is not even food-motivated. However, as a companion she is fine, especially compared to most GSDs I have seen or heard of. She impresses everyone with her calm nature and beauty. She walks well beside me after exercise, on a leash or off, loves to chase a ball but generally will not bring it all the way back, and is invariably gentle with all animals and people. So, these tests are valuable, but getting a passing grade does not necessarily make for a bad or untrainable dog.
They can change as they age. Puppies are like clay, you can mould them but you can't change what they are made out of, you can add different ingredients to the clay though. You can train them, socalize them, and work on things they are scared of. All puppies will have their own personalities but you can't change that.
Great video
Thank you
Would this test work on a 1 year old dog? We’ve gone through beginner-advanced puppy training and all of the trainers who’ve met Zuko say that he would be a great service dog. He is so eager to please, very smart and easy to train. I wasn’t looking for a service dog at the time we got him but my partner is in a wheelchair and I’m neurodivergent so he actually could potentially help us a lot! He already picks things up for my partner
I’d say it still works!
Thank you!!
Where do I find a service dog tester and scorer? Or do I have to be the tester and hire a scorer? I’m not sure lol
I picked my prospect 3 days ago, I RLLY wish I could have seen this video then 😭
I hope it goes well for you!!
how do you tell the difference between teething bites and aggressive bites when working with a pup to be a service dog?
Good explanation. Wish the background music was less louder than narative
I tested my two year old dog and who scored mostly 3’s and I’ve been working on training her! The scores were correct! Should I keep tryin?😊
I just adopted my prospect at 12 weeks. She has a great temperment and working on the basics of puppy hood before getting into tasking. Would you recommend a good citizenship test for service dogs as well?
I needed this information it helped me bc my brother has a bad allergyy that if he has it he will die
Amazing 👍
8:00 Only 61/2 hours out of the crate doesn’t seem like enough though?
It can absolutely be modified based on preference, but remember that very young puppies need lots of sleep. Feel free to look into it if you’d like, it’s a guide created by a well-known professional dog behavioralist and trainer.The important thing to note is that there isn’t one set-in-stone, tried and true way to raise or train a puppy, which is why I say that the info in this video is meant to *guide* dog owners, not for them to follow everything to a T. 😊
Golden Irish SD Thank you! Makes sense and much appreciated.
This is fun but the breeder that we're planning on going with allows people to pick their puppy before 7 weeks, which is when the test is performed. You can get an idea of their personalities from different things before 7 weeks, like their reaction to ENS and other interactions. I hope I can pick a winner!!
Hii aw she is so cute also in ur user it is Irish sd are you and her in Ireland
Hi, thanks for watching! My channel name is ‘Golden Irish SD’ because the breed of my service dog (the pup in the vid) is a Golden Retriever and Irish Setter mix, called a Golden Irish. The SD part stands for service dog. 😊 We don’t live in Ireland, though I’d love to go there!
@@goldenirishsd8319 hii🤗oh really that is great my sdit is a Irish setter x poodle .yes I live in Ireland it is a great country
I just asked my breeder if she will do this or if I should do this when I meet the puppies (who should score and who should test)
Yikes. My breeder isnt letting us choose until theyre ready to go, and unfortunately i only get to choose between 3 males bc they do the deposit by gender....😳
Are these test accurate tho? Should u test them maybe 2 times? What if they change as they get older like way more playful and not calm around children as you thought when testing? I'm looking for a good family pup that's why I'm asking so many questions 😅
I’m
Confused my puppy got mix of 2s and 3s but someone said a mix of 3s and 4s best?
This put the police pup temperament test into great perspective. Police are looking for dogs more confident and aggressive than service dogs.
The intentions for your video are absolutely phenomenal and I understand you trying to educate people and you definitely are on the right path congratulations for this.
However sadly when you were not physically or mentally capable to follow out each step so that way the dogs/puppies can get evaluated properly it is extremely important so when you have a habit sometimes because of your level of discomfort of the situation the dog could develop things in the long run.
God bless keep up the great work 🙂
I'm having an issue. My parents don't listen to me when I tell them 6 weeks is too young to bring our puppy home, and we're getting her this weekend. (I think the breeders are having us bring her home at 6 weeks since shes weaned off her mom and they don't wanna take care of her anymore). As excited as I am, I know this can cause several behavioral issues that my parents dismiss. I've got her a heating pad, and wrapped a phone in a towel to play a heartbeat sound for the puppy at night. I don't know what to do since puppies learn so many lessons from their mom at this age. Us picking her up this weekend has been set and stone, and I want to be as prepared as possible to teach her the lessons her mom would have. How do I do this? Any advice on what's best to do?
I wish I could help you and give some advice but unfortunately I don’t know enough about taking care of puppies who have been weaned too young to give advice on the subject. The most I can say is do a lot of research about how to accommodate a puppy who is weaned too young and learn as much as you can about it. Also, call the vet that you will take the puppy to and ask them if they have advice and/or supplies to help you out. I hope everything turns out well for you, I’m sorry I can’t be of more help!
@@goldenirishsd8319 That's alright! Thank you.
@@goldenirishsd8319 6 wks is too young to be taken away, but if the owner/breeder chooses to separate, there isn't much one can do other than not opt to purchase. I also work with guide dogs as well, but under an organization. Service pups do not leave mom under 8 wks. I would rather be out a deposit on the pup than take a pup knowing possible problems down the road.
This test is not a good indicator if the puppy is service dog material. It’s based on the old and debunked alpha and dominance theory. How they act here does not define them later
Thanks for that info! Should I just see how the pup acts in general?
How do I ask the breeder to do this test?
How long did this take you?
I would love to know more about you training your own service dog.
Will it still work if I’m running the test a littler of puppies I’ve raised ( I won’t be the tester)
I’m not sure I understand your question, but I will try to answer to the best of my ability. If you are testing a litter of puppies that you are raising, the test results will be inaccurate because the tester must be a complete stranger. If you have a complete stranger test the puppies and you are out of the testing area, the results should be as accurate as they can be depending on the stranger’s testing ability.
Ethically speaking, you should not be the scorer if you are selling the puppies. A neutral third-party (neither the seller or the tester) should be acting as scorer.
What if it’s a complete mix
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What breed is the puppy because I have a puppy that looks just like that but I’m not sure what kind of breed my puppy is
He's a Golden Retriever x Irish Setter mix.
What breed is your SD?
A golden retriever + Irish setter mix :)
is the person conducting the test supposed to be a stranger or the owner?
a stranger so the puppies don't know the person conducting and act differently to, say, how they act to a new family or other person
@@555sanjana You are correct, a stranger should be the one to conduct it :)
@brooke ashley the person conducting it is supposed to be someone the puppies never met, so not the owner, breeder, caretaker, or foster family. It should usually be the person interested in adopting/buying a puppy, who the pups have never met, so it should be done on your first visit with the pups. If you planned to visit the hypothetical litter of pups before they are 8 weeks old but also want to temperament test them, you must wait until they’re at the optimal age of at least 8 weeks. The best (and most ethical) age for the puppies to be in order to do this test is between 8-10 weeks.
Is there a similar test you can do when meeting shelter dogs to understand their temperment?
Absolutely! If you click on the link to the Volhard Temperament Test website in the description, it is listed there. You may just need to scroll down a lot to get to it haha.
My puppy is 3 - 4
Leaving the mask on for the test was so careful and thoughtful! Wouldn't want the puppy to catch a pretend illness.
what delusional ramblings are you on??
After watching the video, I couldn’t figure out if a high score or low score was desirable.
A middle score is more desirable :) check out the links in the description for more info
the guitar music is very distracting and makes it very difficult for me to hear as I am partly deaf.get rid of the music
Segments of this test uses outdated dog behavior theory. I'm not sure you should trust it exclusively, as do some of the score results.
Mostly 5s sounds like your average pet coyote!
Thank you for the video. Iam currently training my dog for medical service this will be interesting to see what one she is. I assume she may be a 4. I also have a new pup already alerting to my medical issues as well.
Good luck with training! 😊
The dog can’t get you sick
Voice too quiet, music too laud, could not here much
The guitar strumming needs to go. It made it hard to hear the narration and it was an annoying sound to accompany an otherwise educational video.
This all is such bullshit XD
3
1
1
3
5
3
4
2