RUFF work

BREEDERS AND PUPPY TESTING & SELECTION

BACKYARD BREEDERS

(and some sophisticated breeders of champion lines [and maybe all breeders] )

No one wants to be left with half a litter of pups so there is a tendency to line up sales asap. Most breeders have experienced the “definite interest” in a pup from their litter and seen this “interest” evaporate when it comes time to take a pup. And cute as the pups may be, by 6-7 weeks the breeders are worn out, if they have been conscientious about care and socialization of the litter. So, there is pressure to line up sales and consummate the deals.

For those of us that believe in Puppy Aptitude Testing, this works to our disadvantage. We would like to have the whole litter to pick from and to make the final testing and selection at 7 weeks. That’s when the pups are neurologically wired-their basic drives and personality traits are on display. Of course there is the potential to modify and enhance some of these but why not start with as much of the right stuff as you can.

Well I can’t remember the last time I got EVERYTHING I wanted, so how do I go about this selection thing. First, try to educate the breeder about the development stages of puppies and see if I can convince them to hold off early selections. I may be 3^rd in line but still don’t want to make my choice until week 7. This may mean that I have to make a deposit on a pick from that litter & maybe another deposit on another litter. I have to be willing to loose one or both deposits if I don’t find what I really want. But what I really want is for the breeder to put everyone on the

7 week schedule of selection. You won’t win all the time. A niece may want that fat fuzzy one

(@ week 4) and that decision is final. A buyer who hasn’t even seen the litter may want a large female based on Pedigree Charts alone and that decision is final.

If you are really interested in one or more litters; if you have looked at the parents and are pleased with their stature, physical attributes, health etc., you will probably stop by to look at their development at 4,5,and 6 weeks of age. You will observe some developing traits and may start to narrow down your selection but trying to make a final decision at these earlier ages is a gamble (if you are a PAT devotee). I’ve seen seemingly confident pups who display high hunt and prey drive within the pack and in their familiar surroundings, freeze-up when moved to a neutral setting to test them.

Just an aside-I have seen breeders let people take puppies home as early as week 5 – this precludes some of the essential socialization that happens naturally in the litter (e.g. bite inhibition) so even if you have to make an early decision leave the litter intact until the magic 49^th day*.

Some web readings re DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF A PUPPY

http://www.paws.org/shelter/resources/library/developpuppy.htm

http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/Plains/2913/a-english/puppy-ima.html

http://www.dogwoodshelties.net/dog_info/Behavior/Development.htm

http://www.equinoxpermreg.com/criticalpuppy.html

* Also See-- the Myth of the 49th day/a differing view on timing of selection-- ANOTHER LOOK AT THE 49th DAY by Ed Bailey

SOME SOURCES OF INFORMATION RE PUPPY APTITUDE TESTING

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The Volhard Test
REPRINTS OF THESE ARTICLES ARE AVAILABLE FROM THE VOLHARDS AND ONLY COST
$8-10 -- THEY HAVE PICTURES OF DOING THE TESTS, INTERPRETATIONS OF RESULTS
AND SCORE SHEETS -- WORTH EVERY PENNY

Top Dog Training School
30 Besaw Road
Phoenix, NY 13135
or better yet call them and talk to Jack (Joachim Volhard) and order what
you need --- 315-593-6115

A Novice looks at Puppy Aptitude Testing, Melissa Bartlett, Pure-Bred Dogs
American Kennel Gazette, March 1979
Puppy Aptitude Testing, Melissa Bartlett, Pure-Bred Dogs American Kennel
Gazette, March 1985
Puppy Personality Profile, Gail Tamases Fisher and Wendy Volhard, Pure-Bred
Dogs American Kennel Gazette, March 1985

REPRINT ALSO INCLUDES SOME INFO RE -- "SELECTING AN OLDER DOG" & "DRIVES"
Looking at an older dog à recommend readings
What Age Puppy To Buy, Wendy Volhard, Pure-Bred Dogs American Kennel
Gazette, February 1987
"DRIVES" A New Look at an Old Concept Part 1, Wendy Volhard, OFF-LEAD,
September, 1991
"DRIVES" A New Look at an Old Concept Part 2, Wendy Volhard, OFF-LEAD,
October, 1991
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The Monks of New Skete [ http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ ] use the Volhard
Test and have a couple of items on the web --HISTORY and PICTURES of testing
are worth reviewing.
Evolution and Interpretation of the Puppy Test,
http://www.leos.net/puppy_test.html
The Puppy Test, http://www.leos.net/pup_test.html

PAWS - A Modified Test for Working Dog Evaluation by Jona Decker,
http://www.wtp.net/ASDK9SAR/articles/paws.html

Making the Grade SOME ADDITIONAL THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A PUP