RUFF work

It’s not an exact science by any means. There are variations between breeds, between litters and within a litter. Then there is the question of selecting and training an older dog.

There are differing opinions with regard to the efficacy of Puppy Testing. Bottom Line—It’s about giving you the best opportunity for success. Opinion—It’s worth the effort.

SELECTION /

BACKGROUND / Overview

SELECTION TOOLS

LOOKING AT LITTERS

Overview of positive [desirable] elements to look for in a strong Working Dog

While these articles come from various disciplines (Schutzhund, Law Enforcement [LE], SAR, and others), and some have shameless breed biases, they are valuable in terms of background and items to consider when evaluating a candidate for your program.

TESTING DOGS a Perspective on Selection

Some traits tough to test in a pup but good definitions of characteristics and some ideas of what you may be looking for – it is LE oriented -- there are other good articles at this site

Working Dog Temperament

Need to wade through jingoistic trieste of GSDs but worthwhile

Components of Temperament

Geared to Schutzhund work but good basic info

PREY DRIVE---NOT HUNT DAN INSERT SOMETHING HERE

Picking a Puppy for a Working Program

General – look at puppies growing up, guarantees

Selecting a Working Dog Puppy

General

Selecting a Dog for Search & Rescue

A search dog guy with a search dog approach – a lot more info on this site http://www.comdens.com/SAR/default.htm

How to Choose a Puppy for SAR

A “must read”

How to Selection Test and Pick A Working Puppy

a good site LE-Schutzhund oriented but lots of useful information the guy knows his stuff

Puppy Testing for Guide Dogs

Another Leerburg training article – similar to Volhard (see Selection Tools below) but a little different timing and selection attributes, plus SCORE SHEET.

a couple of DISCLAIMERS, or qualified endorsements, re Puppy Aptitude Testing

See-- Free, James Lamb, Training Your Retriever, G .P. Putnam’s Sons, New York, 1991, p. 53-56

Dodman, N. H., Dogs Behaving Badly, Bantam Books, New York, 1999, p. 195-199

Selection Tools

The Puppy Aptitude Test

Lots of duplication and overlap but interpretations of test and how to score are all worth reading.

Volhard—select-1 http://www.volhard.com/puppies.htm

Volhard—select-2-Scoring http://www.volhard.com/scoring_the_puppy_aptitude_test.htm

Volhard—select-3- Interpretation http://www.volhard.com/what_the_scores_mean.htm

Volhard—select-4- Interpretation http://www.volhard.com/interpreting_the_scores.htm

Volhard-PAT-select-5-another version http://workingdogs.com/testing_volhard.htm

Other sites featuring the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (PAT) and interpretations of results

VOLHARD PUPPY TEST http://home.intekom.com/hsk/volpupte.htm

VOLHARD PUPPY TEST-1 http://home.intekom.com/hsk/puptest1.htm

VOLHARD PUPPY TEST-2 http://home.intekom.com/hsk/puptest2.htm

The Monks of New Skete [ http://www.dogsbestfriend.com/ ] use the Volhard Test and have a couple of items on the web

Evolution and Interpretation of the Puppy Test, http://www.leos.net/puppy_test.html

The Puppy Test, http://www.leos.net/pup_test.html

OTHER BOOKLETS/ARTICLES/ Volhard-Drives & Training-----------------see http://www.workingdogs.com/book032.htm & Dogwise.com

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

ADDITIONAL SELECTION TESTS

PAWS – A Modified Test for Working Dog Evaluation by Jona Decker,

This one is essential to include—some overlap/duplication but HUNT Drive [tenacity] is an integral character trait. There will be more on HUNT (olfactory) & PREY (sight/chase) drive in the Puppy Training section.

http://www.wtp.net/ASDK9SAR/articles/paws.html

from Search One – an old/broken url

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

sample combined Score Sheet

ARRANGEMENTS TO VIEW AND TEST LITTERS

Call ahead and arrange to view litter when the pups will be active. Find out when their most active time is and ask that they not be fed or involved in active play for a couple of hours prior to viewing.

TESTING PARAPHERNALIA

Have at least one helper/scribe to assist you and have them at a position that will not be distracting.
Score sheets and pens.
Method for marking puppies. Model airplane paint, quick drying lacquer (3 or 4 colors) and Q tips are useful.
Small towels or strips of rag for tugging.
Strong string to tie an object (rag or chew toy) and drag it on the ground.
Pie pan or metal bowl and a large spoon to strike it for sound sensitivity test.
Scrap paper to ball-up for retrieve test.

SEE --- Dealing with BREEDERS

SELECTING AN OLDER DOG

Definitely 2 schools of thought – puppy vs. an older dog. Jack & Wendy Volhard have developed a scoring system to evaluate temperament and drive characteristics in older dogs that may help in identifying suitability for rescue work.

BREED

Pandora’s box. People have very definite ideas about various breeds. If you haven’t made up your mind, here are some information sources that be helpful. Keep in mind; the dog’s purpose and your working environment.

Be aware of specific breed health problems.

DEVELOPMENT STAGES OF A PUPPY

OK, you have this 7-week-old pup. What is going to happen naturally over the next weeks and months?

HEALTH

Be aware of health issues in general and those specific to the breed you select. Look into the health of the parents and get documentation on hips and eyes. See BREEDER GUARANTEES section

BREEDER GUARANTEES

Some considerations and examples.

ADDITIONAL SELECTION TOOLS

The profile for a Search Dog can be different than for a seeing-eye candidate, an obedience ring candidate or a easy-to-live-with pet. Higher scores in ‘Hunt” and ‘Prey” drive, and stronger “Tug” and “Possessiveness” have been good indicators of overall desire to work and are traits that can be used to train for our specific needs.

DRIVES – GENETIC MOTIVATORS OF BEHAVIOR INSTINCTS

The “right stuff” is desirable, if not absolutely necessary, to achieving the end product of this whole exercise,

a reliable search tool. Understanding and identifying drives is one part. Learning to use them properly to enhance training and motivation is paramount.