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Updated: January 10, 2003 – For updates and contact info: www.Volhard.com
PUPPY APTITUDE TEST
This score sheet has been prepared for the convenience of those who have Dog Training For
Dummies by Jack & Wendy Volhard (IDG Books, 2001), which contains the information
necessary for accurate results and the correct interpretation of the scores.
© Wendy Volhard 2003

Special thanks for Alexandra Pichler and Gergõ Hosszú for their warm support to perform this test with the C litter!
Hungarian translation: Melinda Kertész © 2006.

PUPPY APTITUDE TEST
Puppy (color, sex) ________________ litter ______________________ date ____________
Click here for printer friendly PDF version (without photos).

The remainder of the puppy test is an evaluation of obedience aptitude and working ability and provides a general picture of a pup's intelligence, spirit, and willingness to work with a human being. For most owners, a good companion dog will score in the 3 to 4 range in this section of the test. Puppies scoring a combination of 1's and 2's require experienced handlers who will be able to draw the best aspects of their potential from them.
Important note from Wendy Volhard...regarding the Touch Sensitivity test - Do not use your fingernail when performing this test. Press between the finger and thumb lightly then more firmly until you get a response.

Ideally, puppies are tested in the 7th week, preferably the 49th day. At 6 weeks or earlier the puppy's neurological connections are not fully developed. (If the test is conducted between 8 - 10 weeks, the puppy is in the fear imprint stage and special care must be taken not to frighten it).
Puppies are tested individually, away from dam and litter mates, in an area new to them and relatively free from distractions. It could be a porch, garage, living room, yard or whatever. Puppies should be tested before a meal they are awake and lively and not on a day when they been wormed or given their puppy shots.
The sequence of the tests is the same for all pups and is designed to alternate a slightly stressful test with a neutral or pleasant one.
There is less chance for human error, or the puppies being influenced by a familiar person, if the tests are administered by someone other than the owner of the litter. A friend of the owner, or the prospective buyer can easily learn to give the test.

I found it helpful to arrange the tests in a concise chart form following the order in which they are given. In addition, since I found it difficult to use Campbell's scoring code, 1I simply gave each response a number. While testing numerous puppies, the Volhards found that a number of puppies showed responses not on Campbell's test. These observations are included in the test with an apostrophe in order to differentiate them from Campbell's original tests. The Pfaffenberger tests were also given a number so that all scores can be compared and a chart was devised for checking a puppy s total performance at a glance.

Also included in the Obedience Aptitude Tests is a section on structure. Over 60 breeds conform to what "conventional body type", that is 45 degree angulation front and rear. The greater the deviation from this norm, the less efficiently the dog will be able to perform obedience exercises. Other impediments to efficiency are HD, cowhocks, east-west feet, crossing in front or rear when gaiting.
A simple guide to follow for puppies at this age (7 - 8 weeks) is "what you see is what you get" notwithstanding the all too familiar assurance, "Don't worry, he'll grow out of it". Be particularly wary of the statement, "he's not much of a conformation dog but he'll do fine in obedience".

This could mean the dog is perhaps mismarked or has light eyes but is structurally sound. However, often it means the dog has a serious structural fault. This dog will be unable to take the strenuousness of training and competing in the obedience ring. If you feel that evaluating structure accurately is above your head, seek competent help.

Last but not least, the prospective puppy testor must have a chance to observe the parents of the litter, preferably both parents but at least the dam. If the sire and/or dam have characteristics which are not desirable there exists a good chance some, if not all, of the puppies will have inherited these undesirable traits.

The safest and easiest thing to do when faced with parent dogs of undesirable temperament is simply to look for another litter of pups whose sire and dam more closely conform to your ideals. If you must have a pup from this litter pay particular attention to the test scores of the litter and do not select a pup which shows any tendency towards undesirable traits.