GSDCA TEMPERAMENT TEST
| PASS | TEST | FAIL |
| 0 Does
not alert to the stranger, dog's attention is elsewhere.
+1 Mildly alert and is friendly toward the stranger +2 Mildly alert, is mildly friendly toward the stranger +3 Alerts to stranger and confidently holds his ground, is poised, with neither aggressive nor friendly reaction |
NEUTRAL STRANGER | Exhibits
any signs of aggression or shyness
-1 Alerts but is uneasy at the approach and exhibits mild avoidance behavior. -2 Gives ground, escape reaction. -3 Panics, escape reaction, or shows aggressive behavior. |
| 0 Ignores
approach and his attention is elsewhere.
+1 Alert and responds in a friendly manner to the stranger +2 Alert and mildly receptive to the stranger's advances +3 Alert, self confident, holds his ground but is aloof toward the stranger's advances. |
FRIENDLY STRANGER | -1 Shows
mild avoidance
-2 Nervous, looking about or upward with anxious expression -3 Shrinks behind handler, escape reaction, or shows aggressive reaction |
| 0 No
reaction
+1 Alerts, startles, and will investigate only with strong encouragement. +2 Alerts, startles momentarily, but quickly recovers and moves forward to investigate within 20 seconds. +3 Alerts, and eagerly moves forward to investigate |
HIDDEN
CLATTERING
- APPROACH |
-1 Alerts
but will not investigate in spite of encouragement, within 20 seconds.
Mild avoidance
-2 Alerts, backs away, medium avoidance. -3 Panic, escape reaction, strong avoidance. |
| 0 No
reaction (unlikely)
+1 Shows startle and/or avoidance, but with strong encouragement makes close investigation in 20 seconds. +2 Hesitates, but recovers quickly and makes a close investigation with or without mild encouragement. +3 Confidently and without hesitation proceeds to a close investigation of the can. |
INVESTIGATION,
VISUAL INSPECTION OF CLATTERING |
-1 Strong
startle and/or avoidance - with encouragement fails to recover sufficiently
to make close investigation within 20 seconds.
-2 Strong startle and/or avoidance. Encouragement results in little or no recovery. -3 Panic, escape reaction |
| 0 No
reaction
+1 Startles, with or without encouragement recovers in 20 seconds, but does not show investigative behavior. +2 Startles, but with or without encouragement quickly recovers and investigates. +3 Alerts and confidently turns toward the sound to investigate. |
GUN TEST | -1 Startles
and does not recover in 20 seconds with encouragement. Nervous, looking
about, anxious.
-2 Startles and doesn't recover with encouragement, shrinking behind handler. -3 Panic, escape reaction. No response to encouragement, out of control. |
| 0 No
reaction -(unlikely)
+1 Startles, but with strong encouragement will investigate within 20 seconds. +2 Startles, but with or without encouragement quickly recovers and investigates within 20 seconds. +3 Startles, but recovers almost instantly and shows confident, investigative or aggressive behavior. |
UMBRELLA | -1 Startles
and does not recover with encouragement within 20 seconds. Nervous, looking
about, anxious.
-2 Startles and doesn't recover with encouragement within 20 seconds. Shrinking behind handler. -3 Panic, escape reaction. No response to encouragement within 20 seconds; out of control. |
| 0 Not
applicable
+1 Shows mild avoidance but walks across with some encouragement. +2 Hesitates but quickly recovers and walks across confidently and without encouragement. +3 Walks confidently across the change of footing without hesitation. |
FOOTING
- PLASTIC |
-1 Mild
avoidance and requires considerable encouragement before making any attempt
to walk or jump across. Refuses to walk complete length.
-2 Strong avoidance, will not cross with encouragement. -3 Panic, escape reaction, out of control |
| SAME AS ABOVE | FOOTING
- WIRE MESH |
SAME AS ABOVE |
| 0 No
reaction
+1 Alert with no investigative and/or aggressive reaction. +2 Alert with moderate investigative and/or aggressive reaction. +3 Immediate, strong alert with fearless and eager investigative reaction. |
PROTECTIVE
RESPONSE
- APPEARANCE |
-1 Alert
with mild avoidance. Nervous, looking about, anxious.
-2 Alert and strong avoidance, shrinking behind handler. -3 Panic, escape reaction, uncontrolled. |
| 0 No
reaction
+1 Stands ground but shows only mild investigative and/or aggressive reaction. +2 Stands ground and becomes investigative and/or aggressive. +3 Begins or continues strong investigative reaction. Moving forward, very eager and alert. |
- APPROACH | -1 Retreats,
displays some curiosity but no aggressive reaction.
-2 Displays strong avoidance reaction retreating behind the handler with no investigative and/or aggressive reaction. -3 Panic, escape reaction, uncontrolled. |
| 0 No
reaction, or only shows curiosity.
+1 Stands ground or may retreat slightly but with or without encouragement recovers in 20 seconds, and holds his ground with mild investigative and/or aggressive reaction. +2 Stands ground, is alert, investigative and/or aggressive. +3 Begins or continues strong investigative and/or aggressive reaction, moving forward toward the aggressive stranger. |
- THREAT | -1 Retreats
slightly and with encouragement does not recover and/or hold ground in
20 seconds. May display some aggressive behavior in retreat.
-2 Shows strong avoidance. Retreating behind handler. -3 Panic, escape reaction, uncontrolled. |
Provided by the GSDCA TEMPERAMENT COMMITTEE:
For information
or questions about this document, contact Senior
Temperament
Evaluator, Dick Whalen, or Complete
the form below
or For
Information or questions about scheduling a GSDCA Temperament Test,
contact
Bob Penny, Chairman, GSDCA Temperament Committee, at 626-355-6191
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