Can a dog fail the test?
Strictly speaking it describes reactions rather than handing out a pass mark. Some programmes do give a grade, though, and use it for selection.
Aptitude and character tests
Temperament Test
This isn't about how well your dog follows cues. The assessor watches how it reacts to a sudden noise, a strange object or someone coming at it oddly. Above all, they watch how fast it bounces back.
About the discipline
What a temperament test is
Temperament tests are standardised assessments. The dog meets a series of unusual situations (sudden noises, moving objects, people approaching in odd ways, surfaces it has never walked on) and the assessor records how it responds to each one.
Obedience plays no part. What gets measured is emotional stability: does the dog startle, how hard, and how long until it's back to normal? A dog that flinches and recovers in two seconds passes. A dog that stays frozen doesn't.
Results feed into breeding selection and into the screening of therapy and service dog candidates. Sometimes the test is a first step before a dog takes up a sport.
How it works in practice
What is usually assessed
- how it reacts to a friendly stranger
- how it reacts to someone behaving oddly
- how it reacts to sudden noises
- how it reacts to moving objects
- walking on unusual surfaces
- how fast it recovers from a surprise
- how it copes with being handled
Every dog gets startled now and then, so nobody expects a fearless dog. The assessor is looking at recovery: how quickly it settles once the fright is over.
Which dogs it suits
- any dog, if you want an informative assessment
- candidates for therapy or service work
- dogs used for breeding
- teams that want to know where they stand before picking a sport
What you need
- nothing special to bring yourself
- your usual collar and lead
- a trained assessor and a standardised course
Frequently asked questions
Common questions about Temperament Test
Can I prepare in advance?
You can work on socialisation and gradual exposure, but you can't train for the test itself, and that's the whole idea. The assessor wants the dog's natural reaction, not one you drilled at home beforehand.
What is it actually useful for?
It tells you where you stand. You find out whether the dog suits therapy work or a sport with a lot of social pressure, or whether it first needs you to build its confidence.
From the same category
Related sports
Character Test
A test that describes a dog's character and behaviour across several traits.
Companion Dog Tests
Tests for the family dog that check it can behave around people.
Instinct Tests
Short tests that show whether a dog has a natural knack for herding, hunting or water work.
APWA-ICofA
A personality and welfare assessment carried out by an ethologist.
We do not run Temperament Test
This page is informational. We work in mantrailing, search and rescue and preparation for the TSAC and BH exams - but if you want an honest opinion on what would suit your dog, write to us anytime.