Testing Dominance, Following, Restraint & Social Attraction

Thanks to the experts there is an easy method to weed out the pups from a litter that do not fit the demeanor, personality, and characteristics you are anticipating in a new domestic dog. The test merely takes several minutes for each puppy, and that’s not a good deal time considering that the dog you choose will be living with you for a lot of years.

The test had better be given before the litter is seven weeks of age and the test should be done with each individual puppy at an isolated area that is new to the puppy and free from any distractions.

During the testing (including carrying the puppy from a litter to the area) there should be no spoken words, no urging or praise. All the pups should be handled really mildly so they will not be worried.

Social Dominance

Hunker down and mildly pet the puppy in strokes from the top of his head down along his neck and back. Do this for at least thirty seconds. Does he jump up, paw at you, growl at you, or try to bite? Does he wiggle and lick your hand or roll over? Does he walk away and then stay away?

This test suggests whether or not the puppy accepts your social dominance. Very dominant puppies will attempt to dominate the tester by jumping on him or perhaps even biting and growling at him. The independent pup may just walk away.  A pup that accepts your social dominance will try to lick you in an accepting manor or role over and be still.  In all of these cases you should continue to pet the pup until a recognizable behavior pattern can be observed.

Following

Starting at a position near to the pup, walk away from him or her in a normal, calm manner. Watch him or her closely as you walk away. How promptly did the pup follow you? Was his or her tail up in the air, and was he or she underfoot? Did he or she try to bite your legs and take exception to you leaving? Did he or she not follow at all, or was it hesitantly, with the tail down?

Restraint

Bend down and very gently roll the pup onto its back, holding him with one hand on his chest for more than thirty seconds. Does he quickly and steadily flail, bite or growl? Or does he merely flail? Does he struggle first and then calm down? Does he make little struggle and perhaps even lick your hand as well?

How fiercely the pup objects to this on the back position or how readily he or she accepts it indicates the degree of dominant or submissive tendency in response to both a human and physical-domination situation.  A puppy that doesn’t object much and tried to lick your hand is accepting you more as the dominant party.

Social Attraction

Pick the puppy up and carry it to the center of a test area and place him or her down. Step back several yards away from him or her in a direction opposite the door or gate by which you entered the test area.  Now kneel down and gently clap your hands trying to attract the dog to you.

In this test you are observing how quickly the pub comes to you.  Note whether the tail is up or down. Is the young pup lively or overly hesitant to come to you?  Does it come at all?  This reveals the pup’s degree of social attraction, confidence, or social independence.  A social active dog will come to you pretty quickly.  An independent dog will not.

Conclusion

Pay attention during these tests because you will testing all of the puppies in a liter, albeit one at a time.  Do all of the tests and pick the pup that fits the style that you like the best.  You won’t be sorry as you will get one that fits your temperament better.  You may not get a puppy that does perfect in every test.  Do the tests twice, maybe on different days if you

This entry was posted on Saturday, June 13th, 2009 at 9:12 pm and is filed under New Puppy Care. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.