"Dog Sense with Wendy Jordan" is now on Facebook! Go to Facebook and search:
Dog Sense: dog training, sports, and learning center
Wednesday, May 12, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Fire at the A.T.T.S. test!
I decided to take Fire through the American Temperament Test Society's temperament evaluation this year. This test is very similar to the Doberman Pinschers working aptitude test, in fact it's essentially the same test although the evaluations are performed in a slightly different manner. (this test is also similar to the European temperament tests) Fire is finally old enough (must be at least 18 mos. for either of these tests)and so I decided to see what my hand raised, neurotically attached to me dog would do on this test.
First, a quick overview of the test: There are 7 stations where a dogs social confidence, sound sensitivity, sight sensitivity, and other attributes are evaluated. (This examiner pointed out that when he starts you on the course that is essentially a "test" too as if the dog shows extreme fear or aggression at that point it won't be allowed to proceed) Along the course the dog meets a neutral stranger (talks to handler not dog), a friendly stranger (talks to dog), a sound/visual distraction (stranger walks out with a rattling bucket and sits it on the ground, a sound distraction (gunfire), a visual distraction (umbrella opening at dog level), a tactile distraction (walking over a tarp and an expen laid flat), and finally an "odd" stranger who turns aggressive (wanders out erratically then becomes aggressive threatening the dog at a distance). The test advances in it's level of stress as each one builds upon and is a little stronger than the previous. A dogs reaction is evaluated but equally important is the dogs recovery from it's reaction.
This test is a useful tool for breeders in helping to evaluate both the stability, and general temperament traits of their dogs. The ATTS test allows for the differences of temperament/personality called for by the various breed standards. For example a Golden Retriever may and possibly should react differently to the Friendly stranger than a breed who's standard calls for Aloofnes such as with a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher. It also takes into consideration the training a dog has had. A dog certified or trained for therapy work should respond differently than a schutzhund trained dog.
Ideally not training or advanced conditioning for this test should be done. In reality most of us now put a heavier emphasis on socializing our dogs and puppies, and the result typically is a dog who is better prepared to handle tests such as the ATTS. That same dog is better prepared to handle "life" as well! In Fires situation I raised his litter with Early Neurological Stimulation which helps develop dogs who are better adapted to handling stress (and therefore recover more easily if they do react). He also experienced a variety of sights/sounds/footing from a very young age. However he is a dog who has dealt with a lot of stress in his life early on and I have found him to stress more than some of my other dogs. His broken leg alone caused him pain and stress for many weeks. The strong attachment to me that I allowed to develop, also in turn caused him to stress at one stage of his life particularly when he was handled by or near others. So I wasn't really sure what to expect with him. I went in with the idea of using this as a tool to see where his current weaknesses lie.
The start of the test was the neutral stranger. Fire wasn't exactly aloof with her (as would be appropriate with a Doberman although rarely seen these days), he did jump up at her once. But he also wasn't all over her with exhuberance and friendliness. (Note: you are not allowed to speak to or commmand your dog during this test. Nor can the leash be held short/tight.) He did jump on the friendly stranger, although not as much as I expected! (jumping is allowed in this test, in real life I would have used a command to help Fire remain under control with four paws on the ground) As we walked along, out came the noisy/rattling bucket. Fire looked, located, you could see his little head working and he went right into the bucket to investigate. Not without thinking, but no assistance needed (if a dog doesn't investigate within 15 seconds the evaluator will ask you to encourage the dog to check it out). I appreciate that he didn't dive right in without thinking, but also showed no fear or hesitation. It was more methodical, look, think, check it out. Next test was gunfire. Fire's heard plenty of gunfire where we live. When I took Georgia and Doodle through they barely reacted, they aren't sound sensitive and simply don't care about noises. This was noted as a minus by one of the evaluators. (I just saw it as they were very accustomed to noise and not sensitive to it) Fire did turn with confidence and alertness and attempted to investigate. In all the dogs I've taken through the ATT and the WAE, this was the best response I'd seen to the gunfire portion. No fear or senstitivity, but a definite investigation with an alert expression, and then willing to forget about it and move one when I walked forward. Next was the Umbrella test. The only time Fire has seen an umbrella was when he was 7 weeks old and an evaluator did an aptitude test on the litter. I remember Fire approached and investigated the umbrella with confidence then, but wasn't sure what he'd do when one opened in his face as a young adult. No concerns, he took a step back (as is appropriate, it litterally opened in his face...I find they delay the opening a bit too much in the ATT test) and then immediately went forward and sniffed it! In the past I've seen dogs hit the end of the leash and not recover. I've seen (and had) dogs who ducked around the umbrella to visit with the guy holding the umbrella! Fire's response was perfect! Next came the footing test. I wasn't worried here, he's walked over tarps laying around the farm and he's the only dog I have ever had who will walk over a drain grate on the ground. Right over the footing we went and suddenly we found ourselves preparing for the aggressive stranger! This is the one part of the test I wasn't sure we'd pass. Fire's dam showed an extremely strong avoidance during this portion of the WAE (although she did recover and came forward). Although Fire has an edge to him that creates some barking and alertness with strangers when we happen upon them unexpectedly...he has also been corrected for that behavior. He has also been in nursing homes since he was four weeks old and has seen all kinds of people making erratic movements and strange noises. (initially the aggressive stranger is moving erratically and mumbling as someone might if they had a disability or were inebriated) I have also seen dogs with strong stress by this point in the test and their nose goes right to the ground as they ignore the person coming towards them. Fire's nose did go to the ground as I stood still. But as soon as the stranger made some noise his head came up, as the stranger moved forward Fire went towards him, and as the stranger aggressed Fire Stared at him, muscles tense, head alert, assessing the situation and ready to spring into action should action be required! Good Doberman! ;-) IMO, this stranger isn't aggressive enough to warrant a stronger response. The entire portion is over quickly. But to have a 20 mos. old dog, who has had conditioning to avoid aggression and protectiveness, stand out there with confidence ready to do the job his breed was developed to do in spite of all of his troubles and training...I was very impressed with my dog!
All three evaluators approached us at the end of the event. (the only dog at that point in the test, who was approached by all three!) All three had nothing but praise for his responses; What a nice Doberman, When he's a little older "He'll get that bad guy" for sure, etc. Yes I'm bragging...not usually my style. But Fire has gone from a pathetic, dehydrated newborn, to a broken leg at three weeks, to surprising me with this level of stability, confidence, and protective instinct! I've taken 5 Dobermans through the WAE, and three dogs through the ATTS. Of the 8 dogs, Fire's responses were the best.
First, a quick overview of the test: There are 7 stations where a dogs social confidence, sound sensitivity, sight sensitivity, and other attributes are evaluated. (This examiner pointed out that when he starts you on the course that is essentially a "test" too as if the dog shows extreme fear or aggression at that point it won't be allowed to proceed) Along the course the dog meets a neutral stranger (talks to handler not dog), a friendly stranger (talks to dog), a sound/visual distraction (stranger walks out with a rattling bucket and sits it on the ground, a sound distraction (gunfire), a visual distraction (umbrella opening at dog level), a tactile distraction (walking over a tarp and an expen laid flat), and finally an "odd" stranger who turns aggressive (wanders out erratically then becomes aggressive threatening the dog at a distance). The test advances in it's level of stress as each one builds upon and is a little stronger than the previous. A dogs reaction is evaluated but equally important is the dogs recovery from it's reaction.
This test is a useful tool for breeders in helping to evaluate both the stability, and general temperament traits of their dogs. The ATTS test allows for the differences of temperament/personality called for by the various breed standards. For example a Golden Retriever may and possibly should react differently to the Friendly stranger than a breed who's standard calls for Aloofnes such as with a Rottweiler or Doberman Pinscher. It also takes into consideration the training a dog has had. A dog certified or trained for therapy work should respond differently than a schutzhund trained dog.
Ideally not training or advanced conditioning for this test should be done. In reality most of us now put a heavier emphasis on socializing our dogs and puppies, and the result typically is a dog who is better prepared to handle tests such as the ATTS. That same dog is better prepared to handle "life" as well! In Fires situation I raised his litter with Early Neurological Stimulation which helps develop dogs who are better adapted to handling stress (and therefore recover more easily if they do react). He also experienced a variety of sights/sounds/footing from a very young age. However he is a dog who has dealt with a lot of stress in his life early on and I have found him to stress more than some of my other dogs. His broken leg alone caused him pain and stress for many weeks. The strong attachment to me that I allowed to develop, also in turn caused him to stress at one stage of his life particularly when he was handled by or near others. So I wasn't really sure what to expect with him. I went in with the idea of using this as a tool to see where his current weaknesses lie.
The start of the test was the neutral stranger. Fire wasn't exactly aloof with her (as would be appropriate with a Doberman although rarely seen these days), he did jump up at her once. But he also wasn't all over her with exhuberance and friendliness. (Note: you are not allowed to speak to or commmand your dog during this test. Nor can the leash be held short/tight.) He did jump on the friendly stranger, although not as much as I expected! (jumping is allowed in this test, in real life I would have used a command to help Fire remain under control with four paws on the ground) As we walked along, out came the noisy/rattling bucket. Fire looked, located, you could see his little head working and he went right into the bucket to investigate. Not without thinking, but no assistance needed (if a dog doesn't investigate within 15 seconds the evaluator will ask you to encourage the dog to check it out). I appreciate that he didn't dive right in without thinking, but also showed no fear or hesitation. It was more methodical, look, think, check it out. Next test was gunfire. Fire's heard plenty of gunfire where we live. When I took Georgia and Doodle through they barely reacted, they aren't sound sensitive and simply don't care about noises. This was noted as a minus by one of the evaluators. (I just saw it as they were very accustomed to noise and not sensitive to it) Fire did turn with confidence and alertness and attempted to investigate. In all the dogs I've taken through the ATT and the WAE, this was the best response I'd seen to the gunfire portion. No fear or senstitivity, but a definite investigation with an alert expression, and then willing to forget about it and move one when I walked forward. Next was the Umbrella test. The only time Fire has seen an umbrella was when he was 7 weeks old and an evaluator did an aptitude test on the litter. I remember Fire approached and investigated the umbrella with confidence then, but wasn't sure what he'd do when one opened in his face as a young adult. No concerns, he took a step back (as is appropriate, it litterally opened in his face...I find they delay the opening a bit too much in the ATT test) and then immediately went forward and sniffed it! In the past I've seen dogs hit the end of the leash and not recover. I've seen (and had) dogs who ducked around the umbrella to visit with the guy holding the umbrella! Fire's response was perfect! Next came the footing test. I wasn't worried here, he's walked over tarps laying around the farm and he's the only dog I have ever had who will walk over a drain grate on the ground. Right over the footing we went and suddenly we found ourselves preparing for the aggressive stranger! This is the one part of the test I wasn't sure we'd pass. Fire's dam showed an extremely strong avoidance during this portion of the WAE (although she did recover and came forward). Although Fire has an edge to him that creates some barking and alertness with strangers when we happen upon them unexpectedly...he has also been corrected for that behavior. He has also been in nursing homes since he was four weeks old and has seen all kinds of people making erratic movements and strange noises. (initially the aggressive stranger is moving erratically and mumbling as someone might if they had a disability or were inebriated) I have also seen dogs with strong stress by this point in the test and their nose goes right to the ground as they ignore the person coming towards them. Fire's nose did go to the ground as I stood still. But as soon as the stranger made some noise his head came up, as the stranger moved forward Fire went towards him, and as the stranger aggressed Fire Stared at him, muscles tense, head alert, assessing the situation and ready to spring into action should action be required! Good Doberman! ;-) IMO, this stranger isn't aggressive enough to warrant a stronger response. The entire portion is over quickly. But to have a 20 mos. old dog, who has had conditioning to avoid aggression and protectiveness, stand out there with confidence ready to do the job his breed was developed to do in spite of all of his troubles and training...I was very impressed with my dog!
All three evaluators approached us at the end of the event. (the only dog at that point in the test, who was approached by all three!) All three had nothing but praise for his responses; What a nice Doberman, When he's a little older "He'll get that bad guy" for sure, etc. Yes I'm bragging...not usually my style. But Fire has gone from a pathetic, dehydrated newborn, to a broken leg at three weeks, to surprising me with this level of stability, confidence, and protective instinct! I've taken 5 Dobermans through the WAE, and three dogs through the ATTS. Of the 8 dogs, Fire's responses were the best.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
