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SZ-WC Puppy Potential Evaluation (PPE) Form
By Marlette Love-Goodnight
Performed by Kymber Roldan
(Note: Puppy testing is not an exact science. Test results, and any conclusions drawn, represent potential, and are not a presented as any kind of guarantee.)
PUPPY ID : Green female ______DATE OF BIRTH ______9/1/2005______SEX ____Female___ COLOR black
TOTAL # OF PUPS IN LITTER:___9______# DOGS ___3___ # BITCHES __6_____ WEIGHT ___12.5______AT __7_____ WEEKS
SIRE _CH Magic’s Ferdinand Knopf CGC______DAM Tyners Lilly of the Valley CGC
Test / Purpose /Reaction
/ Result (Score)1-ISOLATION:
(If this test is included in the schedule, it is recommended it be done first.)
Tester places puppy in the middle of the test area (or in X-pen). Tester then walks away quietly (20 feet) and observes.
(Note: If an X-pen is used, ensure pen is stabilized (attached to the ground, tree, stake, etc. so puppy can’t knock it over.) / Confidence: Assesses puppy’s “exploratory” nature as well as his or her willingness to use his/her nose. / 1-a Explored vigorously, nose to ground, tail up/wagging.
1-b Explored vigorously nose up, tail up/wagging.
1-c Explored and/or tested sides of barrier (if X-pen is used).
1-d Calmly sat or laid down—watched the world.
1-e Sat or stood and cried or whined.
1-f Ran off or out of test area or ran to tester.
1-g Walked off hesitantly, looked nervous, tail down.
Wild Card Response: / 1b
2-HUMAN INTERACTION:
Place puppy in test area. From a few feet away the tester coaxes the pup to him/her by clapping hands gently and kneeling down. Tester must coax in a direction away from the point where puppy entered the testing area. / Socialization: Checks for the degree of puppy’s social attraction to, confidence in, or dependence on humans. / 2-a Came immediately, tail up, jumped, bit at hands.
2-b Came readily, tail up, pawed, licked at hands.
2-c Came readily, tail up.
2-d Came readily, tail down
2-e Came hesitantly, tail down.
2-f Stayed to check out area but when he realized he was alone, ran to tester.
2-g Saw tester leave, trotted off confidently in another or opposite direction.
2-h Did not come at all—stayed in place.
2-i Did not come at all—stayed in place but whined/cried and/or laid down.
Wild Card Response: / 2b
3-ELEVATION (PART 1): The tester stands up, picks up pup with one hand on either side of the belly so all four feet are fully off the ground. Hold this position to count of 30.
(This test and the following test must be done in order.) / Submission/Dominance: Checks to see how well the puppy accepts dominance while in a position of no control / 3-a Struggled fiercely, bit, growled.
3-b Struggled fiercely.
3-c Struggled fiercely, settled, struggled again.
3-d Did not struggle, relaxed.
3-e Did not struggle, relaxed, tried to lick.
3-f Struggled, settled.
3-g Struggled, settled, tried to lick.
3-h Did not struggle, licked at hands.
3-i Did not struggle, froze.
Wild Card Response: / 3d
4-FORGIVENESS (PART 2):
After the 30 count from Part 1, the tester then places the pup on ground at tester’s feet and walks away slowly (about three feet), stops, kneels down and calls puppy to him/her. / Confidence and Attitude: Checks to see the degree of forgiveness exhibited in a puppy after having been put in a position of no control. / 4-a Came immediately, eye contact, tail up.
4-b Came immediately, some eye contact, tail down.
4-c Came hesitantly, some eye contact, tail up.
4-d Came slowly, head down, tail down.
4-e Ignored Tester and ran off.
4-f No eye contact, slunk off.
4-g Did not come—stayed frozen in place.
4-h Did not come, sat or laid down.
Wild Card Response: / Wild card: came hesitantly, layed down next to me
5-SOUND SENSITIVITY:
Place pup in the center of area, tester or assistant makes a sharp noise several feet from the puppy. Wait until puppy is looking away before making noise. (A large metal spoon struck sharply on a metal pan twice works well—do not use hand clapping—not a sharp enough sound.) May need to be repeated later to assure validity of response. / Stress Recovery: Checks for puppy’s ability to recover from stress and sensitivity to loud noises. (Can also be used as a rudimentary test for deafness.) / 5-a Listened, located sound, walked toward it barking.
5-b Listened, located sound, barked.
5-c Listened, located sound, showed curiosity and walked toward sound.
5-d Listened, located the sound.
5-e Startled but recovered quickly—held ground.
5-f Laid back ears, tucked tail between legs (cowered).
5-g Cringed, yelped or ran off.
5-h Ignored sound, continued playing or walked off.
5-i Ignored sound, walked off, nose to ground.
Wild Card Response: / 5e
6-FOOD MOTIVATION:
Tester touches puppy’s nose with yummy treat (piece of hot dog, smelly biscuit, piece of liverwurst, etc.). Tester lets puppy see him/her place treat under empty margarine/plastic container on flat ground (cement or board). Tester stands back and observes puppy. Have a baby wipe handy to clean your hands off before proceeding to next exercise. / Problem-Solving: Tests puppy’s level of focus and ability to solve a problem as well as puppy’s level of food motivation. / 6-a Dug madly at container until it flipped over—ate treat.
6-b Sniffed all around, pawed, pushed container over—ate.
6-c Dug at container, left, came back, worked it again—ate treat.
6-d Ignored container, walked off.
6-e Sniffed container, walked off.
6-f Dug at container, pushed it over but leaves treat.
Wild Card Response: / 6c
7-THE MAZE:
This test requires set up and two testers (see instructions). Tester A places pup in the back of the maze. Tester B positions him/herself 3 to 4 feet from the entrance to the Maze and calls pup enthusiastically (can also use clapping hands, whistling, etc.) / Problem Solving: Evaluates the puppy’s level of intelligent response to a strange environment and puppy’s ability to solve problems. / 7-a Looked around, realized he was trapped—starts to cry or whine.
7-b Started to cry or whine immediately.
7-c Whines, cries—frantically tries to climb out.
7-d Ran around, looked for way out—found entrance doorway quickly.
7-e Ran around looked for way out—struggled, eventually found entrance doorway.
7-f Ran around, tested boundaries by trying to climb out, then walked or ran out of entrance doorway.
7-g Ran or walked around, nose in air or on ground and found way out.
7-h Struggled immediately, concentrated on trying to or succeeded in climbing out.
Wild Card Response: / Did not perform
Do not have facility at this time
8-SOCIAL DOMINANCE (PART 1):
The tester positions puppy in a standing position. Tester strokes or attempts to stroke puppy from head to back (but does not restrain in any way) for 30 seconds.
(This test and the following test must be done in order.) / Submission/Dominance: Checks for the level of a puppy’s acceptance of social dominance. Pup may try to dominate by jumping and nipping or is independent and walks away / 8-a Squirmed, pawed, mouths fingers or growled, and left.
8-b Squirmed, pawed, some eye contact and left.
8-c Squirmed, some eye contact, left but came back.
8-d Squirmed, settled, some eye contact.
8-e Stood quietly, head up, some eye contact.
8-f Stood quietly, licked at hands or leaned into tester.
8-g Laid down, rolled over.
8-h Ignored tester, walked away slowly.
8-i Ignored tester, ran off happily.
Wild Card Response: / 8d
9-SUBMISSION TO HUMANS (PART 2):
After the 30 count from Part 1, tester places puppy gently on his back, with tester’s hand on chest, and starts counting slowly to 30.
(Tester should pay close attention to puppy’s eyes and level of struggle if any.) / Submission/Dominance: Looks for the degree of submission we can expect from puppy as he matures. Also, how puppy accepts stress when physically dominated / 9-a Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit.
9-b Struggled fiercely, flailed.
9-c Settled, struggled, settled with some eye contact.
9-d Struggled then settled, made eye contact
9-e Struggled then settled, avoided eye contact.
9-f Did not struggle but made eye contact.
9-g Did not struggle, avoided eye contact.
Wild Card Response: / 9e
10-MOVING OBJECT:
Tester places pup in open area. Use a small towel or rag (do not use a plastic bag) with string or thin leash about 8 to 10 feet long. The goal is for the towel/rag to resemble prey running so jerk it across the ground/floor a few feet away from puppy. If puppy grabs towel, pull gently to test puppy’s willingness to hold on to “prey” and then release (let the puppy win). (Be careful about catching puppy’s tooth and open jaws carefully if necessary to release the object.) / Prey Drive: Assesses the puppy’s response to quick moving objects (prey). Can also be considered a “sight sensitivity” test. / 10-a Looked, attacked--bit, shook and held on.
10-b Looked, attacked--bit and shook.
10-c Looked, attacked--bit but lost interest quickly, didn’t hold on.
10-d Looked, barked with tail up/wagging.
10-e Looked curiously, investigated, walked off.
10-f Ignored completely.
10-g Ignored completely, wandered off.
10-h Looked, barked, tail-tucked.
10-i Ran away, hid.
Wild Card Response: / Did not perform at this time
11-TOUCH SENSITIVITY:
Tester's helper picks up the puppy and holds it close to his/her chest making sure the puppy feels secure. Then the Tester reaches out for a paw and positions thumb and forefinger (not fingernails) above and below the webbing between two toes and holds it for a couple of seconds to let the puppy settle. Then Tester gently presses slowly increasing pressure as he/she begins counting slowing to 10. As soon as the puppy shows discomfort--pulls paw etc., the count stops. It is up to a good Tester to separate discomfort from not liking restraint. *Do NOT pinch using fingernails. / Stress Recovery & Pain Tolerance: Checks for puppy’s ability to recover from stress and level of pain tolerance. Puppies with higher pain tolerances may not respond well to physical stimuli (compulsive training) and might require different motivating methods for training purposes. / 11-a 9-10 counts before response (very high).
11-b 7-8 counts before response (high).
11-c 5-6 counts before response (medium).
11-d 3-4 counts before response (low).
11-e 0-2 counts before response (very low).
(0 is defined as puppy pulls or cries immediately upon fingers touching webbing.)
Wild Card Response: / 11d
12-LURING:
This test requires two testers. Tester A takes puppy and goes to open area. Tester B kneels in front of Tester A and starts to crawl away coaxing puppy to follow using voice and gently slapping ground. Tester B stops approximately 10 feet away. Once puppy arrives at Tester B’s location, Tester B pets and praises the puppy. Then Tester A calls the puppy back. Test continues for a total of four or five “lures” with a lure defined as a “one way trip” for the puppy. (Puppy is praised by each Tester upon arrival.) / Socialization: Tests puppy’s willingness to trust humans as well as puppy’s attraction to humans. / 12-a Came happily each time, tail up/wagging.
12-b Came happily for a couple of times, then walked off.
12-c Ignored Testers, explored area.
12-d Ran off as soon as called, tail down.
12-e Approached Testers hesitantly and/or fearfully.
12-f Approached Testers fearfully and growled.
Wild Card Response: / 12b
Came happily for a couple of times, then walked off.
13-CAN:
Place pup in open area. Tester moves a foot away from puppy and rolls can full of stones approximately three feet in front of puppy’s line of sight. (Puppy must see can rolling.) / Courage: Evaluates puppy’s response to strange object moving and making strange sounds. / 13-a Ran up to can, barked, and tried to bite or paw at can.
13-b Ran up to can, picked it up, and carried it off.
13-c Ran or walked up to can and thoroughly investigated.
13-d Ran or walked up to can, investigated but lost interest quickly.
13-e Saw can, watched it roll but did not approach it.
13-f Ignored can (stood ground looked away or walked off).
13-g Startled, recovered and watched can roll but did not approach.
Wild Card Response:
13-h Startled and/or barked and ran away from can. / 13g
14-FOLLOWING:
Tester places pup in test area. Kneel down and pet puppy for a second. Stand up and walk away from the pup in a normal manner, calling “puppy, puppy.” (Make sure you have pup’s attention before you walk away and walk a good 10 feet.) / Socialization: Tests for degree of the puppy’s attraction to humans. Not following could indicate: independence, strong will, easily distracted, low level of human bonding to date, or low threshold for will to serve. / 14-a Followed readily, tail up/wagging, got underfoot, bit at feet.
14-b Followed readily, tail up/wagging, got underfoot.
14-c Followed readily, tail up/wagging.
14-d Followed readily, tail up/wagging, nose to the ground.
14-e Hesitated but followed, tail down.
14-f Ran happily off in another direction.
14-g Ran or walked happily off with nose to the ground.
14-h Ignored Tester, went away slowly.
14-i Ignored Tester, slunk away slowly.
Wild Card Response: / 14c
15-TOSSED OBJECT:
Tester crouches beside pup and attracts his attention with crumpled up paper ball, small rubber ball or knotted sock (something small enough so the puppy can pick it up). Lightly touch the object to the pup’s nose. When you have the pup’s attention, toss the object 4-6 feet in front of pup. If no reaction, repeat once or twice. (Puppies who show enthusiasm for holding the object in their mouths whether they bring it back or not show more potential for retrieve drive vs. the puppies that exhibit more play drive by batting the object around, nosing it, etc.) / Retrieve/Play Drives: This test assesses two things—puppy’s willingness to chase, pick up, and retrieve an object and the puppy’s willingness to play with an object. Both tests show puppy’s willingness to work with a human. High correlation between ability to retrieve (definition includes holding object in mouth) and successful working dogs. / 15-a Chased object, picked up object and ran away.
15-b Chased object, stood over object, did not return.
15-c Chased object and returned with object to tester.
15-d Chased object and returned without object to tester.
15-e Started to chase object, lost interest.
15-f Chased, batted object, nosed object, then lost interest.
15-g Ignored object.
Wild Card Response: / 15b
16-FOOTING:
This test requires set up (see instructions). Tester places puppy a couple of feet from the mid point of the stretch of material being used but not on the material, calls puppy, and walks forward across material. Tester can continue to call, encourage puppy to follow him/her. If puppy does not follow immediately, Tester stops in middle of material and attempts to call puppy to him/her. (Footing material should be 5 to 6 feet long and 3 feet wide at a minimum. The width is important so that the puppy needs more than a step or two to cross the material. It has to really test the puppy’s courage and confidence. The length is important so that the puppy does not see it is easy to avoid the footing. Suggested material: an X-pen laid flat will work or black plastic, netting, weed block cloth, or plastic temporary fencing secured with tent stakes or big garden staples.) / Courage/Confidence: This is a footing test—it assesses the puppy’s willingness and confidence to walk over strange surfaces. / 16-a Walked across confidently, head up, tail up/wagging.
16-b Walked across confidently, nose down, tail up/wagging.
16-c Walked across hesitantly, head and tail down.
16-d Hesitated but eventually walked across.
16-e Ignored Tester, walked off.
16-f Approached, whined/cried and ran off.
16-g Started across, jumped off and ran away.
Wild Card Response: / 16e
17-BARRIER:
This test requires set up. Tester places puppy on one side of a 10 to 16 foot barrier. Tester then steps around to opposite side and calls puppy. Barrier should be 3-foot high, 10- to 16-feet long. It can be solid or see through. I use a PVC pipe frame and chicken wire with weighted “legs.” You can even use hay or straw bales—whatever is convenient and is heavy enough so that puppy can’t knock the barrier over easily. As long as whatever you use means the puppy has to work to get around it, and the Tester can observe the puppy. / Problem Solving: Evaluates the puppy’s ability to deal with an obstacle blocking his path as well as the degree of effort a puppy puts into reaching the tester (willing to serve). / 17-a Pushed vigorously against or jumped on barrier, tried to knock it over—eventually walked length and found Tester.
17-b Pushed barrier and barked.
17-c Immediately sniffed ground and walked along length to end and found Tester.
17-d Sat or stood, watched Tester, walked length, tested barrier, found Tester.
17-e Sat, stood or laid down--watched Tester.
17-f Sat or stood, cried and whined.
17-g Sat or stood, cried and whined and walked off in opposite direction.
17-h Ignored Tester and ran or walked off in opposite direction.
Wild Card Response: / 17d
Results: