Temperament Test

Prior to testing a litter you should decide upon a scoring system. I use a 1 to 5 score with 5 being the best I have ever observed on the item and 1 being a dog which demonstrates total lack of interest or fear. i.e a dog with NO potential as a working dog demonstrated on this item of the test.

In the Sociability tests you should look for a puppy which readily follows you with tail up and a prance, great eye contact with you from the moment of placing puppy on floor, comes when you gently blow a whistle and runs to you enthusiastically when you squat on the floor.

In the Prey Drive tests you hope to find a puppy which enthusiastically chases a bird wing which you pull along the floor, chases the bumper rolled across the testing area, runs after each toy which is tossed, picks it up and runs back to you with it or at least picks it up and plays. He should investigate the noisy pulled toy, have tail up most of the time while investigating the toy and then joyfully follow the toy as you push or pull it about the testing area.

In the Noise Sensitivity area the puppy should investigate a noisy and erratically moving rolled pill bottle then not be bothered by it. A rare puppy will even retrieve this object. They should investigate a noisy toy and be interested in retrieving it. Clapped hands should elicit interest with tail up and then approach to you. The pop gun should startle and then interest the pup. If it freezes or runs away with tail down this is a potentially seriously noise sensitive dog.

In the Terrain Courage tests the puppy should pay little or no attention to crossing a large piece of cardboard or chicken wire to get to his retrieve toy. He should be happy to cross back over the obstacle to get to the tester. Repeated crossing and following across the obstacle should be barely noticed by the puppy. If his parents loved the water most puppies will happily enter a small pond edge to get a toy. If the puppy happily climbs up a bank to follow you this is also very good.

A Birdie puppy is very desirable. A puppy should be very interested in a pigeon inside a wire crate or exercise pen. He should run around the outside of the pen trying to get to the bird. If he is placed in the exercise pen with the bird he should chase the bird and pick it up. If he continues to chase the bird outside the pen and bring the bird back this is wonderful. A puppy which shows fear of the bird is not demonstrating courage nor perseverance nor birdie ness, all of which are very necessary traits in a field Poodle. If the puppy tries to kill the bird then this is the last time you should let him have a live bird until he has learned the force fetch, especially HOLD. DO NOT let a puppy develop the habit of chewing up squeaky toys and birds!!

In evaluating Structure a working retriever needs sound conformation in order to hold up over long years of hunting and running and swimming. Look at the illustrated breed standard as published by Discover Dogs and find a dog with that conformation. DO NOT look at what is doing the most winning in the conformation show ring. The deep narrow chest is a detriment to swimming. The Poodle standard calls for "spring of rib" which gives some roundness (NOT barrel chest) which helps in floatation while swimming. The mouth needs to have a full set of teeth. The neck should NOT be a ewe neck. The HIGH head carriage which results from the steep shoulders and ewe neck seen in a great number of the conformation winners makes for a dog who had a great deal of difficulty in carrying a big duck in swimming water. An effective swimming stroke is very difficult when the shoulders are steep and when a dog tries to hold the ewe neck in a comfortable position he attempts to hold the bird out of the water.

In the General evaluation it is important that a working retriever be able to get along with other dogs while still being a forward and self-assured dog. He is much easier to train and maintain if he is a good eater. Some ability to be independent is desirable, but not to the point of thinking that he knows best and won't listen to the handler. In field work a great deal of courage is desirable. This includes terrain courage, courage to go after a wounded large bird, courage to push through weather, water and vegetation to get the bird and the courage to keep trying.

BAck