The Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test - Understanding the Test and Report

When you reserve a puppy from my doodle maltipoos, we provide a puppy aptitude report to help you in your decision to pick the perfect puppy. You can learn more at www.mydoodlemaltipoos.com/pup...
Testing Categories:
Social Attraction - degree of social attraction to people, confidence or dependence.
Following - willingness to follow a person.
Restraint - degree of dominant or submissive tendency, and ease of handling in difficult situations.
Social Dominance - degree of acceptance of social dominance by a person.
Testing Ground Rules:
We test at a location unfamiliar to the puppies. Usually in the same house but in a room where the puppies have not been.
Puppies are tested one at a time.
No other dogs or people are around except for the scorer and the tester.
The puppies do not know the tester.
The scorer is a 3rd party and not someone interested in selling you a puppy.
Puppies are tested before they are fed.
Puppies are tested when they’re at their liveliest
Only the first response will be counted.
Elevation - degree of accepting dominance while in a position of no control, such as at the veterinarian or groomer.
Retrieving - degree of willingness to do something for you. Together with Social Attraction and Following a key indicator for ease or difficulty in training.
Touch Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to touch and a key indicator to the type of training equipment required.
Sound Sensitivity - degree of sensitivity to sound, such as loud noises or thunderstorms.
Sight Sensitivity - degree of response to a moving object, such as chasing bicycles, children or squirrels.
Stability - degree of startle response to a strange object.

[@zeisamy]

I am picking up my puppy tomorrow, and he is the runt of the litter! He's the only one who scored a 4; the rest of his siblings were all 3s. At first, I was concerned because he was different. Thanks to your video I know I am getting the perfect puppy for me as a first time solo owner. Thank you so much for sharing this video.

[@Spocktoypoodle]

How did he turn out now? It's really rare to find 4, even in a litter!

[@0keyd0kei]

I would LOVE a 4 puppy. Perfect kind for me. Do 4’s make good service dogs?

[@panaceiasuberes6464]

3:32 For the sound sensitivity test the sound must come from neither the scorer nor the tester. 2:34 The elevation is not 2 feet but a distance that the puppy should feel comfortable to struggle in order to get to the ground (in this puppy size, around 1 foot). If its too high the puppy will freeze and not give accurate results. 4:06 The umbrella isn't 5 feet from the puppy. Other than that, good testing, congratulations.

[@Scootir185]

Great video - very helpful advice. Thanks so much for posting!

[@katrinamarie2775]

Thank you so much I’ve never seen anything like this

[@deborahcustance2754]

Excellent video. It is very clear and being able to see an actual test was extremely helpful. Thank you.

[@nomo5773]

Thank you first time dog owner & my puppy scored mostly 3/4s 🥰

[@manueldejesusrojassandi3919]

Great video. This should be more recommended imo.

[@Mjdogs]

Excellent video, thanks for sharing!

[@leidynanez6137]

Really helpful!!! Thank you 🙏

[@MyDoodlePuppy]

Glad it was helpful!

[@youdeservethis]

Thank you so much for this video! My partner is going to be adopting a puppy tomorrow and there are several to choose from. They are all so adorable! This test will help him pick with both his heart and mind. Again, thank you.

[@cristinaalden1227]

Thank you for this very informative video!! Oh I wish this test had been performed on the puppies before I chose one.

[@sewaller1384]

Thank you!!!!

[@derykmacleod4979]

Thank You. I am getting ready to get a puppy and I hear video's saying one thing, and my neighbor has a really laid back siberian husky...I had a dog that was the runt of the litter, and I trained her well, if situations scared her, she would look at me and I would tell her she is a good girl and she would calm down enough to tolerate what the scary episode was. I wouldn't care for a dog that tried to challenge me, but the chill dog that likes everyone is handy if you like bringing them out into crowds.

[@juliamagnall8087]

Really interesting. If and when I get another dog I will want this test or sort of check these characteristics myself.

[@joshriver7483]

Great, short and useful video. New subscriber here!

[@KathleenThoren]

Amazing video. Can you send the scoring lists for each test.

[@kittygrowl839]

Very helpful!

[@Showmetheevidence-]

Problem with this test is I’m still going to go “Aaaw look. Puppy!!!”

[@jamiegravittwood6711]

Wasn’t dominance theory disproven a while ago?

[@ZeratoYEPCUM]

how old should the puppy be for this test?

[@judo-drummerboy-tapout]

i pick up my male puppy on march 3. he will be my service dog, as I am in a wheelchair. is there anything else you would do to pick the right puppy to grow into a loyal service dog. also anxiety dog. thank you

[@oliverlezz]

how old were these puppies when being tested?

[@wongclara6584]

My puppy tail short and curl, can't determine is tail up or down

[@VeerleDelis]

Im just wondering is there such a test for a older dog also (around 1)

[@MyDoodlePuppy]

You can perform the same test although a one year old dog will have a more developed temperament based on previous lifestyle with previous owner. For example, you could have a puppy that is playful and energetic by nature but if treated poorly and abused could show signs of a more submissive and scared temperament. Those kid of dogs could still develop trust with a new owner that will let their natural temperaments shine through. So older dogs are a little harder to tell what temperament they were naturally born with. At that age, it’s probably best to interact with them for 30 minutes and see how they behave with their current owner or caretaker and how they react to new people.

[@karenscott2359]

What are the best scores for a potential service dog?

[@stephaniewhitehead4363]

3s and 4s are the best. I had adopted a puppy a few days ago and he scored 3s and 4s

[@younespkflow8910]

What abt protection dog

[@A_Wee_spook]

1 & 2's of this test would probably be best for that line of work.

[@jennifervaught3492]

At what age do you think it’s best to complete these tests?

[@manueldejesusrojassandi3919]

I would also like this question answered.

[@MyDoodlePuppy]

It is best to complete the testing when the puppy is 6 weeks old.

[@manueldejesusrojassandi3919]

@@MyDoodlePuppy Thank you!

[@Spocktoypoodle]

@@MyDoodlePuppy not 7 weeks?

[@randyeisensmith1483]

​@@SpocktoypoodleGeneral recommendation is to perform Volhard testing at age 7 weeks.

[@FilmerOfBobcats]

I would question the quality of life a pup with mostly 5 scores would have. It would be in a constant state of stress and distress.

[@qtaro-7097]

my chihuahua failed this without even trying

[@vivienleigh4640]

I'm sitting here, anxiously waiting for a breeder to get back to me. She's gonna go to the "foster home" to check if the bitch is pregnant. Believe it or not, but here in Sweden it's quite difficult to buy a golden retriever puppy. There's always a line of potential buyers and the breeders get to pick and choose. Of course that's a good thing for the dogs but it's starting to get on my nerves. I'm an experienced dog owner, at home 24/7 and it's still hard (and no, I'm quite off the beat as a person).