Doggy School - obedience canine training at home on Paris area

Developed by American ethologist, Dr. WE Campbell in 1973, these tests will help you to identify predispositions to the dominance or submission of the puppy you want to adopt. They can not be seen as a scientific truth. They can only determine the character of the puppy trends. You can select the animal that best fits your personality or the use you want to make of it.

Conditions for achieving :

1 - Puppies should be tested during their seventh week

2 - The examiner (ideally the future owner) leads the puppy, he and alone in a quiet and isolated place

3 - The place of testing will be possible without distractions for the puppy.

4 - Puppies should not be familiar with this place.

5 - The place will eventually be cleaned between each passing puppy (if urinating, for instance).

6 - The tests are performed only once on each puppy, without preparation, gently, but in a neutral way, without encouragement or praise. Ignore the fact that the puppy to urinate or defecate.

7 - For each of the five components of the test, "tester" must seek to observe the behavior of the puppy and, in particular, its port tail.

8 - The evaluation grid below describes each potential attitude of puppy. Circle the letter that best describes the puppy's attitude and once the test is completed, see the interpretation of results.

Description of tests :

Attraction Name :
Revealing the degree of social adaptation, confidence and independence of the puppy.
Come into the chosen place and lye quietly the puppy down in the center of the room. Away from a few meters in the direction opposite to that on which you came in. Kneel down and bring the puppy by hitting gently in your hands. Observe if the puppy comes to you (the tail is it high or low ?) or does not move.

Note the result according to the following cases :
A - come promptly, tail high, skipping and bite the hands
B - come promptly, tail high, barkling to the hands
C - come promptly, low tail
D - come in hesitant, low tail
E - does not

Ability to follow the owner :
A lack of follow reveals a very independent character.
Start the test standing close to the puppy. Get away by walking normally while watching his reaction. Its ability to easily follow will show up.
Make sure that it saw you starting.

Note the result according to the following cases :
A - Follow promptly, tail high, trying to chew your feet
B - Follow promptly, tail high
C - Follow promptly, low tail
D - Follow in hesitant, low tail
E - Do not follow, or remotely

Test constraint :
Reveals the degree of acceptance of physical domination.
Lay the puppy on the ground and roll it gently on the back. Hold it with one hand and on the chest for 30 seconds. His defense reactions or acceptance reflect its tendency to accept a physical or social domination.

Note the result according to the following cases :
A - tough, struggles and bites
B - tough, debates
C - Fight a moment and then leaves
D - Do not fight, licks hands

Test of social dominance :
Reveals the degree of acceptance of social domination.
Lay the puppy and caress it gently from the top of his head down along the neck and back. His attitude in the caress indicates its acceptance or refusal of your social dominance. A dominant attempts to jump aside or even bite and snarl. The independant puppy will just go away..
Insist till the behaviour is clear.

Note the result according to the following cases :
A - jumps, claw, barkles, bites, growls
B - jumps, barkles
C - squirm, licks hands
D - rolls, licks hands
E - shy away and do not

Test of dignity :
Reveals the degree of acceptance of your dominance.
Lift the puppy by the stomach, both hands, palms toward you. Keep it in this position during 30 seconds. The puppy has no control. its responses indicates whether or not your dominance. Then put it gently on the ground and bring it close to his mother.

Note the result according to the following cases :
A - struggling fiercely, bites, growls, cries
B - debates a lot, cries
C - debates and then gets quiet, licks
D - Do not fight, licks

Results of tests

In any case remember that the tests of Campbell could not fully inform you about the personality of the puppy in front of you.

2A or more, with B also:

The puppy has a tendency to react so dominant and aggressive. It can bite if handled dryly.
Not recommended where there are babies or the elderly.
A place in a calm and sweet home.
With proper education, these puppies will make excellent guard dogs or defense.
To educate with kindness and patience.

3B or more

Trend of domination fair to the competition. Strong aptitude for training.
These dogs make great companions.
Caution if you have young children.

3C or higher

Puppies balanced, very adaptable. Perfect for families, children and the elderly.

2D or more with an E or more

Puppies showing a bid. They will be surrounded with love and care to gain confidence in themselves. They need a lot of compliments. Normally gentle with children, they only bite if they are abused or to defend themselves.

2D or more with E section social dominance

Puppies very independent, hard to socialize without specific training.
If there are any A or B in addition, they can attack out of fear, stress, especially if they are punished.
If there is more C or D, they become shy or scared to the slightest injury.
These puppies usually fit poorly to children.

mixture of A and E (both good and bad)

These illogical results may indicate that the tests have been corrputed by an external event or an inappropriate attitude on your part. Then, it's better to repeat the test elsewhere.
Identical results indicate behavior unpredictable, unstable and can be disturbing.