Puppy Temperament
Evaluations

Why Test Your Litter of Puppies?

The Avidog® Puppy Evaluation Test (APET) operates under the principal that “There Is No Perfect Puppy, Only a Puppy That Is Perfect For You.” The evaluation is fair and may be slightly modified for each puppy if needed to ensure they have a beneficial experience. There is no ideal, no “right” or “wrong” response for each puppy, as each home is looking for a different kind of puppy. Every evaluation exercise simply gives you information about how a puppy currently thinks about and responds to the situation.

Evaluations are not meant to predict future behavior. While there are some traits expected to be static and unchanging throughout a dog’s life, most traits change over time. The training and socialization they receive- or don’t- and their individual experiences will shape who they become. The APET will tell you more about each puppy to aid you in placing them. You will also be able to better guide each home about their new puppy’s needs.

For breeders and puppy raisers, the information gathered during the APET will also give you important feedback about your puppy raising methods.

What is the APET?

The APET is 23 exercises, and takes approximately 30-35 minutes per puppy plus an additional 15 minutes of scoring. Some exercises are evaluating specific traits such as sight or sound sensitivity, natural inclination to follow a stranger, and desire to tug and fetch. Other evaluated traits are cumulative behaviors seen throughout the test such as the puppy’s desire to connect vs. exploring and entertaining themselves, their persistence and ability to work with a stranger, and their self-confidence and willingness to investigate new, potentially worrying things.

There is no right or wrong response as each home is looking for something different. The evaluated traits will give you valuable information about what kind of home that puppy needs, and what behaviors their new family will need to work on first.

You can find a pdf extract of the APET packet here
and the pdf score sheet to see what traits are evaluated here.

Scheduling

Plan on 1 hour per puppy, which builds in time for breaks and lunch.

• Along with you and the evaluator, there are ideally two+ more helpers. One person to scribe and take notes, and one to assist with some tasks such as holding a flying toy and running a timer. Additional helpers and observers are welcome!

• The ideal age is typically around 7-8 weeks old. Puppies seeming to be in a fear period will have their evaluation modified as much as is needed to give them a beneficial experience, or may be evaluated at a later date. Breeders, you know your puppies best! Evaluations can be done at a different age at your discretion.

• Maximum of 9 puppies per day. Litters of 10+ must be split into 2 consecutive days.

Experience

Megan has taken the APET course via Avidog, assisted with multiple evaluations before performing them, and has now performed the APET on dozens of litters including:

• Australian Koolie

• Belgian Malinois

• Bernedoodle

• Dachshund

• German Shepherd

• Golden Retriever

• Goldendoodle

• Labrador Retriever

• Poodle (Standard, Mini, and Toy)

• Samoyed

• Silken Windhound

• Mixed breeds

Pricing

Evaluations may be performed at our property in our temperature controlled, sanitized workshop, or at an approved location of your choosing. The location should be somewhere the puppies have not been before and at least 14x16 feet for the evaluation area plus room for observers and helpers, and a separate waiting area for the litter. We can provide all supplies.

APET Evaluation at Black Forest Dog Resort:

• $50 per puppy and we can usually provide a scribe and assistant.

• We provide everything needed for the eval including all objects and materials, paperwork,, puppy waiting area, etc.

• We provide lunch.

APET Evaluation at an approved location of your choosing:

• Fee for mileage and time.

• We provide everything needed for the eval including all objects and materials, paperwork,, puppy waiting area, etc.

• You provide lunch.

• Generally around $60/puppy but varies.

• We’re flexible! Talk to us about your litter and what arrangements would work best.