Since 1977, the American Temperament Test Society has been hosting a Temperament Test for dog breeds. The purpose of the test is to test the canine subject’s “stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well as the dog’s instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or self-preservation in the face of a threat.”
The test simulates a walk through a busy neighborhood where various encounters and situations occur. The dog experiences auditory (hidden, unusual noises like gunshots or rattling metal), visual (umbrellas suddenly opening), and tactile (unstable surfaces) stimuli to challenge their composure. They also encounter friendly, neutral, and threatening situations which tests the dog’s ability to react appropriately. The handler is not permitted to talk to or give commands to the dog.
A dog fails if they show unprovoked aggression, intense avoidance or fear, or panic without recovering. Other dogs are not included in the test. A total of 34,686 individual dogs have been tested with an average passing rate of 83.7%. This infographic from AAAStateof Play.com shows the doggos with the best temperaments in the world!
infographic by: www.aaastateofplay.com
