Evaluation Service

Understanding Dog Temperament Testing

A temperament test is a structured behavior assessment that helps us understand how a dog responds to the world around them. It evaluates a dog’s reactions to everyday situations — like meeting new people, hearing sudden noises, or walking on unfamiliar surfaces — to gauge their stability, confidence, sociability, and recovery from stress.

These evaluations are done in a calm, controlled environment, using simulated real-life scenarios that reveal how a dog thinks and feels under different conditions. During the test, we observe body language and behavior to identify strengths and sensitivities in areas such as:

• Social: Comfort and friendliness with unfamiliar people
• Auditory: Response to unexpected sounds
• Visual: Reactions to moving or unusual sights
• Tactile: Comfort with being handled or touched
• Proprioceptive: Confidence with movement or unusual footing
• Startle recovery: How quickly a dog bounces back from surprises

Why Temperament Testing Matters

A temperament test is not about “passing” or “failing” — it’s about understanding your dog. The insights gained can help:

• Predict how a dog may behave in future environments
• Ensure safety and suitability for social settings (like daycare or group classes)
• Guide training plans for better confidence and success
• Match a dog’s personality to the right home, family, or working role — including service or therapy dog work

For puppies, temperament testing can be especially valuable in identifying natural tendencies early on, helping breeders, trainers and future handlers set each pup up for success in the role best suited to them.

What you can expect

Temperament tests for puppies should be performed in a place unknown to the puppies. The testing environment should be quiet and free of distractions. I am happy to meet up with you if you have location options. I am offering my home training area as an alternative.

Evaluations of adult dogs can be performed in a quiet outdoor area.

If you would like help selecting a shelter dog, I’ll be happy to meet you there.

I will supply the testing props and may bring an assistant as scribe and/or videographer.

Testing fee is $150 per dog & $30 for each additional puppy/dog. You will receive a written temperament evaluation about each dog.

Travel charges:
0-30 miles = FREE
31+ miles $0.72 per mile

We do NOT offer temperament certifications.
A temperament test is only a snapshot of the potential of a dog.
It is impossible and unethical to guarantee the behavior or success
of a dog in any training discipline.