Published: March 13, 2007 07:36 am         

Temperament tests for choosing a dog

EDMOND — Spring is just around the corner, and for many of us, the thought of adopting a new fuzzy friend begins to creep in. Finding a dog with the qualities you want is not only important, but also a necessity if a fulfilling, long-term relationship is to occur.

Begin by making a list of all the things you want in a dog. Then comes the question, “Where do I go to find my ideal pet”? This may depend partly upon whether you want a pure-bred, papered show dog or just a healthy, happy companion.

Try local shelters first and you might be swayed away from the pure-bred by a bright-eyed, loving mix of the breed. Many may even be pure-bred at the shelter, having a small white dot on the nose or a hair out of place, and not qualifying as a show dog.

Other places to look locally would be Free-To-Live in Edmond, Pets and People in Yukon and Second Chance in Norman. Call your veterinarian because they, like us, may help the community by rescuing pets, caring for them, then placing them in loving homes. If you answer a newspaper ad, be sure to do your own temperament test prior to adopting and ask to see the parents if at all possible.

Know what kind of personality will fit into your family before you go, then scrutinize each dog thoroughly before listening to your heart. If an active dog will fit better into your lifestyle, the dog hiding in the corner is not it.

A trip to the library to read about the characteristics of different breeds may be helpful.

Bassetts, Cockers and Irish Wolf Hounds are slower, more laid back breeds.

Border Collies, Australian Shepherds, Boston Terriers and Jack Russell Terriers — like almost all terriers — are energetic. They need constant attention and are a whirlwind of activity. If you are a sedate owner that likes to sit and read a book with Rover beside you, a terrier mix likely is not for you.

Matching your lifestyle with your dog’s can increase greatly the success of the adoption.

Many shelters now are doing temperament testing in their dogs and will sort them into approximate groups of like personalities. Most behaviorists believe temperament testing for puppies should be limited. This gets into the “Nature versus Nurture” argument. Most dog people believe nature ranges from about 60-70 percent and nurture the other 30-40 percent.

Seven- or 8-week-old puppies rapidly are changing in their temperament and continue to do so for another six or so months. An adult dog is more predictable with regard to personality and temperament.

Some tests you can do start with simply walking up to the cage and trying to pet the dog. Do this with several cages. If the dog tries to attack, shrinks back in a corner or stiffens up — keep going. If you have children at home it is important to test for aggressiveness first and foremost. You can play tug of war even through the cage and watch the demeanor. Offer a treat, but take it back, hug, handle and touch all over to see if this is well-accepted.

When you have narrowed it down to a few, ask to visit each dog in a quiet place one-on-one. Is the dog comfortable being taken out of his cage and how is he once he is out? Does he like to play with a ball or other toy you may have? Does he cower or bark at every strange noise? How does he behave when he walks past other dogs? The all-important question is why was be brought to the shelter? Also important is knowing whether or not he just likes men or women, whether he likes children and other pets.

The more time you spend researching various breeds and interviewing possible canine housemates, the better will be your long-term relationship.

(Dr. M. Margaret King, a longtime Edmond veterinarian, is a guest columnist.)

     

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.