Temperament testing is a type of personality test that is administered to many dogs in order to determine their propensity for certain behaviors and traits. It can be very helpful when you're looking to find the right dog for your family. Because different people have unique home situations and are in search of different types of dogs, it's important to consider the personality of the pet that you'll add to your home. However, although many breed characteristics hold true for individual dogs, it can be difficult to predict how any one pet will act. A temperament test will help to give you a good idea of your pet's personality, including potential things that you'll need to look out for.
Benefits of Temperament Testing
There are a number of different benefits to temperament testing. These tests can give you an idea of how your pet will interact with other animals in the house, with other humans in your family, and with strangers. With this knowledge, you'll be prepared for any new situations involving other people who may come into your home or into your pet's territory.
These tests can also be very helpful in determining how you interact with your pet from day to day. A dog that is shy will require different types of attention and responses from his owners than a dog who is very aggressive and assertive. The ramifications of a temperament testing result can be taken as far as daily chores and routines, from walks to trips outside to relieve himself. It's also common to use the results of a temperament test to help inform the way that you train your pet as well, so that you can find the most efficient way of teaching him.
Risks of Temperament Testing
As with any other type of personality test, there are some potential risks to a temperament test. These risks are not generally in the form of side effects or other injuries that your pet may experience, but are rather based on the potential for incorrect results. A single test of your pet's temperament cannot necessarily tell you how he'll act in every situation. Additionally, most of these tests are given when your pet is about 1 to 2 years of age. Many dogs will experience personality changes due to the experiences that they have after that time, rendering the results of the previous test less relevant than they were previously.
How Testing Is Done
Tests are typically run by professionals, such as the American Temperament Testing Society. They are conducted in controlled environments and are measured on a graded scale. Your pet's behavior in response to a number of different types of stimuli, from people to objects to behaviors, will be tabulated. These results will come together to form a personality profile of your pet, which you can discuss with the testers once the temperament test has been concluded.