Temperament Testing at Mount Zion Kennels
Understanding Your Puppy’s Temperament with Volhard Testing
At Mount Zion Kennels, we believe that a puppy’s temperament is just as important as their health, conformation, and genetics. To give you the most accurate picture of your puppy's personality, we use Volhard Temperament Testing — a scientifically-backed and widely respected tool for assessing a puppy's behavioral traits. This test allows us to place puppies in the homes where they will thrive, ensuring long-term happiness and success for both the puppy and their new family.
What is Volhard Temperament Testing?
The Volhard Temperament Test was developed by Wendy and Jack Volhard, renowned experts in canine behavior and training. It’s a comprehensive, standardized assessment designed to evaluate a puppy’s natural behavioral responses at 7 weeks of age (49 days). The test measures a variety of traits, including social attraction, responsiveness, sensitivity to sound and touch, and more, all of which are critical in understanding how the puppy will react to different situations as they grow.
We perform this testing with the help of a professional, experienced trainer, ensuring each puppy is evaluated thoroughly and fairly.
Why We Use Volhard Temperament Testing
We want to ensure that each puppy is matched to the best possible home. The Volhard Temperament Test provides us with essential insights into a puppy’s personality, which we then use to guide our puppy placement. Here are the key reasons we use this test:
- Better Puppy-Family Matching
Every puppy has its own unique personality. By conducting Volhard testing, we can match puppies with families who have the right environment for them — whether they’re looking for an active performace dog or a calm cuddly family companion.
- Tailored Care and Training
Understanding each puppy’s temperament allows us to provide tailored advice on their care and training needs. Puppies may respond differently to socialization, training, or household routines, and knowing their natural inclinations helps set them up for success.
- Promotes Long-Term Happiness
A puppy placed in the right environment is more likely to grow into a stable, well-adjusted adult. Volhard testing helps ensure that puppies are placed in homes where they can thrive, which aids in preventing potential future behavioral challenges, which helps foster a strong bond between the puppy and their new family.
- Building Stronger Relationships
Knowing your puppy's personality traits early on means you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to interact with them, what motivates them, and how best to meet their needs. This helps create a strong, positive relationship right from the start.
What Does the Volhard Temperament Test Measure?
The Volhard Temperament Test evaluates several key aspects of a puppy’s behavior, providing valuable insights into their personality and traits:
. How Volhard Testing Benefits You as a Puppy Buyer
As a future puppy parent, Volhard Temperament Testing gives you valuable insights into the puppy you're bringing home:
We’re committed to providing our puppies with the best start in life. Volhard Temperament Testing is a key part of our process because it allows us to ensure that every puppy is placed in the right home — one where they will feel loved, comfortable, and supported in growing into a happy, healthy adult.
We believe in taking the guesswork out of puppy selection, and this test is an invaluable tool in helping us match puppies to the right families.
At Mount Zion Kennels, we believe that a puppy’s temperament is just as important as their health, conformation, and genetics. To give you the most accurate picture of your puppy's personality, we use Volhard Temperament Testing — a scientifically-backed and widely respected tool for assessing a puppy's behavioral traits. This test allows us to place puppies in the homes where they will thrive, ensuring long-term happiness and success for both the puppy and their new family.
What is Volhard Temperament Testing?
The Volhard Temperament Test was developed by Wendy and Jack Volhard, renowned experts in canine behavior and training. It’s a comprehensive, standardized assessment designed to evaluate a puppy’s natural behavioral responses at 7 weeks of age (49 days). The test measures a variety of traits, including social attraction, responsiveness, sensitivity to sound and touch, and more, all of which are critical in understanding how the puppy will react to different situations as they grow.
We perform this testing with the help of a professional, experienced trainer, ensuring each puppy is evaluated thoroughly and fairly.
Why We Use Volhard Temperament Testing
We want to ensure that each puppy is matched to the best possible home. The Volhard Temperament Test provides us with essential insights into a puppy’s personality, which we then use to guide our puppy placement. Here are the key reasons we use this test:
- Better Puppy-Family Matching
Every puppy has its own unique personality. By conducting Volhard testing, we can match puppies with families who have the right environment for them — whether they’re looking for an active performace dog or a calm cuddly family companion.
- Tailored Care and Training
Understanding each puppy’s temperament allows us to provide tailored advice on their care and training needs. Puppies may respond differently to socialization, training, or household routines, and knowing their natural inclinations helps set them up for success.
- Promotes Long-Term Happiness
A puppy placed in the right environment is more likely to grow into a stable, well-adjusted adult. Volhard testing helps ensure that puppies are placed in homes where they can thrive, which aids in preventing potential future behavioral challenges, which helps foster a strong bond between the puppy and their new family.
- Building Stronger Relationships
Knowing your puppy's personality traits early on means you’ll have a clearer understanding of how to interact with them, what motivates them, and how best to meet their needs. This helps create a strong, positive relationship right from the start.
What Does the Volhard Temperament Test Measure?
The Volhard Temperament Test evaluates several key aspects of a puppy’s behavior, providing valuable insights into their personality and traits:
- Social Attraction: How easily the puppy approaches new people and environments. This gives us an idea of whether they are naturally outgoing or reserved.
- Following: How much the puppy is inclined to follow a human lead, which helps us assess their biddability and willingness to please.
- Resilience: The puppy's ability to handle stress or discomfort. This includes reactions to mild handling or unexpected situations and indicates their level of adaptability.
- Touch Sensitivity: How the puppy reacts to being handled, which is important for their comfort with grooming, medical care, and general human interaction.
- Sound Sensitivity: The puppy’s response to loud or sudden noises. Puppies with low sensitivity to sound tend to be more confident and adaptable.
- Obedience: How the puppy responds to a command or request. This is an indication of their level of natural obedience and drive to learn.
- Pack Drive: The puppy's desire to be with its family or “pack.” This is essential for understanding how much a puppy will crave social connection and loyalty.
. How Volhard Testing Benefits You as a Puppy Buyer
As a future puppy parent, Volhard Temperament Testing gives you valuable insights into the puppy you're bringing home:
- Clear Expectations: You’ll know what to expect in terms of your puppy’s energy levels, social behaviors, and training needs.
- Confidence in Your Choice: Whether you need a laid-back companion or an active, driven dog, Volhard testing helps you select a puppy that aligns with your lifestyle.
- Personalized Guidance: We’ll provide you with a temperament report that helps you understand your puppy’s strengths, challenges, and how best to nurture them.
We’re committed to providing our puppies with the best start in life. Volhard Temperament Testing is a key part of our process because it allows us to ensure that every puppy is placed in the right home — one where they will feel loved, comfortable, and supported in growing into a happy, healthy adult.
We believe in taking the guesswork out of puppy selection, and this test is an invaluable tool in helping us match puppies to the right families.
Understanding the Scoring System for Volhard Temperament Testing
The Volhard Temperament Test uses a scale of 1 to 6 in various categories to assess each puppy's natural behavior and temperament. These scores help us understand how a puppy is likely to respond to different situations and guide us in matching them with the right homes and families.
The results are valuable in predicting the puppy’s energy level, training needs, and overall personality, which allows us to pair each puppy with a family that will meet their needs and help them thrive.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what each score means:
Score Breakdown
Mostly 1’s
This puppy is extremely dominant and may have aggressive tendencies. It is quick to bite and is generally not good with children or the elderly. When combined with a 1 or 2 in touch sensitivity, it will be a difficult dog to train.
Training Needs: This dog is not a good fit for an inexperienced handler. It will take an experienced trainer to establish leadership. A puppy with mostly 1’s will need an experienced owner and a structured environment to thrive.
Mostly 2’s
This puppy is still dominant and can be provoked to bite. It responds well to firm, consistent, and fair handling and is likely to be a loyal pet once it respects its human leader. It often has a bouncy, outgoing temperament but may be too active for the elderly and too dominant for small children.
Training Needs: While it’s not an ideal choice for first-time dog owners, this puppy will do well with a consistent leader and in a household that can offer structure and guidance.
Mostly 3’s
This puppy is balanced and will accept human leaders easily. It is the best prospect for the average owner and will adapt well to new situations. It is generally good with children and elderly and makes a good obedience prospect.
Training Needs: This puppy typically has a common-sense approach to life and is generally easy to train. It may be slightly active but should be a good fit for most households and a great choice for first-time dog owners.
Mostly 4’s
This puppy is submissive and will adapt to most households. It may be slightly less outgoing and active than a puppy scoring mostly 3’s, but it gets along well with children and trains easily.
Training Needs: This type of puppy makes a great family pet. It is usually easy to train, friendly, and calm, making it a good fit for families with young children or older adults.
Mostly 5’s
This puppy is extremely submissive and needs special handling to build confidence. It does not adapt well to change or confusion and requires a structured environment. It is usually safe around children, but may bite when severely stressed.
Training Needs: This puppy will not do well with a beginner. It requires a consistent routine and patient training to help it feel safe and secure. It may be easily frightened and can take more time to get used to new experiences, so it’s best suited for experienced owners who can help build confidence and trust.
Mostly 6’s
This puppy is independent, not affectionate, and may dislike petting and cuddling. It is difficult to establish a relationship with this puppy, whether for working purposes or as a pet. It is not recommended for homes with children, as they may try to force attention on it.
Training Needs: This puppy is not a good choice for beginners. It may be aloof and show little interest in forming strong bonds. If it scores a 1 in restraint, this puppy may be prone to biting under stress. If it scores a 5, it is likely to hide or freeze when approached by strangers.
Unclear Patterns
If the test results show several 1’s, 2’s, and 5’s, the puppy may not be feeling well. It could have just eaten or been recently wormed. In such cases, wait two days and re-test the puppy. If the test still shows wide variations (lots of 1’s and 5’s), it may indicate that the puppy is unpredictable and not a good candidate for a pet or obedience dog.
Scoring Tips and Insights
3 in Social Attraction and Social Dominance: A puppy with these scores is likely friendly, more likely to bond with people, and easy to train due to its interest in human interaction.
1 in Restraint and 1 in Touch Sensitivity: A dominant puppy with these scores will be difficult to train and may exhibit aggressive behaviors. This puppy will require a highly competent handler who is skilled at managing dominant dogs.
5 in Stability: A spooky or timid dog that’s overly sensitive to new situations or stimuli. These puppies need extra work and patience to adjust to new experiences. They may not be dependable in a crisis and will require a calm and structured environment to build confidence.
5 in Touch and Sound Sensitivity: Puppies with high scores in these areas tend to be nervous and may be startled easily by sounds or touch. They require delicate handling to prevent them from becoming fearful or anxious.
What This All Means for You as a Puppy Buyer
Understanding the Volhard scoring system gives you insight into your puppy’s personality and potential needs. It helps us match puppies with families who will provide the right environment, training, and care based on the puppy’s natural temperament. This ensures that both you and your puppy will have the best possible experience as you build your bond and enjoy a fulfilling relationship together.
The Volhard Temperament Test uses a scale of 1 to 6 in various categories to assess each puppy's natural behavior and temperament. These scores help us understand how a puppy is likely to respond to different situations and guide us in matching them with the right homes and families.
The results are valuable in predicting the puppy’s energy level, training needs, and overall personality, which allows us to pair each puppy with a family that will meet their needs and help them thrive.
Here’s a detailed breakdown of what each score means:
Score Breakdown
Mostly 1’s
This puppy is extremely dominant and may have aggressive tendencies. It is quick to bite and is generally not good with children or the elderly. When combined with a 1 or 2 in touch sensitivity, it will be a difficult dog to train.
Training Needs: This dog is not a good fit for an inexperienced handler. It will take an experienced trainer to establish leadership. A puppy with mostly 1’s will need an experienced owner and a structured environment to thrive.
Mostly 2’s
This puppy is still dominant and can be provoked to bite. It responds well to firm, consistent, and fair handling and is likely to be a loyal pet once it respects its human leader. It often has a bouncy, outgoing temperament but may be too active for the elderly and too dominant for small children.
Training Needs: While it’s not an ideal choice for first-time dog owners, this puppy will do well with a consistent leader and in a household that can offer structure and guidance.
Mostly 3’s
This puppy is balanced and will accept human leaders easily. It is the best prospect for the average owner and will adapt well to new situations. It is generally good with children and elderly and makes a good obedience prospect.
Training Needs: This puppy typically has a common-sense approach to life and is generally easy to train. It may be slightly active but should be a good fit for most households and a great choice for first-time dog owners.
Mostly 4’s
This puppy is submissive and will adapt to most households. It may be slightly less outgoing and active than a puppy scoring mostly 3’s, but it gets along well with children and trains easily.
Training Needs: This type of puppy makes a great family pet. It is usually easy to train, friendly, and calm, making it a good fit for families with young children or older adults.
Mostly 5’s
This puppy is extremely submissive and needs special handling to build confidence. It does not adapt well to change or confusion and requires a structured environment. It is usually safe around children, but may bite when severely stressed.
Training Needs: This puppy will not do well with a beginner. It requires a consistent routine and patient training to help it feel safe and secure. It may be easily frightened and can take more time to get used to new experiences, so it’s best suited for experienced owners who can help build confidence and trust.
Mostly 6’s
This puppy is independent, not affectionate, and may dislike petting and cuddling. It is difficult to establish a relationship with this puppy, whether for working purposes or as a pet. It is not recommended for homes with children, as they may try to force attention on it.
Training Needs: This puppy is not a good choice for beginners. It may be aloof and show little interest in forming strong bonds. If it scores a 1 in restraint, this puppy may be prone to biting under stress. If it scores a 5, it is likely to hide or freeze when approached by strangers.
Unclear Patterns
If the test results show several 1’s, 2’s, and 5’s, the puppy may not be feeling well. It could have just eaten or been recently wormed. In such cases, wait two days and re-test the puppy. If the test still shows wide variations (lots of 1’s and 5’s), it may indicate that the puppy is unpredictable and not a good candidate for a pet or obedience dog.
Scoring Tips and Insights
3 in Social Attraction and Social Dominance: A puppy with these scores is likely friendly, more likely to bond with people, and easy to train due to its interest in human interaction.
1 in Restraint and 1 in Touch Sensitivity: A dominant puppy with these scores will be difficult to train and may exhibit aggressive behaviors. This puppy will require a highly competent handler who is skilled at managing dominant dogs.
5 in Stability: A spooky or timid dog that’s overly sensitive to new situations or stimuli. These puppies need extra work and patience to adjust to new experiences. They may not be dependable in a crisis and will require a calm and structured environment to build confidence.
5 in Touch and Sound Sensitivity: Puppies with high scores in these areas tend to be nervous and may be startled easily by sounds or touch. They require delicate handling to prevent them from becoming fearful or anxious.
What This All Means for You as a Puppy Buyer
Understanding the Volhard scoring system gives you insight into your puppy’s personality and potential needs. It helps us match puppies with families who will provide the right environment, training, and care based on the puppy’s natural temperament. This ensures that both you and your puppy will have the best possible experience as you build your bond and enjoy a fulfilling relationship together.
The Test Guidelines and Scoring are as Follows:
The puppies are tested one at a time, there are no other dogs or people, except the scorer and the tester, in the testing area, the puppies do not know the tester, the scorer is a disinterested third party and not the person interested in selling you a puppy, the scorer is unobtrusive and positions him or herself so he or she can observe the puppies’ responses without having to move, the puppies are tested before they are fed, the puppies are tested when they are at their liveliest, do not try to test a puppy that is not feeling well, puppies should not be tested the day of or the day after being vaccinated, only their first response counts.