Puppy Temperament Evaluations & Litter Assessment

Litter out of Dam: Avalyde Blanche Lavinia

By Sire: Northaven Avalyde Honest Abe

 

The puppy evaluations were conducted by Kimberly Wilson of Saugerties/Kingston, New York . This litter of 5 Field Spaniels bred by Maxine Reed of Tivoli , New York whelped December 15, 2002 . Kimberly has been evaluating litters, training dogs and people, and advising people on canine problems for many years. She brings extensive knowledge, humor and gentleness to each litter she evaluates. Comments on the table are taken directly from Kimberly’s original notes on February 12th 2003 . The puppies are 59 days* of age the day of the test.

*Note: An evaluation of this litter was attempted 8 days earlier. Kimberly suggested the test was rescheduled as the litter was not at the maturity level the test requires.   

 

Test Location: k9Crazy Play Skool, Kingston , New York

Test Guests: Elizabeth Montgomery, Maxine Reed,

Test

Rating

Red - B

Wh- B

Gr- B

Yel - D

Bl – D**

Social Attraction

Call

1 – Came readily, tail up, jumped, bit at hands

2 – Came readily, tail up, pawed, licked at hands

3 – Came readily, tail up

4 – Came readily, tail down

5 – Came hesitantly, tail down

6 – Didn’t come at all

6θ3

3

6θ3

3

3

 

 

Slow move

 

 

Following

Walk

1 – Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot, bit at feet

2 – Followed readily, tail up, got underfoot

3 – Followed readily, tail up

4 – Followed readily, tail down

5 – Followed hesitantly, tail down

6 – Didn’t follow or went away

6θ3

3

6θ3θ6

3

3

 

 

No Interest

 

 

Elevation Dominance

Lift

1 – Struggled fiercely, bit, growled

2 – Struggled fiercely

3 – No struggle, relaxed

4 – Struggled, settled, licked

5 – No struggle, licked at hands

6 – No struggle, froze

 

3

3

3

3

4

 

 

 

 

No lick

Restraint

Hold

1 – Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit

2 – Struggled fiercely, flailed

3 – Settled, struggled, settled w/eye contact

4 – Struggled then settled

5 – No struggle

6 – No struggle, straining to avoid eye contact

3

3

2

3

2θ3

 

 

Avoided eye contact

 

Took a long time

Social Dominance

Crowd

1– Jumped, pawed, bit, growled

2 – Jumped, pawed

3 – Cuddles up to tester and tries to lick face

4 – Squirmed, licked at hands

5 – Rolled over, licked at hands

6 – Went away and stayed away

3

3

3

3

3

No lick

 

No lick

 

No lick

Retrieving/ Prey Drive

Tug Toy

1 – Chases object, picks up object and runs away

2 – Chases object, stands over object does not return

3 – Chases object and returns with object to tester

4 – Chases object and returns without object to tester

5 – Starts to chase object, loses interest

6 – Does not chase object

6θ3

 1

6θ2

3

3

 

 

Took a long time

 

 


Test

Rating

Red - B

Wh- B

Gr- B

Yel - D

Bl – D**

Sound Sensitivity

Dropping Equipment

1 – Listens, locates sound, walks towards it barking

2 – Listens, locates sound, barks

3 – Listens, locates sound, curious, & walks toward sound

4 – Listens, locates sound

5 – Cringes, backs off, hides

6 – Ignores sound, shows no curiosity

4

4

6

3

  5θ3

 

 

 

 

 

Sight Sensitivity

Dropping Equipment

1 – Looks, attacks and bites

2 – Looks, barks, tail up

3 – Looks curiously, attempts to investigate

4 – Looks, barks, tail tucked

5 – Runs away, hides

 

4

3

3

3

3

No Bark

 

No real interest

 

No real interest

Touch Sensitivity

Pinch

1 – 8-10 counts before response

2 – 6-7 counts before response

3 – 5-6 counts before response

4 – 2-4 counts before response

5 – 1-2 counts before response

3

3

2

4

3

 

 

 

 

 

Puzzle

V-Gate

1 – Walks away, no interest in handler

2 – Barks, paws gate, whines

3 – Comes around gate to handler

4 – Jumps on gate, runs to handler

5 – Lays down, circles, comes around gate

6 – Does nothing

2θ3

2θ3

1θ3

3

2θ3

2nd Time

 

Comes around not to handler

 

 

Mirror

 

1 – Jumped, bit at mirror, tail and hackles up

2 – Tail up, pawed, licked at mirror

3 – Tail up or level, tries to play, kisses

4 – Tail down, looks behind mirror

5 – Hesitates, tail down

6 – No interest, doesn’t believe

6θ3

3

3

3

3

2nd Time

 

Hackles Up

 

 

Ramp

 

1 – Moves readily, doesn’t hesitate, fearless

2 – Looks down at obstacle, moves, barks

3 – Moves carefully

4 – Moves, may tumble

5 – Moves with help, tail down

6 – Doesn’t move, freezes, tail clamped

4

4

1

3

1

 

 

 

 

 

Food

 

1 – Grabs hard, bites at hand, growls

2 – Grabs, barks, paws

3 – Takes food, follows hand

4 – Takes food, licks, follows hand but quits

5 – Licks food, doesn’t follow hand

6 – No interest

5θ3

3

6θ5

3

3

2nd Time

 

 

 

 

 

This is a nice litter of puppies. They show a balance that is essential to a good companion dog. Litter Average:3.12