Every dog trainer has a unique technique for selecting a dog for training. Every trainer is different and prefers a different testing methodology. At Dog Trainer College, students will learn how to assess different dogs – both puppies and adults – to determine the viability of a given dog’s ability to train.
For starters, you will want to test and see if the dog is question is noise sensitive. A good test would be to drop a pot lid on the floor about four or five feet away from the dog in question. The pot lid should be out of sight from the dog. A dog with normal sensitivity will startle but return to its normal state quickly. If the dog approaches the pot lid and sniffs it, this is a sign of a good dog to train. Dogs that don’t startle and maintain their current stance are ideal unless it is due to poor hearing. You want a dog that acknowledges the sound, but is not threatened by it.
Another test is the body sensitivity test. Some trainers test training aptitude by taking a dog’s paw and briefly pinching the skin between its toes. A normal dog will remove their paw from the situation. The dog will then attempt to forgive the trainer for this harm. This is an ideal trait – it shows the dog is trusting of humans. A dog that overreacts and tries to bolt is not an ideal match. On the other end of the spectrum, if a dog has low body sensitivity and does not respond to multiple pinches, it is also not an ideal match.
A common test is the fetch test. Everyone knows this game. The tester in question will briefly tease the dog with an item and then throw it. A dog that runs after the item and picks it up is a candidate for training, while a dog that returns with the item is ideal. This shows the dog is trusting and willing to play with the tester. Coaxing the dog to return two or three times is permitted for this test since it is usually performed on puppies.
Dominance and friendliness tests are also common for puppies. These tests are important to do at a young age and should be done more than once. Puppies change frequently throughout their development, when testing these two traits you will want to make sure that a puppy tests highly for friendliness and medium for dominance, depending on the training that you’re looking for complete.
At Dog Trainer College, each student will learn a full battery of tests and assessments to prequalify potential training dogs, allowing them to select the most viable and successful puppies and adult dogs for training. Get started with your journey to becoming a successful dog trainer by calling Dog Trainer College today at 812-650-2394.
