TT-TEMPERAMENT
TEST
ADDRESS & PHONE
NUMBER (as of 6/18/07)
American Temperament Test Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 501124
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1124
(317) 288-4403
Description of the Temperament Test
The ATTS Temperament Test focuses on and measures different aspects of
temperament such as stability, shyness, aggressiveness, and friendliness as well
as the dog's instinct for protectiveness towards its handler and/or
self-preservation in the face of a threat.
The test simulates a casual walk through a park or neighborhood where
everyday life situations are encountered. During this walk, the dog experiences
visual, auditory and tactile stimuli. Neutral, friendly and threatening
situations are encountered, calling into play the dog's ability to distinguish
between non-threatening situations and those calling for watchful and protective
reactions.
Dogs must be at least 18 months old to enter this test. The test takes
about eight to 12 minutes to complete. The dog is on a loose six-foot (6') lead.
The handler is not allowed to talk to the dog, give commands, or give
corrections.
Failure on any part of the test is recognized when a dog shows:
- Unprovoked aggression
- Panic without recovery
- Strong avoidance
The ATTS Temperament Test consists of ten subtests divided into five
subcategories:
Behavior Toward Strangers
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to strangers in a
non-threatening situation.
Subtest 1: Neutral stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with
the handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's reaction to passive
socialization and the dog's protective instinct.
Subtest 2: Friendly stranger
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very
friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's active social skills.
Reaction to Auditory Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to auditory stimuli and
the dog's investigative behavior.
Subtest 3: Hidden Noise
The handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a
metal bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team. The
handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when asked to do
so. The handler's focus must be on the bucket, not on the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.
Subtest 4: Gunshots
The handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back
towards a well hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22
caliber starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog's recovery response to a
sudden noise.
Reaction to Visual Stimulus
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to a sudden visual
stimulus.
Subtest 5: Umbrella
The handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair
holding a closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the
approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the umbrella is
opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella only when
asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the umbrella, not on the dog.
Tactile Stimuli
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to unusual footing.
Subtest 6: Plastic Footing
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot
by 6-foot clear plastic strip.
Subtest 7: Wire Footing
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by
3-foot unfolded exercise pen.
The purpose of these subtests is to measure the dog's sensitivity to
unusual footing, its ability to recover from the fear of unusual footing and to
measure its investigative behavior to the unusual footing.
Self Protective/Aggressive Behavior
Objective: These tests collectively evaluate the dog's capacity
to recognize an unusual situation, its threshold to provocation, its protective
instincts, and its propensity to realize when the situation becomes a threat.
ADDRESS & PHONE
NUMBER (as of 6/18/07)
American Temperament Test Society, Inc.
P.O. Box 501124
Indianapolis, IN 46250-1124
(317) 288-4403
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to strangers in a non-threatening situation.
A stranger to the dog approaches the handler, shakes hands with the handler and engages the handler in a brief conversation, ignoring the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's reaction to passive socialization and the dog's protective instinct.
A stranger to the dog approaches happily and briskly, is very friendly to the dog and pets the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's active social skills.
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to auditory stimuli and the dog's investigative behavior.
The handler/dog team approaches a hidden assistant who rattles a metal bucket filled with rocks and sets this bucket in the path of the team. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the bucket only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the bucket, not on the dog.
The purpose of this subtest is to test alertness and curiosity.
The handler stops at a designated marker with his/her back towards a well hidden assistant. The assistant fires three shots using a .22 caliber starter pistol (SHOT-PAUSE-SHOT-SHOT).
The purpose of this subtest is to measure the dog's recovery response to a sudden noise.
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to a sudden visual stimulus.
The handler/dog team approaches an assistant sitting in a chair holding a closed umbrella parallel to the ground at a 90 degree angle to the approaching team. When the dog is five feet from the assistant, the umbrella is opened. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella only when asked to do so. The handler's focus must be on the umbrella, not on the dog.
Objective: To measure the dog's reaction to unusual footing.
Both the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 15-foot by 6-foot clear plastic strip.
Only the dog will walk the entire length of a 12-foot by 3-foot unfolded exercise pen.
Objective: These tests collectively evaluate the dog's capacity to recognize an unusual situation, its threshold to provocation, its protective instincts, and its propensity to realize when the situation becomes a threat.
Subtest 8: Non-Threatening
The handler/dog team stops at the designated marker. A
weirdly-dressed stranger crosses the path 38 feet in front of the team.
The purpose of this subtest is to test the dog's alertness to an unusual
situation.
Subtest 9: Threatening
The weird stranger advances 10 feet towards the stationary
handler in a threatening manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's ability to recognize when
an unusual situation turns into a provocation.
Subtest 10: Aggression
The weird stranger advances to within 18 feet of the
stationary handler in an aggressive manner.
The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's protective instincts.
The stranger is never closer than 10 feet from the dog. The handler's 2 foot arm and the 6' lead is added in for a total of 18 feet. Aggression here is checked against the breed standard and the dog's training. A schutzhund trained dog lunging at the stranger is allowed, but if an untrained Siberian husky does the same, it may fail.
At the conclusion of the test, the handler will receive a critique about the dog's performance. Certificate will be mailed within 90 days of the test.
*The American Pit Bull Terrier*
With ancestors created to compete in the most violent blood sports, emerged
strong mentally and physically. Its forebears survived by being strong,
intelligent and courageous long after survival of the fittest played a role
in the propagation of other domestic animals.
Partly because of that, the
Pit Bull has remained a functional, capable dog. It confidently undertakes the roles of natural guard in the
home, competitive weight puller, show dog, agility dog, obedience competitor and children's companion and
protector. Strong and sensitive; rowdy yet gentle; outgoing but devoted; easily fired up but highly
trainable; mischievous yet sensible; energetic and serene; peaceful, but ever alert-these apparent
contradictions could all describe the same.
* THE ORIGINAL PURPOSE OF THE BREED *
The American Pit Bull Terrier has been bred to fight for 100s of years. This is
the sad "work" these dogs were created for. In the same way that the Labrador
was bred to retrieve birds, the APBT was bred to face other dogs in mortal
combat.
Even in animals that are not recently bred of fighting lines, the desire to rumble
can arise at ANY time. It's a little bit like the digging instinct of Terriers, the
herding behaviors in Shelties, the urge to smell the ground in BloodHounds, etc.
Your Pointer may not have spent a day on a real hunt, but he may still point and
flush birds as his ancestors were bred to do.
We CAN'T blame the dogs for their instincts. These traits were selectively bred
into them and are very difficult, if not impossible to get rid of. .
There are precautions to take when owning Pitbulls, especially in a multiple dog
household. Unfortunately these precautions are often viewed as an acceptance
for the sport of pit fighting. In my opinion, knowing how to avoid a fight, and
most important how to break it up if despite all our efforts one strikes, is proof
of responsible pitbull ownership.
You can have all the dog experience in the world, but if you really don't
understand the fighting background of these dogs, and recognize it as something
real, you are likely to risk accidents.
Take note that a fight can strike very suddenly, and for no apparent reason.
Two dogs may have been best friends for years, sleep together, cuddle, play,
even eat in the same bowl and one day, something triggers one of the them, and
boom!!! Often, the dogs are back acting like best friends as soon as the fight is
over. They could even end up licking each other's wounds.
It is not the "HATE" of other dogs that will cause PitBulls to go at it, but an
"urge" to fight that has been bred into them, and is now part of the breed
character.
In addition to this urge to fight that can strick at any time, Pitbull owners must
also be aware of the remarkable fighting abilities of this breed. A Pitbull may
not be the one starting the hostility with an other dog, but chances he will be the
one to finish it, and will have to pay the price in the hands of the authorities.
With all that said, some PitBulls DO get along with other animals and may
happily live in a multiple dog environment. We just can't assume that this is true
or will remain true for all of them.
PitBulls have many great qualities as well. They are wonderful companions and
are loyal like no other breed. Most of them are extremely friendly with people,
amazingly affectionate, and love to cuddle. Many PitBulls think they are lap
dogs, and nothing beats a belly rub!
Tests have prove that a well cared for pitbull, owned as a pet by someone
responsible, and who understands the breed, is less likely to be aggressive
towards human than many other breeds.
They also have remarkable physical abilities that make them great partners for
outdoor sports and activities. They are responsive to obedience and love to
please.
Human Aggression, shyness, and instability are undesired traits for the
breed.
Finally, I should mention that APBTs are NOT the best guard dogs, and should
not be used for that purpose. They will naturally alert you if there is a danger,
but are often too people friendly to be good protection dogs.
Between you and me, that's how we like them (Smile).
"THEY ARE INDEED ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE BREEDS ON THE PLANET"
*THE OFFICIAL ORIGIN OF THE BREED
*
In 1898, Chauncy Bennet formed the United Kennel Club, a breed registry aimed solely at the registration and acceptance of Pit Bull Terriers. Chauncey’s own dog “Ring” was the first dog registered in the UKC. The UKC at that time when Pit fighting was still widely accepted as a national pastime the UKC provided registration and fighting guidelines for Pit fighting. Bennet sought to create an organization that would represent the breed as performance dogs.
The American Pit Bull Terrier was born as a breed. At that time the UKC was an elite registry for the APBT. For a Pit Bull to be accepted into the UKC as an American Pit Bull Terrier the dog had to have won three fights. Years later when dog fighting became illegal the UKC quickly abandoned its past and has become an all breed registry that focuses on the working aspects of dog breeds. The UKC is now the second largest purebred dog registry in the United States, complete with strict bylaws that ban anyone who is convicted of dog fighting.
Another registry that was started solely for APBT’s, the American Dog Breeders Association was born twelve years after the UKC. The ADBA was started by Guy McCord who was a close friend of one of the founding fathers of the modern APBT. The ADBA and the UKC are the only true registries of the American Pit Bull Terrier and have withstood the test of time.
Over the next thirty years the American Pit Bull Terrier became one of the most popular breeds in American history. It was only with this popularity that another registry known as the American Kennel Club bowed to an overwhelming number of requests and accepted the APBT as a breed. They did however change the name of the breed hoping to hide their true origins unlike the original registries that honored the history of the breed.
The AKC decided to register Pit Bulls as Staffordshire Terrier, which was later changed to the American Staffordshire Terrier in 1972. Up until 1936, Pit Bulls and AST’s were physically identical. After 1936, AST’s were no longer bred for the defined working type but for a more “flashier” look with blockier heads, larger chests and a thicker jaw.
Our sweet ,loyal and always remembered boy Flash
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