TEST 1
The goal of this test:
To measure your dog's problem-solving skills. Does he figure out that the only way to reach you when you're on the opposite side of a tall fence is to find an opening and go through it -- even if finding that opening means running AWAY from you for a short distance?
You'll need:
l a see-through fence -- chain link, wood-slatted, or wire
Do the test:
1. Find a length of fence that your dog can see through. It must be high enough that he can't jump over it. There must be a gate or opening in it, and at least 30 feet of unbroken fence on at least one side of the gate. This should be a fence that your dog has not seen before, so that he
doesn't know where the opening is.
2. Have a helper hold your dog on one side of the fence, about 30 feet down
from the gate or opening. Needless to say, if the opening is a GATE, the gate must be open!
3. Give your dog a quick pat and climb over the fence. You can't go through the opening or your dog would learn where it is, which would spoil the test. Of course, if you're not the fence-climbing type, you'll have to go through the opening -- but your helper has to do
something with your dog so he DOESN'T see you using the opening.
4. Once you're on the other side, walk about 50 feet away from the fence and turn to face your dog. Clap your hands and encourage him to come to you. But don't point toward the opening.
SCORING
If he finds the opening within 1 minute...
Score 5
If he finds the opening within 2 minutes...
Score 4
If he runs back and forth along the closed portion of the fence for 2 minutes, but never finds the opening...
Score 3
If he spends the whole time jumping directly at the fence...
Score 2
If he makes a few token attempts to jump at the fence or to run along the fence, but gives up before the 2 minutes are up, and just stands there silently or barks at you...
Score 1
If he makes no attempt to go over or around the fence within 2 minutes...
Score 0
TEST 2
The goal of this test:
To measure how observant your dog is, and to test his problem-solving skills. When given a choice of soup cans, does he remember which one you placed a treat under? And can he tip the can over to get the treat?
You'll need:
l one treat
l TWO clean, empty soup cans
l a stopwatch, or a watch with a second hand
l a helper
Do the test:
1. Have a helper hold your dog while you stand about five feet away.
2. Hold up the two soup cans so your dog can see them. Invert the cans and place them on the floor in front of you, between you and your dog, with the cans about three feet apart from each other.
3. Now hold up a treat so your dog can see it. With a melodramatic flourish, place the treat under one of the cans.
4. Wait 15 seconds. Then have your helper release your dog.
SCORING
If he goes directly to the can under which you placed the treat, tips the can, and gets the treat within 30 seconds...
Score 4
If he goes directly to the correct can and tries to get the treat by nosing or pawing, but doesn't succeed within 30 seconds...
Score 3
(This really shouldn't happen, since we've done this type of test before. If your dog couldn't tip the can before, hopefully you showed him how before going on to the next test.)
If he goes to the wrong can first, discovers the treat isn't there (either by sniffing or by tipping the can over), then goes to the correct can and gets the treat (all within 30 seconds)...
Score 2
If he goes back and forth between the cans, nosing or pawing at them, but unable to get the treat within 30 seconds...
Score 1
If he makes no effort to get the treat within 30 seconds...
Score 0
TEST 3
The goal of this test:
To measure how much attention your dog pays to human words and tones of voice. Does he recognize familiar words, even when spoken in an unfamiliar tone, and even when you're
not looking directly at him when you speak?
You'll need:
l a relaxed, lying-down dog
Do the test:
1. Watch for a time when your dog is sitting or lying down, comfortable and
relaxed.
2. Without looking at your dog -- just watch him from the corner of your eye -- say his name and ask him he wants to go for a walk (or do another favorite activity, i.e. go for a car ride, or go outside in the yard). Use the words you usually use -- but NOT the tone you usually use. Instead, speak in a flat monotone, like a mechanical robot, with no question mark at the end of the sentence. (Practice this a few times when your dog isn't present!)
SCORING
If your dog immediately gets all excited...
Score 3
If he gets a little excited, but less than usual, as though uncertain of the unfamiliar tone...
Score 2
If he looks alertly at you, as though he thought he heard something familiar but isn't quite sure...
Score 1
If he doesn't seem to have heard or recognized the familiar words...
Score 0