mental tests for Weimaraners

[cummel]

Hi all,

Not only health, working capabilities and exterior standard are important criteria for selecting a Weimaraner for breeding, but also the character.

I think it might be interesting to collect information about mental tests available for Weimaraners in different countries. Do they offer in your country an official test via the national kennel club and/or is there a test organized by the local Weimaraner club? Are there any breeding rules within your Weimaraner club by now?

Maybe you could give a description of those tests you know with its interpretation and conclusions for breeding too?

Looking forward to your answers.

Dorit

[iscom]

In Sweden there are different mental tests, the one that is registered by the kennel club is called "Mentalbeskrivning Hund" (MH) and consits of 10 different subtests:

1. Social contact A stranger greets, walks with, and makes a brief physical examination of the dog. Variables: greeting, cooperation, and handling.

2. Play 1 The dog is invited to play with a rag by the stranger. Variables: interest in play, grabbing, and tug-of-war.

3. Chase A small prey-like object is rapidly pulled away from the dog, who is free to run after. This is repeated once. Variables: following 1 & 2 and grabbing 1 & 2.

4. Passive situation The handler remains in the same position during 3 minutes with the dog in a leash. Variable: activity.

5. Distance play A stranger invites the dog to play at a distance, after some initial threat postures. Variables: interest, aggression, exploration, interest in play, and play invitation.

6. Sudden appearance A human-sized dummy is suddenly pulled up in front of the dog. Variables: startle reaction, aggression, exploration, avoidance (x2), and approach (x2).

7. Metallic noise A chain of metal is pulled over a sheet of corrugated metal close to the dog. Variables: startle reaction, exploration, avoidance (x2), and approach (x2).

8. Ghosts Two strangers covered in white sheets are slowly approaching the dog during several minutes. Variables: aggression, attention, avoidance, exploration, and contact.

9. Play 2 Repetition of the first part of Play 1. Variables: interest in play and grabbing.

10. Gunshot Gunshots are fired when dog is active (playing with handler) and passive. Variable: avoidance. (http://www.svartbergs.se/pdf/PersinDogsSummary.PDF)

You can find a more detailed description at www.lapphund.nu/lihkmhen.htm and also a copy of the protocol. This is not a test in the way there are no grades handed out, the judge only describes what he or she see. However you can compare your dog's result with others of the same breed and/or age at the kennel clubs website.

[tasha]

I suppose the closest the UK would come is a general training test run by the KC called the KC Good Citizen Scheme but its not for breeding purposes only for general obedience. Starts with puppy, bronze, silver and gold.

We don't have any tests for breeding at all although there is an increased focus now on breeding from health tested stock.

[szarasfora]

In Poland - no obligatory mental tests for breeding except the spring field tests, which include gunshot trial.

[calla]

Here in Germany w do have an obligatory mental test for breeding stock.
The test hast 2 parts.
1. The dog is attached with its lead to a post. The owner moves out of sight. Than a person with a cloth(towel) is approaching the dog. He tries to antimitate the dog and make threatening moves towards the dog.
The dog can act neutral, he can bark or try to bite the "towel"/person. If he shows fear and trys to run away or avoid the person he didn´t pass.
Right afterwards the person that teased the dog is checking his tattoo in the ear. The dog is not allowed to be aggressive.
2. A group of 10 to 15 people form a circle around the handler and the dog. The dog is on a leash. Then the people come closer to the dog and handler until their right in front of him. Now a string is pulled trough the dogs collar and the handler leaves the circle. One person makes an opening to the circle and the handler calls the dog.The dog is left of the string. The dog has now to heel without a leash back into the circle. If the dog does that without fear or aggressiveness he has passed.
Ideally the dogs shows protective aspects whilst guarding a backpack , jacket etc. and has good social behavior whilst not threatened.

Greetings Nadja

[Steve Graham]

The predominant registry for Weimaraners in the United States is the American Kennel Club which requires only that the parents are registered.

It's a definite case of "buyer beware."

[Kobie]

We don't have an obligated mental test in Belgium, but we would like to promote that !

Alternative is the TST , wich contains a few tests, to see if the dogs aren't agressive to people or other dogs, or shy in different situations.
Agressive and shy dogs don't pass this test, wich is a good thing.

Every TST is an official test of our kennelclub, so its also written on the dog's pedigree, wich is a good thing for their offspring.