How To Test Your Dog’s Temperament

• Not a substitute for professional veterinary help.

Understanding your dog’s temperament can help you raise a happy, well-adjusted pet. Temperament refers to the innate traits that shape a dog’s response to various stimuli, influenced largely by genetics. This is different from personality, which evolves over time based on a dog’s experiences and socialization.

Temperament tests are valuable tools used by breeders, rescue groups, and pet parents to gauge a dog’s natural predisposition. These assessments look for traits like sociability, curiosity, resilience, and startle recovery, all of which can inform effective training and socialization strategies for the dog.

The more we understand about our pups’ predispositions, the better we can tailor our approach to their care. To that end, we asked two positive reinforcement trainers about temperament testing: Alexandra Bassett, Lead Dog Trainer & Behavior Consultant at Dog Savvy, and Sarah Rutten, dog trainer and best-selling author of The Canine Perspective: Using Force-Free Methods to Unleash Your Dog’s Pawtential.

With their help, we’ll explore what influences a dog’s temperament, the various types that exist, and how to conduct temperament tests with a professional. Then we’ll look at how to apply this new knowledge to your dog’s care.

Where Does a Dog’s Temperament Come From?

Temperament is primarily determined by genetics, but not exclusively. “It’s a nature and nurture blend, with temperament leaning heavily toward the nature side,” explains Rutten. “But it’s still influenced by early experiences.”

Along with genetics, temperament is shaped by a dog’s:

• Breed tendencies. Different breeds are selectively bred for specific traits. For example, Labradors are typically friendly and sociable, whereas German Shepherds might be more reserved around strangers.
• Family lines. A dog is likely to inherit traits from its parents.
• Prenatal environment. According to Rutten, stress during pregnancy can impact the puppies’ temperament.
• Early socialization & handling. The first eight weeks of a puppy’s life matter! At this early stage, socialization will likely be performed by a breeder, foster parent, or shelter staff.

What Do Temperament Tests Look For?

Temperament tests are not aimed at finding “perfect dogs,” says Rutten, but rather at understanding how a dog reacts in various situations. These tests evaluate how a dog responds to things like:

• Sudden noises or movements
• Being handled or restrained
• Interacting with strangers and other dogs
• Exploring new environments
• Being left alone

“Trained evaluators observe for signs of sociability, fear, aggression, frustration, or resilience under pressure,” Bassett explains. This information helps predict a dog’s compatibility with different home settings and activities, like dog sports. It can also predict how they might cope with a new setting, like doggy daycare.

Ideally, a tested dog will be emotionally stable and cooperative. They will also be appropriately social for their breed and able to recover from startling situations.

Types of dog temperament and personalities

There are no concrete, universal classifications of canine personalities. According to Rutten, dogs display tendencies that fall along a spectrum, such as:

• Confident vs. cautious. ​​Some dogs are bold and self-assured, while others may be more wary.
• High arousal vs. low arousal. Dogs may exhibit varying levels of excitability or calmness.
• Socially open vs. socially selective. Some dogs thrive on social interactions, whereas others prefer limited interaction.
• Independent vs. people-oriented. Certain breeds are more self-sufficient; others crave human companionship.
• Persistent vs. easily frustrated. ​​Some dogs are determined and driven, while others may become frustrated more easily.

Rutten emphasizes that these traits are not rigid “either-or” categories. She also highlights the importance of context when evaluating a dog’s temperament. For instance, a dog may be confident at home yet cautious in unfamiliar settings. “What matters most is understanding your dog’s unique mix so you can set them up for success.”

Types of Temperament Tests

One well-known test is conducted by the American Temperament Test Society (ATTS), which involves a brief walk through a park. During this test, dogs are exposed to auditory, visual, and tactile stimuli. Dogs must be at least 18 months old to participate, and the test lasts between 8 and 12 minutes.

The goal is to determine if a dog can differentiate between non-threatening and potentially threatening scenarios. If the dog shows unprovoked aggression, strong avoidance, or panic without recovery, they automatically fail the temperament test.

The ATTS Test consists of ten subtests broken into five categories.

Stranger Test

This test is designed to see how a dog interacts with unfamiliar people in a non-threatening situation. It has two parts.

Part 1: Neutral Stranger Test. First, an unknown person approaches the handler, shakes hands, and engages in a brief conversation while ignoring the dog. This helps assess the dog’s protective instincts and possessiveness.

Part 2: Friendly Stranger Test. Next, a different person approaches the handler with friendly enthusiasm. They greet the dog warmly and offer pets. The friendly stranger approach provides information regarding the dog’s active social skills.

Noise Response Test

The response to auditory stimuli is a two-subtest evaluation. It demonstrates how dogs respond to various sounds, as well as their tendency to investigate.

Part 1: Hidden Noise Test. A hidden assistant shakes a metal bucket filled with rocks and places it in the dog’s path. The handler encourages the dog to investigate the bucket when permitted. This test measures the dog’s alertness and curiosity.

Part 2: Gunshot Test. The handler stands with their back to a hidden assistant, who fires a starter pistol three times. This test assesses how well the dog recovers from sudden loud noises.

Visual Stimuli Test

There is only one test to evaluate a dog’s response to a visual stimulus. This is the umbrella test, which assesses how a dog reacts to sudden sights or movements.

During the test, an assistant sits in a chair and opens the umbrella as the dog and handler approach. The handler may encourage the dog to investigate the umbrella, but the dog is only permitted to do so when given the cue.

Texture Test

Next, dogs undergo a tactile test to see how they handle unusual footing. This is divided into two parts.

Part 1: Plastic Footing. In the first test, the handler and the dog walk the entire length of a 12 foot by 3 foot clear plastic strip.

Part 2: Wire Footing. In the second test, only the dog walks the entire length of a 12 foot by 3 foot exercise pen.

Evaluators assess the dog’s ability to overcome fear and whether they investigate unusual surfaces.

Aggression Test

The ATTS test on aggressive behavior is split into three parts. Collectively, these evaluate a dog’s protective instincts and their ability to recognize when a situation is indeed threatening. The test takes into account the dog’s breed, training, and instincts.

Part 1: Non-Threatening Test. The handler and dog stop at a designated marker, and an unusually dressed stranger walks in front of them, maintaining a safe distance of 38 feet. Evaluators are looking for the dog’s alertness to something out of the ordinary.

Part 2: Threatening Test. Next, the stranger moves ten feet closer and behaves in a threatening way. The dog’s reaction determines their ability to detect a threat or provocation.

Part 3: Aggressive Test. Finally, the unusual stranger advances to 18 feet away and exhibits aggressive behavior. The stranger should never get closer than 10 feet from the dog.

Understanding Temperament

It’s important to understand the difference between temperament and behavior. Temperament refers to the innate traits that shape how a dog reacts to various situations. It’s distinct from behavior, which is the visible expression of temperament and can be influenced by learning, training, socialization, and the environment. Temperament stays mostly fixed—behavior can be modified.

“Behavior is what we actually see,” explains Rutten. “It’s the external expression of what’s happening internally.”

Understanding a dog’s temperament—and how it informs their behavior—can help handlers approach training and socialization in the most effective and empathetic way possible.

Learning about your dog’s temperament can help you:

• Customize training. A sensitive dog may need shorter sessions or lower-arousal environments. An energetic working dog, on the other hand, might benefit from more intensive and frequent training sessions.
• Set realistic goals & expectations. “Not every dog wants to be a social butterfly or agility champ, and that’s okay,” says Rutten. Understanding this frees you up to explore activities your dog does enjoy.
• Prevent conflict. If you know what triggers or stresses your dog, you can better avoid potential issues. For instance, if your dog isn’t generally fond of other dogs, taking them to a bustling dog park probably isn’t in their best interest.
• Choose enrichment wisely. There are so many types of canine enrichment, and different things will appeal to different dogs. “A persistent problem-solver might love puzzles,” explains Rutten. “A social dog may crave more time with you.”
• Build trust. By meeting your dog’s needs rather than imposing your expectations, you strengthen your relationship. “When pet parents work with their dog’s temperament instead of against it, they foster a relationship built on trust, mutual understanding, and lasting success,” says Bassett.

Ask a Professional

Temperament testing can be difficult for the average dog parent. In most cases, they should be conducted by trained evaluators. The aggression portion of the temperament test in particular should never be conducted by anyone other than a veterinary or behavior professional.

A qualified dog trainer or behaviorist can also offer helpful insights. For example, Bassett says these professionals can identify individual traits within a litter of puppies and help match those pups to a potential adopter’s lifestyle. This guidance can prevent mismatches—a major cause of rehomed rescues—and ensure more dogs go to well-suited forever homes.