Temperament testing is fascinating, but the whole story is more complicated than what meets the eye…

In recent years, puppy temperament testing has exploded. There are a variety of different tests, the most popular of which is the Volhard temperament test, a test done at 7 weeks, which attempts to categorize puppies as highly dominant, stable, or shy. At first glance, this seems great! Now, puppies can be perfectly matched with families and individuals. However, a study published in PLOS.one https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0101237 showed very little predictive value of puppy testing for predicting adult dog behavior and temperament. How to pick then? While choosing a breed or mix of breeds that is likely to fit your needs (family pet vs. working dog) is a good start, AKC also recommends asking your breeder to help identify a puppy that will be a good fit for your family https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/dog-breeding/puppy-temperament-tests/. At the end of the day, choosing a puppy is up to you, but if you're getting a breed known for a gentle temperament, that has been well socialized from a trustworthy breeder, your likely to be on the right track.