WSCC Temperament/Manners Test

The

Here

are

the

categories

your

dog

will

have

to

pass

in

order

to

achieve

his

or

her

Temperament/Manners

Title.

The

best

thing

about

teaching

your

dog

all

of

these

skills,

is

that

in

the

end

you

end

up

with

a

very

well

behaved

dog

who

is

a

joy

to

have

around!

So,

the

time

to

start practicing is NOW!

Test 1: Accepting a friendly stranger

The

evaluator

walks

up

to

the

dog

and

handler

and

greets

the

handler

in

a

friendly

manner,

ignoring

the

dog.

The

evaluator

and

handler

shake

hands

and

exchange

pleasantries,

and

have

a

conversation

for

3

to

5

minutes.

The

dog

must

show

no

sign

of

resentment

or

shyness,

and

must

not

pull

handler

to

evaluator

or

jump

on

evaluator.

The

dog

does

not

have

to

stay

in

position

but

should

not

bark,

whine,

or

pace

unnecessarily, or move around more than can be easily handled by the owner. Evaluators may acknowledge the dog but not pet it.

Test 2: Sitting politely for petting

With

the

dog

sitting

at

the

handler's

side,

to

begin

the

exercise,

the

evaluator

pets

the

dog

on

the

head

and

body.

The

handler

may

talk

to

his

or

her

dog

throughout

the

exercise.

The

dog

may

stand

in

place

as

it

is

petted.

The

evaluator

will

lift

one

front

leg

and

also

touch

dog’s

tail

and

pet its ears. The dog must not show shyness or resentment.

Test 3: Taking a treat

Evaluator will offer the dog a treat; the dog must not forcefully take the treat from the evaluator. If the dog refuses the treat that is fine.

Test 4: Out for a walk (walking on a loose lead)

The

dog

may

be

on

either

side

of

the

handler,

or

switch

sides

during

the

walk.

The

dog's

position

should

leave

no

doubt

that

the

dog

is

attentive to the handler and is responding to the handler's movements and changes of direction. The dog need

not

be

perfectly

aligned

with

the

handler

and

need

not

sit

when

the

handler

stops.

The

evaluator

will

direct

the

handler/dog

team

by

issuing

instructions

or

commands.

There

should

be

a

right

turn,

left

turn,

and

an

about

turn

with

at

least

one

stop

in

between.

The

handler

may

talk

to

the

dog

along

the

way,

praise

the

dog,

or

give

commands

in

a

normal

tone

of

voice.

This

will

also

include

the

dog

and

handler

walking

around

and pass (close to) several people. The dog may show some interest

in

the

strangers

but

should

continue

to

walk

with

the

handler,

without

evidence

of

over-exuberance,

shyness

or

resentment.

The

dog

should

not

jump

on

people

in

the

crowd

or

strain

on

the

leash.

Children

must

be

part

of

this

crowd.

The

dog

is

not

petted

during

this

part

of

test

by

people in the crowd.

Test 5: Sit and down on command and Staying in place

The

dog

must

do

sit

AND

down

on

command,

then

the

owner

chooses

the

position

for

leaving

the

dog

in

the

stay.

The

han-

dler

may

take

a

reasonable

amount

of

time

and

use

more

than

one

command

to

get

the

dog

to

sit

and

then

down.

The

handler

may

not

force

the

dog

into

position.

When

instructed

by

the

evaluator,

the

handler

tells

the

dog

to

stay

and

walks

forward

approximately

20

feet,

turns

and

returns

to

the

dog

at

a

natural

pace.

The

dog

must

remain

in

the

place

in

which

it

was

left

until

the

evaluator

instructs

the

handler

to

release

the

dog.

The

dog

must be placed on 20 foot long line supplied b y the evaluator.

Test 6: Coming when called

The

handler

will

walk

20

feet

from

the

dog,

turn

to

face

the

dog,

and

call

the

dog.

The

handler

may

use

encouragement

to

get

the

dog

to

come.

Handlers

may

choose

to

tell

dogs

to

"stay"

or

"wait"

or

they

may

simply

walk

away,

giving

no

instructions

to

the

dog.

Dog

may

be

in

sit

or

down

position.

Dog

must

come

directly

to

handler

when

called,

and

be

within

distance

for

the

handler

to

easily

reach

out

to

the

dog,

but

dog

does

not need to sit. Dog must be placed on 20 foot long line supplied by the evaluator.

Test 7: Reaction to another dog

Handler

sits

dog

at

side.

Another

handler

and

dog

approach

from

a

distance

of

about

20

feet,

walk

past

handler

on

side

of

dog

and

continue

on

for

about

10

feet.

The

dog

should

show

no

more

than

a

casual

interest

in

the

other

dog.

Dog

must

stay

in

sit

position

while

the

other

handler and dog pass by.

Test 8: Reaction to distraction

The

evaluator

will

select

and

present

two

distractions.

Examples

of

distractions

include

dropping

a

chair,

rolling

a

crate

dolly

past

the

dog,

having

a

jogger

run

in

front

of

the

dog,

or

dropping

a

crutch

or

cane.

The

dog

may

express

natural

interest

and

curiosity

and/or

may

appear

slightly

startled

but

should

not

panic,

try

to

run

away,

show

aggressiveness

or

bark.

Dog

and

handler

may

choose

to

stand

still

or

walk

around

during

this

part

of

the

test.

Dog

is

allowed

to

“go

check

out”

distraction,

but

on

loose

lead

under

the

control

of

handler.

The

handler

may

talk

to

the dog and encourage or praise it throughout the exercise.

Equipment

All

tests

must

be

performed

on

leash,

no

longer

than

8

feet,

no

expandable

leads

are

allowed

in

the

test.

For

collars,

dogs

should

wear

well-

fitting

buckle

or

slip

collars

made

of

leather,

fabric,

or

chain,

body

harnesses

are

allowed,

but

not

“no

jump”

or

other

correction

harnesses.

Special

training

collars

such

as

pinch

collars,

head

halters,

and

electronic

collars

are

not

permitted

in

the

WSCC

test.

The

evaluator

supplies

a

20-foot lead for the test.

Encouragement

Owners/handlers

may

use

praise

and

encouragement

throughout

the

test.

The

owner

may

pet

the

dog

between

exercises.

Food

and

treats

are

not permitted during testing, nor is the use of toys, squeaky toys, etc. to get the dog to do something.

Failures – Dismissals

Any

dog

that

eliminates

during

testing

must

be

marked

failed.

Any

dog

that

growls,

snaps,

bites,

attacks,

or

attempts

to

attack

a

person

or

another

dog

must

be

dismissed

not

only

from

test

but

from

the

grounds.

Any

dog

that

exhibits

any

of

the

above

while

on

the

test

grounds

regardless of whether or not it is being tested at the time ,must be excused from the grounds and no refund will be given.

Handlers

are

encouraged

to

finish

all

aspects

of

the

test

even

if

not

passing,

with

the

exception

of

any

display

of

ag-

gression.

Finishing

the

test

will

give

handlers

a

good

example

of

what

they

need

to

work

on.

Test

if

failed,

may

be

re-

taken

at

any

time

after

24

hours

from

initial

failed

test.

No

limit

is

put

on

how

many

times

you

can

test

in

order

to

pass.

Dogs

must

be

6

months

of

age

to

take

the

test.

Young

dogs

under

the

age

of 2 years are encouraged to retake test after 2 years of age.

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