Second Temperament Test Results

If you are new here… thanks for joining us!

I am so glad you’ve joined this daily (M-F) email newsletter all about the wonderful world of the Dire Wolf Project.

We don’t do dog breeding like anyone else.

And if you stick around long enough, you’ll found out why.

If this is your first time, you’ve arrived just in time!

TODAY we reveal the temperament testing results for our current litter, the Luck of the Irish litter, born two days after St. Patrick’s Day.

What a day to join us!

Let me start off by telling you a sweet story about Lucky Charms… the littlest male puppy with the orange collar… from the Luck of the Irish litter.

He might be little, but he is SWEEEEET!

He just melts my heart with his cuddles.

So, yesterday, after the testing had been completed, I sat next to the whelping pen just peeking in on those precious little fur balls.

I love to sit quietly and observe them.

A person can learn a great deal about the different puppies in the litter if one just watches.

Well, if you don’t know, Dire Wolf Project breeders are not allowed to interfere with the puppies or their mom’s presence before the second temperament test.

So…

Lucky Charms doesn’t really know me all that well.

I am not a small woman, so my hips touch the sides of the whelping pen when I sit nearby.

Well… here comes Lucky Charms.

He can’t quite walk yet, but he scoots his pudgy legs around and plops himself down right in front of the entrance, where my hips are.

I watched him then… at 2.5 weeks old… bump my hip with his nose.

Ever so gently, but deliberately.

Just like a rabbit, his little black nose started twitching.

Sniff. Sniff. Sniff.

I had to cover my mouth to keep from laughing out loud and spoiling his exploration.

What a CUTIE!

I couldn’t help it.

I touched his head and ran my hand down his back.

He got his licker out and thanked me with a thorough washing.

AWE!!

I just LOVE puppies!

Especially at this age.

I can SEE their brains thinking and learning all about the world around them.

What a time to be alive.

But, you know what?

One of the essential aspects of the Dire Wolf Project, our early puppy standardized temperament testing, is highly controversial.

Can you believe that?

It’s true, though.

Even behavior scientists heavily debate whether early temperament testing reveals anything about inherited temperament.

Well, fortunately for you, we Dire Wolf Project breeders understand that only early standardized temperament testing results validly reveal a dog’s genetically inherited temperament without nurture playing a role in the results.

The moment a litter of puppies begins to understand that there is a world outside of their little den and the furry milk bar, the puppies can be assessed for their response to certain stressors.

Prior to this time period, humans must interact as minimally as possible with the puppies in order to get as accurate a result as we can.

When we perform these standardized temperament tests, we are NOT saying we can predict their adult behavior.

This is an impossibility since dogs are highly malleable and can be greatly influenced through experiences. (i.e. training, socialization, etc.)

But…

We have enough experience over the years to compare puppies of the same age from different litters to one another.

And by doing so, we can see clear patterns of behavior.

The Luck of the Irish litter is a SECOND GENERATION from the most recent crossbreed to enter the breed: a Lab/Shepherd cross named Black Opal.

As such, we expect certain things to be different in temperament in this litter than our litters within the higher generations.

And sure enough.

We see that this litter has the following differences:

1. Puppies are more vocal when they are in a bind, such as behind mom or can’t get past an obstacle. They become frustrated at their lack of ability to get out of the situation. Instead of calmly figuring out a solution to their predicament, the puppies in this litter will groan and cry out for help… waiting for an outside entity (mom or human) to save them. There is a case to be made for this to be a good thing… as this litter relies on others for support when they need it. But it also indicates a lack of patience and problem-solving ability, at the same time.
2. One puppy in this litter challenged the turn, meaning instead of automatically submitting to being turned over, this puppy moved to see if he could right himself. When he met with resistance, he then submitted, but he had to check for himself first. All of the other puppies in the litter did not even try.
3. Several puppies become anxious when they want something. This lack of patience means their mind is bright and active. It also means they don’t understand that patience is a virtue. This will be something the pups should be taught and is more in line with a working dog temperament than a calm-minded companion dog.
4. Two of the puppies are lickers. These puppies loves human touch and will lick and lick and lick while wagging her tail. It is quite cute and endearing, but it can also be an annoying trait to certain people. It just depends on your own desires.
5. These puppies are submissive in nature, not dominant or unyielding. They easily accept change and are willing to go with the flow.
6. These puppies are highly intelligent and know exactly where they are at all times. Most of them have a good sense of direction.
7. All of the puppies had a slight stiff head tilt when pet in an unfamiliar location. This is an indication of an uneasiness in distracted environments or in unfamiliar situations. This is normal for young puppies, not alarming at all, but it does mean growth in confidence training or socialization will be advisable for these puppies.
8. These puppies can spring into action and are not as slow-moving as some of our other dogs. While they aren’t hyper, there is a higher level of energy and “will to do” than our later generations.

And because today is Monday (lucky you!)…

Their individual scores and temperament testing video are archived on our YouTube channel and the Luck of the Irish litter page.

Here is the link to the temperament testing video:

https://youtu.be/JMHI4ZVE1M0

Here is the link to the Luck of the Irish litter page and their individual scores:

https://direwolfdogs.com/litters/27/

Jennifer Stoeckl is the co-founder of the Dire Wolf Project, founder of the DireWolf Guardians American Dirus Dog Training Program, and owner/operator of DireWolf Dogs of Vallecito. She lives in the beautiful inland northwest among the Ponderosa pine forests with her pack of American Dirus dogs.