Here at Cruisin Cavaliers we temperament test all
of our offspring.
Everyone has heard the stories when a family decides to purchase a puppy. The entire family loads up in the car and heads to the breeders house to pick out their puppy. Once they arrive the breeder takes them to see the litter of puppies and all the puppies are just little balls of fur with that sweet puppy smell, tails wagging so fast some will even loose their balance. The entire herd comes running to the edge of their enclosure pawing and crying to get out and be held by the people they see staring down at them. How on earth would a family know which puppy to choose, especially if they are all the same color like some breeds? With a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel we have four different colors and many times each litter will have two different colors to choose from and every now and then you might get all four colors in one litter. Most families tend to choose their color preference and then begin to narrow down their choices that way. Next, they decide about gender and with a Cavalier King Charles Spaniel once you choose a color and then gender since the litters are relatively small you usually only have one puppy to choose from at that time. Once a family has chosen their color and gender and found the one puppy that fits that description they usually do not even consider the temperament of the puppy.
Blenheim Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy
Tri Color Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy
An experienced breeder that cares more about the welfare of their puppies will also consider temperament and if the breeder does not feel the match is right for both the puppy and the family they will explain the importance of temperament testing and how the results of that test helps the breeder to create the perfect match between puppy and family. The puppies are tested between 7 and 8 weeks of age and are taken to an unfamiliar location with an experienced tester, but a tester that is a stranger to the puppies.
Puppy Temperament Test
Social Attraction: Willingness to come to a stranger when called
1. Came readily, tail-up, jumped, bit at hands
2. Came readily, tail-up, pawed, licked at hands
3. Came readily, tail-up
4. Came readily, tail-down
5. Came hesitantly, tail-down
6. Did not come
Following: Willingness to follow a stranger when called
1. Followed readily, tail-up, got underfoot, bit at feet
2. Followed readily, tail-up, got underfoot
3. Followed readily, tail-up
4. Followed readily, tail-down
5. Huddles, will not move
6. No follow or went away
Restraint: Willingness to be restrained by a stranger
1. Struggled fiercely, flailed, bit
2. Vigorously flailed, some eye contact
3. Settled, struggled, settled with good eye contact
4. Struggled, then settled with some eye contact
5. No struggle, freezes
6. No struggle, strained to avoid eye contact
Social Dominance: Stranger kneels down to pet puppy on head and back
1. Jumped, pawed, bit or growled
2. Jumped, pawed
3. Cuddles up to tester, licks face
4. Squirms, licks hands
5. Rolls over or huddles
6. Went away and stayed away
Retrieving: Stranger throws paper ball
1. Chases object, picks up and runs away
2. Chases object and does not return
3. Chases object, returns with it to tester
4. Chases object and returns to tester without it
5. Stays with tester
6. Does not chase object but leaves tester
Touch Sensitivity: Stranger pinches ear/toe
1. Counts 8-10 before response
2. Counts 6-7 before response
3. Counts 5-6 before response
4. Counts 3-4 before response
5. Counts 2-3 before response
6. Counts 1-2 before response
1. Listens, locates sound, walks towards it barking
2. Listens, locates sound, shows curiosity and walks towards it
3. Listens, locates sound
4. Listens, startles
5. Cringes, backs off, hides
6. Ignores sound, shows no curiosity
Sight Sensitivity: Stranger pulls rolled up towel across floor
1. Looks, attacks, bites
2. Looks, grabs, head shakes towel
3. Looks curiously, plays
4. Looks, tail-tucked
5. Runs away, hides
6. Ignores it, no interest
Energy Level: throughout testing
1. Jumps up all the time
2. Happy and bouncy
3. Happy, relaxed
4. Slow, quiet
5. Little participation
6. No interest
Puppy Temperament Test Results
Mostly 1's: This is a more dominant Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and is better off in a family with experience with dogs and a family that does not have children or has older children. This dominant temperament can be difficult in homes with multiple dogs. I have not had any offspring test out with this number, but in the "Retrieving Section" I have had puppies get the "1" on this situation because they readily chase the paper ball, pick it up, and run in the opposite direction, so you can easily see where this number can be one of the numbers marked on one of the testing elements.
Mostly 2's: This is also a dominant Cavalier King Charles Spaniel but if leadership is established by its owner(s) it can become a very loyal pet. This Cavalier has a bouncy, outgoing temperament, "may" be too active for a retired couple, and too dominant for small children under the age of five. I must stress the word "may" with this temperament outcome because depending on the outcome of the other tests this puppy is very moldable to adapt more easily. This is a great temperament for a show dog because they have a natural charisma about them to draw your attention, very animated and comical at times.
Mostly 3's: This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel accepts humans as leaders easily. It is the best prospect for the average owner, adapts well to new situations and is generally good with children and a retired couple. This temperament might be inclined to more activity and makes a good obedience prospect and usually has a commonsense approach to life.
Mostly 4's: This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is submissive and will adapt to most households. May be slightly less outgoing and active than a puppy scoring more 3's. Gets along well with children and is easy to train. Many of the testing results for this outcome involve a puppy doing things hesitantly and with their tail down. I have found this temperament to be more of a lap dog and is very content to be snuggled up next to its owner or another pet in the household.
Mostly 5's: This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is extremely submissive and needs special handling to build confidence and bring him out of his shell. This puppy will not adapt well to change and needs a consistent structured environment. This temperament is fine with children, but needs to be monitored so it does not become overwhelmed. This temperament is not a good choice for a beginner dog owner since it can become frightened more easily and takes longer to get used to new experiences, which can cause a beginner dog owner to become frustrated. A single person or retired family seeking companionship that enjoys a more couch-potato temperament with a stay-at-home and structured environment will be the better fit for this foundation temperament.
Mostly 6's: This Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is independent. This Cavalier will love spending all day outside in the yard if weather is permitting just exploring and sniffing until his heart is content. When they come inside they will find their favorite chair to curl up in and relax for an afternoon nap. If parents work all day this temperament can adjust to a work schedule and handle the separation easier. You will find this temperament tends to ignor the game of fetch, but loves the afternoon walks around the neighborhood. This temperament is not recommended for children who may force attention. They enjoy a more quiet laid-back lifestyle.
I hope you have enjoyed learning more about puppy temperaments. I hope you will put most of your consideration into the temperament of the puppy you choose to purchase over the color and gender. You should also have a better understanding for the importance of choosing a breeder when you decide to purchase a puppy. Puppies that are raised in a kennel without the exposure to household sounds like the telephone, doorbell, microwave, vacuum cleaner, etc can become frightened when first purchased and taken away from the kennel that is all they have known.
Puppy temperaments are genetic as well as environmental and even though I do everything I can to socialize and prepare my puppies for their next home the very best gift I can give each of my offspring is for me to learn their temperament and then match them with the best family that can meet their needs.
Black & Tan Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy
Ruby Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Puppy
One might ask how it is possible to bond with each one and then let them go. The first few weeks of a puppies life they do not have any sense of their surroundings. They have no sight or hearing. Around 2-3 weeks of age they gain their sight and hearing. Puppies begin to bond with their mother and siblings for the next 2-3 weeks. Around 6-7 weeks of age the weaning begins and the puppies begin to focus on me as their new care giver since I am now the source for food, water, and comfort. It is between 6-9 weeks that my bonding with each puppy really takes hold and I feel a sense of sadness that I cannot keep each one. Then magically after the ninth week I begin to have sibling rivalry as each puppy begins to spread its wings and show its dominance over the other litter mates. Like magic it becomes more and more evident with each passing day that these puppies are ready to venture out into the world to their new families in order to continue to thrive.
I cannot keep them all because siblings need to be separated. Depending on the individual temperaments within the litter the more dominant puppies can overwhelm the sensitive puppies. Once each puppy is placed in its individual home it then focuses on human bonding in place of the sibling bond. I compare it to raising children and when children reach the later part of their teenage years they too begin to spread their wings and as parents we must step back and allow them to venture out into the world to follow their own dreams. Yes, being a breeder has difficult times and as a breeder I do attach to each puppy in a litter, but as the litter grows and the rivalry builds the ability to know and feel that each puppy will be happier with their own family brings a sense of peace which allows me to place them into forever homes. This is why I need to know I have matched each puppy with the right family.
The perfect match gives me peace of heart and mind.
