The Social Compatibility
Test
FAST's official guidelines for temperament testing the American Staffordshire
Terrier with Evaluations
The SCT is designed to test the AST in real life situations and its
reaction to possible every day occurrences, indoors and outside.
Prior to testing, the handler must fill out a form listing the dog's
age and describing its lifestyle(home companion, kennel dog, etc.); has
the dog been shown, and what titles it has obtained. This information is
very important so as to help the Evaluators differentiate between environmental
influences and what could possibly be genetic.
All dogs will be tested by two (2) evaluators.
Scoring: Dogs will be scored from 0 to 5 on each test by the
evaluators, which is for their use only. The test itself will be announced
as "Passed" or "Failed". A zero in any one part of the 10 tests automatically
fails the dog.
Part 1: The Test: Dog is on a 6 foot loose leash attached
to the live ring of a properly fitted choke chain. The dog/handler team
are walking side by side as they enter the testing area through an approximate
3' to 5' wide pathway between 2 pillars of distracting objects. Set Up:
2 each large and shiny filled trash bags sitting on stools or chairs.
Evaluation: The dog's ability to accept going through an
unusual and narrow passage. If necessary, the handler is allowed to
encourage the dog in a quiet and positive voice. The best reaction is of
the dog being totally unconcerned, but will be allowed to react and will
be evaluated on how quickly it recovers. An unacceptable reaction would
be where the dog "spooks" and will not recover after reasonable encouragement
by the handler.
Part 2: The test: Six to ten people are sitting in chairs
in a semi-circle, talking, joking around, laughing, clapping, waving hands.
The handler/dog team approaches the group on a 6' loose leash walking normally
and under no formal obedience commands. At the point where the dog enters
the semi-circle, the group's attention will focus on the dog, encouraging
it to come meet them. Handler must not interfere with where the dog wants
to go. In other words, the handler follows the dog into the group of sitting
people.
The evaluation: Dog should be happy and outgoing, anxious
to greet everyone, allow the people to pet it and be praised. Since this
is a friendly group, the dog should not show fear or any aggressiveness.
If for some reason, the dog shows a suspicious tendency towards a particular
individual only, and is friendly to others in the group, the evaluator
may require further testing, depending on the level of suspicion.
Part 3: The test: All but one of the people leave their
chairs, preferably one that hasn't had contact with the dog, and must be
a stranger to the dog. That person stands up, walks over to the dog in
a friendly manner, bends down, and proceeds to inspect the dog, similar
to what might be encountered in a vet's office or grooming shop. The person
inspects ears, looks in mouth, picks up paw, lifts tail, then strokes dog
from head to tail with a brush. The handler will be allowed to also bend
down, hold it by the collar, and talk to the dog quietly.
The evaluation: Dog must not show any aggression, nor should
it shrink back in fear. The highest rating will be that of a wagging tail
and total acceptance to inspection. It can still pass if it shows submission
and tolerance.
Part 4: The test: Dog and handler are casually walking
at a normal pace in a straight line. Approximately 15 feet behind them,
someone strikes a metal frying pan with a metal ladle, twice.
The evaluation: The most desired reaction is of no real
concern from the dog. The dog can startle, but must recover. The handler
can not interfere with where the dog wants to go. No obedience commands,
no pulling on the lead. If the dog wants to go to the object to investigate,
this is OK. The handler is allowed to speak quiet encouragement to the
dog. Evaluator is to observe the overall posture of the dog (i.e. curious
but cautious or suspiciously cautious) in making final judgment. A very
poor reaction is if the dog runs in the opposite direction, is scared,
or overly sharp.
Part 5: The test: Handler and dog continue their casual
walk. From about 20 paces away, three to five people "jog" (not run) toward
and pass about 3 to 5 feet from and on the dog's side.
The evaluation: Impartiality. The proper reaction is that
of a stable dog that neither shies away or acts aggressive. A dog that
shows happy greetings should not be penalized.
Part 6: The test: The above joggers continue approximately
5 more paces past dog /handler team, turn around and jog up to front of
handler and dog; stop, speak in friendly hellos, shake hands with the handler,
one by one, then speak friendly to the dog and pet it: one, then another,
then all together.
Evaluation: The reaction of the dog is to show stability
in a non-threatening situation among friendly strangers. Again, the dog
is evaluated on its level of friendliness, fear, suspicion, or aggression.
Handler is allowed to talk to the dog to encourage appropriate behavior.
Best reaction is that of a friendly and out-going dog.
Part 7: The test: Dog/handler team walk over unusual footing
arrangement measuring approximately 5' x 5', consisting of the following
lay-out: 4 each 5' x 4" white boards or inverted set of broad jumps, spaced
evenly on top of black plastic. If necessary, handler is allowed to encourage
in a quiet and positive voice.
The evaluation: The above test is to try to simulate the
possible reaction of having to walk over railroad tracks or a small bridge.
This test is designed to see how the dog accepts unusual footing circumstances.
Some dogs may walk over the lay-out totally unconcerned which is the best
reaction. However, some dogs may be more cautious but proceed forward and
over the obstacle, which is also acceptable. The evaluation is based on
how extreme the dog reacts and how much the handler has to coax the dog.
Part 8: The test: Handler and dog continue their casual
walk. A stranger from about 20 paces away is walking with a closed umbrella.
About 5 paces from the dog and handler, stranger opens the umbrella in
a normal manner, raises it over their head, and casually continues walking
past team, ignoring dog (no eye contact), passing about 3 to 5 ft from
dog's side.
Evaluation: The best reaction is of the dog being totally
unconcerned. However the dog is allowed to react. Evaluation is to what
extent, from quick recovery which is acceptable, to spooked (tries to hide
behind handler) or over aggressiveness (tries to attack) which are not
acceptable. Handler is allowed to talk to the dog to encourage appropriate
behavior.
Part 9: The test: Handler and dog walk up to a friendly
stranger who is holding the end of a 15 foot secured line (tied to a post
or tree). The dog is snapped to the tie-out by its collar. Handler gives
the six foot leash (also still attached to collar) to the friendly stranger,
then walks out of sight for 2 minutes. For the first minute, the
stranger stands still saying nothing to the dog. For the second minute
stranger can move about, talking to the dog in a friendly manner.
Evaluation: This test simulates a situation whereas an
emergency might come up and handler has to leave for a while. The dog is
evaluated on its stress level separated from its handler and the acceptance
of a friendly stranger. It is perfectly acceptable if the dog misses its
handler and continues to look in the direction he/she left. It is also
acceptable if the dog shows disinterest in the stranger. It is not acceptable
if the dog shows undue fear or shyness, or any aggression.
Part 10: The test: Positioned approximately 10 paces away
from the dog/handler team is a person quietly standing with a "neutral"
dog by his/her side on a leash during this whole test. One of the evaluators
calls out simple heeling pattern, "Forward" 10 paces, "right turn" 10 paces,
"about turn" 10 paces, "left turn" 10 paces, "halt", "exercise finished".
Ok for handler to praise dog. The evaluator then has handler "down" or
"sit" their dog for one minute. Handler may stand beside dog or walk 10
paces away facing dog on lead.
Evaluation: Control in the presence of another dog, respect
to handler, and basic manners. This is not a test for competition obedience,
but only a simple test to prove that the handler has taught their AST the
basic commands any responsible owner should, and that the dog is under
proper control. A bond should be present between handler and dog. The best
picture is that of a dog willing to obey happily. The attitude of the dog
is to be evaluated, not correctness of "heel" or "sit" position. The dog
will be penalized heavily if it shows undue aggression towards the neutral
dog, and can fail if excessive. The dog should not show any fear or aggressive
tendencies when commanded by its handler.
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