Which personality dimensions do puppy tests measure? A systematic procedure for categorizing behavioral assays

Area of Science:

• Ethology
• Animal Behavior

Background:

• Growing interest in canine personality assessment.
• Need for standardized puppy behavior tests to predict adult traits.
• Lack of clear guidance on available assays and measured personality dimensions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To identify and categorize puppy behavior assays effectively measuring key personality dimensions.
• To provide a guide for researchers and practitioners in canine behavior assessment.
• To establish a standardized method for evaluating behavioral test batteries.

Main Methods:

• Expert-categorization procedure applied to identify relevant puppy tests.
• Categorization of 264 assay subtests from 47 studies.
• Independent assessment by six expert judges on nine personality dimensions.

Main Results:

• A curated set of behavioral tests effectively measuring nine canine personality dimensions was identified.
• The study validated a method for developing and evaluating behavioral test batteries.
• Assays were categorized based on their ability to measure dimensions such as fear, sociability, and trainability.

Conclusions:

• The expert-categorization method provides a reliable way to select and evaluate puppy behavior tests.
• This work offers a valuable resource for researchers and practitioners in canine personality assessment.
• Standardized testing is crucial for understanding and predicting canine behavior from puppyhood.