Bulldog Puppy Obedience Aptitude Test

Retrieving

Shows the degree of Bulldog puppy's willingness to run the commands and the difficulty of retrieve training.

Squat down beside the puppy and attract its attention with a sheet paper crumpled up. Throw away the paper no more than 4 feet in front of the puppy when he (she) showed some interest to it. Encourage the puppy to retrieve the paper.

Scores:

• 1 – chases the object, picks it up and runs away
• 2 - chases the object, stands over it, doesn't return
• 3 - chases the object, picks it up and returns with it to tester
• 4 - chases the object and returns without it to tester
• 5 – starting to chase the object and loses interest to it
• 6 – doesn't chase the object

Touch Sensitivity

Shows sensitivity degree to touch and kind of training equipment needed.

Sensitive Bulldogs will respond to the slightest leash pulling. Low sensitive Bulldogs may need prong collars. Put the puppy on the ground in front of you. Put its front paw on your palm and press it gently between the thumb and index finger with the other hand. Press between the finger and thumb more firmly while count to ten until you get a response. Do not use fingernail.

Some puppies don't like touching their paws at all. Then, do this test by pressing the puppy's ear edge.

• 1 – response at 8-10 counts
• 2 - response at 6-7 counts
• 3 - response at 5-6 counts
• 4 - response at 2-4 counts
• 5 - response at 2-3 counts

Sound Sensitivity

Shows sensitivity degree to sound.

Put Bulldog puppy in the centre of the test area and make a sharp noise behind its back (f.e. bang a metal spoon on the bottom of a metal plate). Watch the response. If it isn't clear, repeat the action.

If the puppy is frightened, this means it is shy. If there is no response, this may point to deafness. 

• 1 - listens, locates the sound, walks towards it barking
  
• 2 - listens, locates the sound, starts barking
  
• 3 - listens, locates the sound, walks towards the sound source curiously
  
• 4 - listens, locates the sound
  
• 5 - listens, backs off, hides
  
• 6 - ignores the sound, shows no interest
  

Sight Sensitivity

Shows the degree of response to moving objects (bicycles, children or animals chasing).

Put the puppy in centre of the test area. Tie a string around a bath towel and jerk it across the floor 2 feet away from Bulldog puppy. Curiosity and eagerness to chase the towel will show the puppy's degree of confidence and aggressiveness.

• 1 - looks, attacks and bites
  
• 2 - looks, barks, tail is up
  
• 3 - looks curiously, tries to chase
  
• 4 - looks, barks, tail is down
  
• 5 - runs away, hides
• 6 - shows no interest

Stability

Shows the degree of startle response to strange objects.

Open an umbrella about 5 feet from Bulldog puppy and put it gently on the ground.

• 1 - looks, runs to the umbrella, mouths or bites it
• 2 - looks, walks to the umbrella, smells it with caution
  
• 3 - looks, walks to examine
  
• 4 - sits and looks, doesn't move towards the umbrella
  
• 5 - runs away from the umbrella
  
• 6 - shows no interest

Structure

Shows puppy's structural soundness degree. Good structure is needed.

Sit Bulldog puppy gently in natural position and estimate its structure according to the next categories: straight front, shoulder angulation, shoulder layback, croup angulation, straight rear, rear angulation.

• Good - the puppy's structure is correct
• Fair - there is a slight fault or deviation in the puppy's structure
• Poor - there is an extreme fault or deviation in the puppy's structure

Learn also how to identify your Bulldog's temper.