Has anyone heard of the ATTS?

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Has anyone heard of the ATTS?

Rock,

Not till you mentioned it...but "informed minds want to know" so I looked it up! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />
ATT = The American Temperament Test

Actually, in looking at the elements of this test it seems very similar to the Working Aptitude Evaluation (WAE) that is administered by the Doberman Pinscher Club of America. The United Dobermann Club requires any dog competing in conformation to undergo an age/training appropriate temperament test. One difference I saw though is that in the WAE, Trained dogs have the option of taking the sport temperament test where they actually have a bite. Everything up to that point is the same as the ATT, but the dog is released to bite the bad guy--not unlike the attack out of the blind.

But as one of the doberman show people pointed out to me, the major problem with the ATTS is that it is based on the WAE, but is administered to all breeds. Why would anyone want to test their Vizla on protectiveness when they weren't bred for that?

One of my daughters put a TT title on her Norwich Terrier 15+ years ago. From what I can remember, the protection phase was used to judge the reaction to a stranger in a long coat and hat who approached the handler and dog, beating the ground with a stick. Non protection breeds were judged on alertness and willingness.(Did they move between handler and "spooky" strange. Did they get behind handler. Did they panic. Did they bark at "spooky" stranger). Non of the dogs, even the protection breeds, were alowed to make contact with "spooky" stranger. It was just to see reaction. My daughters Norwich wanted to eat the guy for lunch. Probably 99.9 of people entering this were pet and AKC show people. It Was amazing how many big, tough, guarding breeds didn't have a clue. There were other phases of TT test that had dog walking over dog crates lying on groung, reaction to a bucket of rocks being rattled when dog and handler walk by and other things I really can't recall now (15+ years). All of the tests would be a piece of cake for any sound dog with good socialization and exposure to every day things.

The test is to be judged breed specific. Non- protection breeds are not intended to be protective, just not afraid. The idea is a solid temperament, good nerves.

Richard
Thank you! I wish I could explain things so easily, yet so effectivly.

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My daughters Norwich wanted to eat the guy for lunch

he, he, he...they can get fiesty! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

The "protectiveness" test referred to above is the Weird Stranger test. In the ATT "The weird stranger advances to within 18 feet of the stationary handler in an aggressive manner. The purpose of this subtest is to evaluate the dog's protective instincts."
And it does go on to say:
"A schutzhund trained dog lunging at the stranger is allowed, but if an untrained Siberian husky does the same, it may fail."

The Weird Stranger in the ATT supposedly does not present himself as aggressive as in the WAE, but in the case of my friend, actually looked like a blind person using a cane--understandably not something she wanted her dog going off on!

All in all, I suppose judges in an ATT must be very knowledgeable on every breed. Afterall, a gsd will react slightly different than a doberman, or a mastiff to the same stimuli, though each dog may have very solid nerves. Will judges pick up on those nuances...or does it matter?

All in all, I suppose judges in an ATT must be very knowledgeable on every breed. Afterall, a gsd will react slightly different than a doberman, or a mastiff to the same stimuli, though each dog may have very solid nerves. Will judges pick up on those nuances...or does it matter? When I took my first two dogs through the ATTS test, they had me bring breed information for the tester. We also spent about 20 minutes talking about the breed before he tested my dogs.

I use the ATTS test as a way to, well, test, the dogs. I don't train specifically for it. I like to know what stresses my dogs. This is one way to find out. At the end the chief tester goes over how your dog did, taking into account the breed and the training that individual dog has had.

Yes, I know, what I see at home pretty much tells me the same thing, but it's an independant review of the dogs. Everyone takes the same test, by the same person.

Anna

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I like to know what stresses my dogs. This is one way to find out

I found it interesting that the ATT site refers to "breed-specific dog legislation and negative publicity associated with many breeds of dogs" as a lead-in to the explantion of their program.

Makes me think that insurance companies in the future may require such a certificate as a condition of coverage....that is surely better than being refused coverage now.

A blast from the past! I wondered if this organization had survived... In 1980 (!?!) our club hosted an ATTS test in the Dayton Ohio area. Alfons Ertelt officiated.

Alfons' belief was that you would not get a true evaluation of temperament if you trained for it.

We pressed members of our SchH club into service to play the various roles (such as umbrella person, friendly stranger, etc) and used a person not known to our club dogs as the wierd stranger. The evaluations & critiques were invaluable!

I'd like to find a club nearby that is sponsoring a test. Any suggestions?

Krista

* in memory of Lexie TT-129-GSD

hi i think they have a website and they post the dates and locations of the test...i'm not sure of the website you could try http://www.atts.com or spelling it out?