Imagine being able to identify the unique traits of a puppy before selecting one and bringing it home for the first time. Is the puppy independent, full of energy, strongly opinionated about resources like food, or isn’t afraid to push back when handled? Wouldn’t that be valuable information to have before you selected and picked up your puppy from a breeder, rescue, or a shelter?
Want to know what your puppy needs first?
Understanding these specific characteristics could drastically change how you approach your puppy’s first year of training. For example, an independent confident puppy might benefit from specific structured connection games which would build a stronger bond with his human. While the high-energy puppy can be more complicated. This puppy would benefit from both physical and mental stimulation to prevent unwanted behaviors, yet also needs to learn the skill of doing nothing while connecting to his human.
A puppy with strong opinions about resources may require early training to ensure resource guarding doesn’t become a problem. Similarly, a puppy that resists being handled will benefit from a gradual desensitization to touch program and fear free veterinary care. Knowing these character traits from the beginning allows you to tailor socialization, training, and daily routines to better meet the puppy’s individual needs. This early focused training will ultimately lead to a more balanced and joyful relationship.
My extensive training in puppy assessments evolves from CARAT (Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool). I am certified in administering this assessment tool to best match each puppy with a home where they can thrive.
What is CARAT?
CARAT is an assessment tool that creates a detailed profile of the individual dog as a unique combination of many traits working together to influence, exacerbate, mitigate and enhance each other. It was created by the renown dog trainer, Suzanne Clothier.
CARAT is not a test. There is no PASS or FAIL. CARAT is a scoring system, based on observable behaviors and patterns of response.
The goal is the creation of a profile for an individual animal. That profile may then be used to provide a deeper understanding of the individual and to evaluate suitability for a task, lifestyle or handler.
Each animal has a typical way of reacting to the world. The preferred, first and most natural way of reacting is known as temperament. Temperament is a complex interaction of genetics, environmental influences and experiences during early development that all combine to create the individual. In dogs, this early development period occurs prior to 7 weeks. Source: Suzaneclothier.com/carat/
Every Puppy has a Unique Temperament
Who is Green boy?
Green Boy is a persistent little puppy with a bundle of opinions, different from his siblings. While a friendly guy who tolerates petting, his entire existence revolves around his sensitive nose, which he uses to experience the world. Smells are his obsession, and his joy. He lives through his nose, always! Obedience may be easy for some dogs, but Green Boy has no use for strict rules when there’s a world of smells out there waiting to be explored. His strong personality has no interest in being nagged and pushed to walk with his head up, when the world below his feet meets his needs just perfectly. Green boy will be matched with an experienced Search and Rescue handler – who couldn’t be happier, as she watches him smell everything!
Tan boy needs a smaller world
Tan boy, the low-energy male puppy, absolutely loved being held in my arms. He did however, take several seconds to resolve the noises in my setting. Fortunately for Tan boy he will be matched in a quiet home with two retired humans! It’s like a match made in heaven—this pup, who seeks out quiet settings with a human near, now gets all the attention he craves for. With no hectic schedules or rushing off to work, they have all the time in the world to socialize him appropriately and let him curl up in their laps, enjoying slow, peaceful days together.
Who can meet Violet’s needs?
How absolutely fortunate for Violet, the high-energy female pup, who was bouncing around the training center with enthusiasm and a natural desire to stay busy, to find herself in the perfect home with a young human eager for a performance dog! This energetic, toy-carrying bundle of joy is stepping into a world where her needy personality will not only be appreciated but celebrated. She’s not just a pet; she’s about to become an important teammate.
Red boy: A match made in heaven!
The social, playful Red boy was full of affection for me! He will love being able to share a home with two young companions who match his energy and enthusiasm. For him, it’s a perfect match—having two young playmates who toss toys, engage in fun activities, and provide constant companionship. The synergy between his outgoing nature and their young energy creates a joyful, harmonious environment where affection and play are in endless supply. It’s a truly fortunate situation for both the playful puppy and his young friends, as they enjoy each other’s company, strengthening their bond with cuddles and games.
The puppy known as Finn
When I noticed Finn had a tendency to take the toy I tossed and run away from me looking for a place to hide, I knew he would need a home with a dog savvy human. One who has trained a dog before using a positive approach. Finn will have two humans who can immediately condition him to share resources! There will be no small children in the home to chase him when he does grab an item. There will be no waiting for this behavior to become evident and habitual by an unskilled human. Finn’s owners are now aware of his guarding tendency and his submissive greetings. They see these two characteristics are intwined in Finn. They will immediately focus on building his confidence with people while they counter condition Finn’s guarding behavior, before it becomes a problematic.
Why are puppy assessments so important to me?
One of the absolute joys of working with puppies before adoption is seeing to their well-being and setting them up for success. It takes a lover of animals willing to heighten your observation skills to observe each little personality—to truly understand the nuances of avoidance out of fear or because the pup is simply not motivated by the extrinsic reward.
My strong desire to truly understand the adventurous explorer who prefers sniffing over food leads me to believe this pup will not be easy to have off-leash in many settings. Likewise, the passive, sensitive puppy who was unable to come to me when asked was not being stubborn, rather it was clearly because the chair between us was simply too close for her. This told me she will struggle to come to her owners when called sometimes, not because she is willful, rather it is because she lacks environmental confidence. She hesitates when feeling unsure about a novel object. Sharing these specific insights about each puppy’s personality and specific sensitivities with their future families is truly rewarding. Assessing puppies is about more than just finding a home; it’s about helping each one find the home where that puppy will flourish! That’s why I’m so committed to CARAT.
Want to be a better dog professional?
Familiarize yourself with CARAT. Take a course on understanding Canine Body Language from Suzanne Clothier. Sure, there are cheaper courses out there and I have taken many of them. Suzanne’s comprehensive CARAT Course is hands down the best I have encountered! It is truly effective and should be required for all certified pet dog trainers.
Want to have a successful match with your new puppy?
Always request that your breeder, kennel or rescue group be willing to have your puppy assessed by a Certified CARAT Assessor prior to adoption or purchase. This gives you the best chance in adopting the right puppy for you and your environment, and creates the foundation for a long-lasting, harmonious relationship between the puppy and its owner.