Puppy Evaluations by Debbie Gross Saunders

On February 23, 2010 Kim and I traveled to Colchester with the litter.  Debbie evaluated each puppy and these are her findings:

Peanut/Tempo

    Good prosternum

    Good front angles

    No slipped hocks

    No herring gut - good length of loin

    Overall, very nice dog - will do well in a performance home.  Well balanced and good proportions. 

Padre

    Great prosternum

    Good angles

    No slipped hocks

    Slight herring gut - short spring of rib and longer length of loin

    Strengthen his back - ball and balance work

    Should do well in a show/performance home

Regan

    Fair prosternum

    Elbow laxity - significant rotation of elbows and shoulders

    Unequal length of upper and lower hindlimb

    Straight forelimbs

    Herring gut - short spring of rib and longer length of loin

    No slipped hocks

    Slightly cow hocked

    A pet home would be the best for her.   

Bella

    Fair prosternum

    Good angles

    No slipped hocks

    Slight herring gut - will need strength in the lower back - ball and stabilization work

    Fine for a performance home

Bertha

    Good prosternum

    Well balanced

    No slipped hocks

    Good angles

    Good spring of rib and length of loin

    Fine for a performance home

Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test

The past month has been a busy one for me and the puppies.  We tested their temperaments with the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test.  Thank you to Donna Vera and Lea Lupinacci for their assistance.  The test was performed on each puppy at exactly 7 weeks (49 days) of age.  They all did pretty well.  Regan was the first one to be tested, and I don't think her results are accurate.  We were going to retest her, but didn't get around to it.  

Here is a break-down of the test results: 
Social Attraction:
Bella, Padre, Peanut and Bertha came readily with their tails up. (3)
Regan came hesitantly with tail down. (5)
Following:
Bertha, Bella, Padre and Peanut followed readily with tail up. (3)
Regan followed readily with tail down. (4)
Restraint:
Peanut struggled, then settled. (4)
Bertha & Padre did not struggle and made total eye contact. (5)
Bella did not struggle. (5)
Regan struggled fiercely. (2)
Social Dominance:
Bella went away and stayed away. (6)
Padre forgave. 
Bertha froze.
Regan squirmed and licked at hands. (4)
Peanut cuddled up to testor. (3)
Elevation Dominance:
None of the puppies struggled.  They were all relaxed. (3)
Retrieving:
Regan, Bella and Peanut chased and returned to tester with object. (3)
Bertha did not chase the object. (6)
Padre chased object, picked it up and ran away with it. (1)
Touch sensitivity:
Bella - 3-4 seconds before response. (4)
Padre, Bertha, Peanut, Regan - no reaction
Sound Sensitivity:
Regan, Bertha,  - listens, locates sound (4)
Peanut, Bella - Listens, locates sound, and walks there curiously (3)
Padre - Ignores sound, shows no curiosity (6)
Sight Sensitivity:
Regan, Bertha & Peanut - Looks curiously, attempts to investigate. (3)
Bella - Looks, attacks and bites.  (1)
Padre - did nothing.

For interpretation of the scores please go to
http://www.oes.org/html/how_do_i_pick_the_right_puppy_.html.  Note that we do not perform the Stability test.