How confident is the dog in its own abilities in new environments? When entering the testing area, how does the puppy respond to the unfamiliar place and objects?

Does, the dog naturally want to work for humans? This portion of the test involves asking the puppy to do something like play fetch, tug, and engage with the person. Is the puppy following what the tester asked them to do or is the person having to work really hard to get the puppy to do what they’ve asked? 

How energetic is the puppy is moving throughout the test? Do they take breaks and rest or constantly run around? This is graded on an overall comparison of the entire litter as a whole.  

• Does the puppy interpret the tester’s behavior as play?
• If so, do they engage by pulling hair, tugging socks, or approaching the tester’s face?
• How long does this engagement last? Do they quickly lose interest?
• Do they show concern initially, then return to their toys?
• Do they ignore the situation entirely and focus on their toys?
• Does the puppy become overwhelmed by the emotions and cower or try to hide?

This often contradicts what most puppy parents might initially believe they need. A forgiving puppy tends to attribute all mistakes, whether yours or theirs, as their own fault and is eager to rectify them. This quality becomes especially significant when considering placement in homes with  young children or adults prone to emotional outbursts.  A forgiving puppy may respond by trying to gain favor and becoming overly submissive, or reactive in the wrong home.  On the other hand, an unforgiving puppy recognizes instances where you lose your cool or a child accidentally hurts them, taking this into consideration and understanding the responsible party without taking it on as their problem. Both reactions provide valuable insights and are equally lovely puppies with different needs. By giving our puppies a voice in their placement, it allows us to better understand and respond to our puppy’s emotional needs.

This is a distinctive segment of the test that we’ve crafted over years, drawing insights from observing puppies’ responses during evaluations and tracking their long-term progress with their families. Within the framework of the Habibi Method, we refer to this as the “healing power.” Each evaluation is individual and exceptional. When coupled with the forgiving and tenderhearted aspects, this component elevates our evaluation, offering a profound understanding of our puppies at a soul level, helping our clients become the ultimate puppy parent of their little Habibi.
 
Earth, Air, Water, Fire

How does the dog handle stress and react in different situations? Low is easily stressed, and high means they are able to adapt more easily in stressful situations. Nerve strength is observed throughout the test and we watch to see how the puppy handles stress or startles and if they are able to overcome their fears. 

It’s normal for a puppy to startle at loud sounds or unexpected movements, but what matters is how they recover. We focus on how quickly they bounce back and encourage them to investigate.

A low score indicates a high tolerance for noises or visual surprises, while a high score suggests sensitivity. This is an adjustable trait, meaning families can help their puppy build resilience and confidence through the homework plan provided when the puppy comes home.

How does the puppy react when they are roughly touched (have their tail tugged, toes touched, etc.)  Low scores mean the puppy doesn’t handle unwanted touch well, and high scores mean the puppy wasn’t stressed and enjoyed being touched the whole time. A lot of puppies will even enjoy this portion of the test.

How interested are they in ‘following the pack’ and giving attention to the human? Do they like to get the lay of the land first before interacting?  Are they keenly aware of environment and less of human?  Both? Low means they want to discover on their own, Medium means they are a mix of both, and high scores mean they are attentive to people and focus on them.  Knowing this helps us understand our puppy’s needs and how to work with them!