For years I used the Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test (P.A.T.) to evaluate puppies. As a Schutzhund competitor, it gave me insight into a puppy’s future personality but did not test for things like “possessiveness” and “hunt drive.” It was evident that I needed to find a better test to narrow down potential working puppies. The result was the PAWS Working Dog Evaluation, which stands for Possessiveness, Attention, Willingness, and Strength. 

Unlike the P.A.T., which was developed to evaluate good “pet” temperaments, The PAWS test was developed to help identify and evaluate the main components of good “working” temperaments for dogs being selected for work in K-9, Scent Detection, Search, French Ring, Schutzhund, Agility, Obedience, and similar activities. 

Why Possessiveness, Attention, W illingness, and Strength? In all of these activities, we use the dog’s possessiveness and drive to train, and eventually at work or on the field. But without attention and willingness to work for the handler, the most driven, possessive dog is virtually useless. The test is divided into seven areas, and is more flexible in regard to age than the P.A.T. Depending on what activity the puppy is intended for, I place more weight on certain elements of the test.