Temperament Is Not a Snapshot

One of the most common questions breeders receive about puppy mathing from prospective families is:

“What puppy testing method do you use?”

Over the years, formal puppy testing systems have become increasingly popular within the dog world. Australian Labradoodles are strong candidates for service or therapy dogs and formal testing systems are often favoured by those involved in the raising of service dogs. Many of these formal systems attempt to identify future temperament traits, confidence levels, sociability, trainability or even long-term suitability for therapy and service work in Australian Labradoodle puppies.

At GALA, we believe behavioural observation has value. We also believe there are important limitations to what can realistically be predicted in very young puppies.

The science surrounding canine behavioural development is far more nuanced than many social media posts or marketing claims suggest.

Modern research increasingly supports what experienced breeders have observed for decades:

Puppies are developing beings, not finished personalities.

Their adult temperament is influenced not only by genetics and early neurological development, but also by:

• environment
• socialization
• family dynamics
• training style
• emotional regulation
• adolescent experiences
• confidence-building opportunities
• stress exposure and recovery
• owner behaviour and expectations

For this reason, GALA supports a thoughtful, observation-based approach to Labradoodle puppy matching rather than relying exclusively on a single formal test performed at one moment in time.

Common Puppy Testing Methods

Several puppy testing systems are widely used throughout the dog breeding world. Each attempts to assess behavioural tendencies during early development.

Testing Method	Typical Age	Focus
Volhard Puppy Aptitude Test	7 weeks	Social attraction, restraint, retrieval, dominance
Campbell Test	6–8 weeks	Human interaction and submission responses
Service Dog Assessments	7–10 weeks	Startle recovery, object confidence, handler focus
Neonatal Testing	2–16 days	Activity, vocalization, handling sensitivity
Breeder Observation Systems	Birth onward	Longitudinal behavioural patterns and environmental response

While many of these methods can provide useful information, scientific studies consistently show that early testing has limited ability to accurately predict adult temperament traits in pet dogs.

What the Research Actually Shows

One of the most influential longitudinal studies examining early canine temperament assessment was conducted jointly through the Clever Dog Lab and the Messerli Research Institute at the University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna and the University of Vienna. Researchers followed puppies from neonatal stages through early adulthood and found that the predictive validity of early behavioural testing for later adult temperament traits was limited. Most behavioural characteristics showed weak long-term consistency, with exploratory behaviour demonstrating the strongest continuity over time. The study further emphasized the significant influence of environmental and developmental experiences throughout adolescence and early maturity.

Additional longitudinal behavioural studies following puppies from neonatal stages through adulthood have similarly found limited consistency between early puppy testing results and adult behavioural outcomes. Researchers assessed:

• neonatal activity
• vocalization
• sucking force
• exploration
• social engagement
• novel object response
• play
• restraint response
• adult behaviour at 1.5–2 years

The conclusions across multiple studies are striking:

The predictive validity of early tests for predicting specific behavioural traits in adult pet dogs is limited.

The only trait demonstrating meaningful continuity between puppyhood and adulthood was exploratory activity. Most other behavioural traits showed weak or inconsistent long-term predictability.

The following simplified model illustrates how temperament develops over time rather than being permanently fixed at seven weeks of age.

Key Research Findings

Finding	Research Outcome
Neonatal testing predicted adult temperament poorly	Minimal correlation
Puppy testing at 6–7 weeks showed low predictability	Weak behavioural consistency
Exploration/activity showed some continuity	Moderate consistency
Environment strongly influenced later behaviour	Significant effect
Adolescence altered behavioural trajectories	Major developmental impact

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Behavioural Development Timeline

The following simplified model illustrates how temperament develops over time rather than being permanently fixed at seven weeks of age.

Developmental Stage	Major Influences
Neonatal Period	Genetics, maternal care, neurological development
Transitional Period	Sensory awareness, litter interaction
Socialization Period	Human exposure, novelty, confidence building
Juvenile Stage	Training consistency, household structure
Adolescence	Emotional regulation, stress resilience, social maturity
Adulthood	Lifestyle, relationship patterns, ongoing learning

Research increasingly highlights adolescence as one of the most important developmental stages influencing adult behaviour. Significant neurological and hormonal changes occur during this period, affecting confidence, resilience, social responses and emotional regulation.

This means a puppy’s adult temperament may be heavily shaped by:

•  training methods
• emotional security
• environmental exposure
• social experiences
  
• household structure
• owner confidence
• consistency and boundaries
• recovery from stressors

In other words:

The family raising the puppy becomes part of the puppy’s developmental outcome.

Why Observation Matters in Puppy Matching

At GALA, we support breeders who observe puppies longitudinally rather than relying exclusively on a single formal assessment.

Observation-based evaluation allows breeders to assess:

• resilience
• recovery from stress
• curiosity
• environmental confidence
• frustration tolerance
• human engagement
• adaptability
• littermate interaction
• response to novelty
• handling comfort
• food confidence
• emotional intensity
• social flexibility

Importantly, these observations occur across:

• different environments
• varying energy states
• multiple developmental stages
• interactions with littermates
• interactions with humans
• daily routines and transitions

This provides a more complete behavioural picture than a short, isolated testing session alone.

Puppy Matching Is Also About Matching Families

Effective puppy matching is not solely about evaluating puppies.
It also involves understanding families:

• lifestyle
• activity level
• emotional expectations
• dog experience
• structure and routine
• household energy
• confidence level
• children and social dynamics
• training goals
• flexibility and adaptability

A successful match occurs when the needs and tendencies of both the puppy and the family complement one another.

This relationship-centred approach reflects the philosophy GALA encourages within responsible Australian Labradoodle breeding programs.

The Ethical Responsibility of Breeders

Puppy matching should never become:

• marketing theatre
• personality labelling
• oversimplified scoring
• exaggerated prediction claims

Nor should breeders imply that puppies are fully formed emotional beings whose futures are predetermined at seven weeks of age.
Instead, ethical breeders recognize:

• temperament is influenced by both genetics and environment
• development continues long after puppies leave for their new homes
• no assessment system is perfectly predictive
• thoughtful observation matters
• ongoing owner education matters enormously

At GALA, we believe the most responsible approach combines:

• experience
• longitudinal observation
• behavioural understanding
• developmental science
• breeder intuition
• family education
• ethical transparency

rather than relying solely on rigid formulas or one-time testing systems.

Final Thoughts

Puppy temperament assessment absolutely has value.

But the science does not support the idea that a single test at six or seven weeks can perfectly predict a dog’s adult personality.

The most ethical breeders recognize both the usefulness and the limitations of early assessments.

Puppies are not static.

They are developing individuals shaped by genetics, relationships, experiences, environment and guidance over time.

And ultimately, that should give families hope because raising the puppy well matters just as much as selecting the puppy thoughtfully.

Written by: Claire Desrochers | Van Isle Labradoodles

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