We completed temperament testing today. Due to the larger litter we have done the temperament testing over a few days. 

 

The litter is incredibly consistent and there is very little to choose between them, although we have noted the subtle differences. All puppies are suitable for families with children (Some more suited to older children) all are suitable to be with other dogs and barely anything to choose between them, which will make it so much harder for you when you come to see them.  Both mum and dad have very similar temperaments and so this is not a surprise. Vet check is tomorrow, after this we will make our choice to which puppy we will be choosing.

​

​

Peggy - Green (4)

She has a naturally sweet disposition and loves a cuddle but would also enjoy playing with children. She is forgiving, has a lower play desire and a low prey drive, with time her play desire could increase as she is still very young. She will love a ball and scored high on her retrieve and chase activity.  It's worth mentioning that chasing balls for a prolonged period of time is not good for their joints and should be limited. She can exhibit attention seeking tendencies so to continue training we would recommend not to encourage this behaviour.  

 She would suit all family types as she is a mix of playfulness but also enjoys quiet periods, Her versatility makes her a fitting addition to any family dynamic, but I personally believe she would not enjoy too boisterous children but would enjoy quieter children.

​

Doris - Purple (4)

Doris is a mix of confidence and calmness, she radiates positivity.  Her inclination is balanced with a calming charm mixed with a quiet confidence.  She is people focussed, has a medium level play drive and enjoys tug games and this could be used as a training tool.  She scored low on retriever focus however I believe with time and training she could enjoy this.  She is confident and courageous, has a low sound and sight sensitivity which would suit a family with young children.  Adaptable she is suited for all family types and ages of children.

​

​

Betty - Pink (4)

Betty loves people, she has a natural affinity for cuddling and embracing the warmth of human touch.  She is quietly confident without being overly playful. She is people focussed, has a lower play desire coupled with a low prey drive, she is not ball focused and would probably be more suited to food treats rather than toy focus. She is highly confident with new places but is more reactive to loud sounds.  She would benefit from a quieter household with perhaps older children, She is mid confident around dogs which means that she would enjoy a dog household and would bond well with another dog. Her training would benefit continuing with her natural sociability whilst exploring new people / sounds / experiences in a controlled positive way.

​

Simon - Yellow (3)

Exuding confidence and playfulness, Simon enjoys both cuddles and fun in equal measure, he is a blend of confidence mixed with an exuberance to play when prompted. He was borderline and could easily tip to scoring a 4 on another day.  I believe he will be perfect for all family dynamics but would thrive with children. He is people focussed but meets other dogs with exuberance.  He has a strong play desire and enjoys tug toys rather than the ball, I think for training, treats or a good tug toy could be used.  He was confident with our obstacle course and accepted all the obstacles with delight.  He is a sociable dog and would be suitable for all households but I personally believe he would enjoy children.

​

Tarquin - Green (4)

Tarquin is people focussed and has a lower play drive, he is still young so this will increase with time.  He is quieter and people focussed rather than toy focussed, he wants to play with you. He was very confident with the obstacle course and took each activity in his stride. He thinks before acting.  He met the adult dog with confidence.  Biddable with a mid range energy level he would make an excellent family or older household pet.

​

Benji - Red (4)

Benji took a little longer to warm up to the tester, but once established he was very people focussed and actually engaged the 2nd quickest.  He has mid level assertiveness but covered the obstacle course with the most confidence, walking over the different surfaces and even stood on the wobble board which indicates that he maybe slightly quieter but was actually the most confident.  He was very polite to the adult dog and performed the play bow.  He would enjoy the ball and this could be used as a training tool.  He would be suitable for all family types.

​

Wilbert - Black (4)

Wilbert has a natural calm nature, he is quietly confident with a natural forgiving nature.  He has a medium play drive and medium energy, he enjoyed the tug toys.  He is people focussed and not dog obsessed which will make meeting other dogs in the park easier as he will not want to meet every dog. He engaged really well and follows direction, he covered every obstacle easily and with confidence.  He isn't bothered by loud noises but was sensitive to touch, he would need continued desensitising on his paw pads to enable nail clipping. A naturally calm dog he would suit all family types.

​

Otto - Orange (5)

Otto was environment focussed and was more attached to the familiar, he preferred to be with people, he had a lower play drive and prey drive and enjoyed cuddling. His natural nature is to be with people, whilst loving human interaction he is the quieter of the puppies, calm but would enjoy a quieter household with older children.  He is food orientated and this will help with training.

​

Sampson - D Blue (3)

A picture of confidence and genuine happiness, Sampson has a remarkable friendly presence.  His tail is always up and shows his enthusiasm and joyful disposition.  He is an excellent fit for a family dynamic or an active family. He would thrive in a family playing with children.  He is super clever and environment focussed, this does not mean that he didn't want to engage in play but that he spent time assessing his environment first. He has a medium to high play drive and enjoys the tug toys and ball alike, he was the only dog who retrieved and brought back the object to us.  He was super confident with the obstacle course and engaged with the adult dogs confidently.  He followed with good eye contact.  He is a naturally sociable dog and would enjoy engagement through games. 

​

Bluebird - L Blue (4)

Earning the most compliments, Bluebird enters with his tail held high and friendly hand licking gestures. He is a perfect mix of naturally calm and playfulness, I think he would make a great therapy dog, his confidence makes him an ideal match for families with children but his calmness means that he would also be well suited to a family with older children or a no children household.. He is people focussed but was also very interested in his environment which he explored independently.  He engaged quickly and had a mid level play drive, he chased but no retrieve and for training I think food would be a better choice. He gave good eye contact and was not sound sensitive and was stable with the sight challenge.  He loved the adult dog and would enjoy playing with other dogs.   

​

It is important to note that temperament testing is a snap shot of their temperaments at the time of the test.  Whilst we do know our puppies they are so very young and correct socialisation and ongoing training is so very important to ensure your Ripley's puppy continues to thrive in their environment.  Training and a loving environment and continued exposure to as many new experiences before they are 16 weeks old will contribute significantly to their happiness and ongoing temperament.