Dog Temperament Scale

At Bluegrace Portuguese Water Dogs, we have developed our own system of categorizing puppies.

We've found this system suitable for classifying our dogs. You may, or may not find this works with other breeds, or even other breeders of PWD's. However, we have found it tends to work well with 90-95% of dogs.

How the scale works

So when the puppies are growing, we spend a lot of time with them to assess the progress of their temperaments. If we notice a pup is not quite developing as much as we would prefer (invariably being swamped by litter mates), we remove that pup from the pack for 2-5 days, to spend one on one time with a human so they can get the opportunity to see their own temperament exposed. This is an essential part of good puppy rearing.

By the time the puppies are 6 weeks old, we are fairly sure which temperament category the pups fall into.

Then our discussions with our puppy people begin in earnest. We don't believe in letting the puppy pick the owner. It's pointless having a pup that looks cute, but doesn't fit with the temperament requirements of the home it is going into. Trouble will ALWAYS result. We believe in ensuring pups go to a "permanent" home once. Pups should not have to be re-homed just because of an ill-fitting temperament match right from the start. Such mistakes should never be made.

We will, however, say to people, "we know you want a Category 3 temperament, but the only female we have is a Category 2. " I then explain the implications of this temperament, and how it will affect lifestyle. Our aim is to make sure our puppy people are as well informed as possible.

The Scale Category 4 - shy and possibly fearful, often described as "soft". Noted for sitting behind the owner. Will bond very quickly with one person. Will become a "one-person" dog only. Will rarely move up to a Category 3 dog. Will require extensive careful socialisation. Can make exceptional dogs if placed in the right home. Are sometimes knows as "soft" dogs. In the "wrong" homes, these dogs will be a disaster. Suit a one person home best. These are unfortunately common across many breeds. We actively work to remove all dogs from our breeding program who produce dogs like this. Example: we had one pup who was a Category 4. We refused to place him until the right home came along, and if that home didn't he would have stayed with me. His new owner loved his nature. I can remember her coming over to look at him, and lying down on my kitchen floor to gain his trust. I knew this owner was perfect for him as soon as she did that. She worked particularly hard with obedience and socialising to get him on track This has worked out to be a perfect owner-dog match, and we couldn't have asked for better, and the owner is thrilled. This dog is Jed, now Champion Bluegrace Captain Hook. The dog will always be shy, and his mother was spayed as we didn't want to produce such temperaments again. It comes as no surprise that a litter sister to this boy has been diagnose with Addison's disease, given the link between temperament and Addison's.

Category 3 - middle of the road, will get on with most people. Good for families. Should be able to fit in to most environments. Will be the sort of dog you can take places (as long as you've taught him/her the necessary manners). Example: Bella left for her new home, and showed typical Category 3 behaviours. Her owner wanted one of the pups who was a Category 2, based on the other pup looking cuter. On explaining the difference in temperament, the owner agreed Bella was a better fit for her (she lives alone in a unit). Since she's been in her new home, Bella has proven the perfect fit for such, and her owner is absolutely thrilled with her.

Category 2 - show/working dog temperament, very outgoing and in your face. This pup will need obedience training early on. Good for show homes and people wanting to go running every day with the dog. Example: We have one of these dogs in a home with two young children, but the dad (our friend Martin) takes her rowing at least once a day, and she is surrounded by schoolchildren a lot of the time, receiving the additional stimulation she thrives on. By the time she gets home she is exhausted and ready to play with the younger children. Normally, I'd prefer to place a Category 3 dog with a family with young children, but this home with the additional outside stimulation, needed the boost up. And she is definitely Martin's dog, and has had a significant impact on his life.

Category 1 - totally "in your face", flies off the ceiling in a single bound. Wants more love than everyone, possibly too much love! Will thrive on obedience training, and test you every step of the way. May or may not eventually settle down into a Category 2 temperament. Example: Tux, one of our main show dogs, has this sort of temperament. This temperament is not suitable, in our opinion, for inexperienced dog people, or families with young children. Tux is a real handful, and we hoped his excitement would abate as he matured. Whilst it did to a degree, Tux is famous for leaping up and body slamming people as an enthusiastic greeting. When he's wet, this provides an additional level of excitement!

Can an assessment change?

We sometimes see Category 1 and 2 dogs settle down one category on maturation.

Because of the stress of travel, those dogs we send internationally, we aim to send Category 2, so when the dog comes off the flight, they have been able to cope find with the stress of the travel. So far this system has worked very well.

Ratio's in each litter

These results are only for my breeding. Different lines of dogs in PWD's will produce different ratios, and different breeds will also have different figures.

When you are selecting a pup, please check with the breeder and get the statistics from their program.

Unfortunately most breeders do NOT consider temperament when placing puppies or breeding dogs.

Genetics and temperament

By comparison, when you breed you often have to manage around health issues, which is particularly easier in some respects where the issue is inherited by the simple recessive means. There is no formula for breeding out poor temperaments that we are prepared to use. Despite my considerable experience in showing and breeding dogs, that's not a path I wish to walk down.

Books to read

Essential Reading! This will fundamentally change the way you look at dogs

This is Jan's latest book. Be sure to get your hands on it!

Get this book too! Humans need to learn how to treat dogs they way they need to be treated, and stop treating them like furry humans.

Improving the system

We encourage people to be the best they can by using a variety of learning methods, and going to a number of sources, as well as using their own brains. While this page may be of use to you, others may find it of little applicability to their own situation.

Temperament and Diet

We believe the best diet for our dogs is an appropriate raw diet. While a raw diet is not a panacea for temperament problems, or health problems, it does give your dog the best chance of getting on track.

We require all our dogs to be fed a raw diet.

If you'd like to learn more about feeding your dog a raw diet, please click here. If you'd like to learn more about feeding your pwd a raw diet, please click here

Additionally, we are firmly of the belief that a commercial dog diet is a completely unsatisfactory way to feed any dogs, and that given the right advice, you can feed a dog an appropriate raw diet for considerably less money, and get lots of additional benefits. Click here for more information.

We can be contacted for further information about our dogs by clicking here or phoning (in Australia): 0412 113 824.