Behaviour and Personality Assessment in Dogs (BPH)

[7] As of 2016, there were approximately 8600 individual records (representing 233 breeds) of completed BPH assessments on the SKK's website Avelsdata.

[10] The DMA, like the BPH, aims to provide insights into dog behaviour, but has been designed specifically for working breeds.

[9] From the launching at May 2012 up until 2015, Kenth Svartberg, a doctor in the field of animal behaviour, was employed by the SKK to evaluate the effectiveness of the assessment.

[6]The BPH differs from hunting or obedience tests as the handler's skill has little bearing on the outcome, and the dog's untrained responses are examined.

Throughout the assessment, dogs are to be wearing either a harness or flat collar, and handlers are to use a 1.8 metre leash (this can be provided by the organiser).

The test leader tells the handler exactly what to do throughout the steps, and the observer records the dog's response at each stage.

The standardised object is a cow milking liner and is provided by the organiser, but the familiar toy should be brought by the owner.

[16] The dog should totally overcome its fear and return to a calm state, indicated by 'contact' with the cut-out (judged by the observer).

[16] A person wearing a large coat, wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses approaches the dog in a serious, potentially threatening manner, stopping and clapping their hands in 5 second intervals.

It is set up between two fences so that the dog cannot avoid walking on the roof sheet, and so that it moves noisily when stepped on.

The summary graph provided consists of a radar chart which plots the behaviour traits of the dog alongside its breed average.

The subjective summary of the dog's behaviour and personality is provided verbally immediately after the assessment by the observer.

[19] The observer describes the personality of the dog by using the following categories: angry, energetic, friendly to strangers, playful, loud, curious, and secure.

[22] It has been criticised that the price of the BPH can vary considerably depending on the organisation the test is done through; thus discouraging some owners or breeders to take the assessment.

[23] Furthermore, academics bring attention to the importance of examining whether traits detected and recorded by the BPH are correlated with the everyday behaviour of the dog,[24] for which there is a lack of information for.