Temperment testing is when a animal behaviorist go through a series of tests to determine a dog's temperment. Generally the test inludes things such as:

  1. Food aggression (can you touch them or their food bowl while they are eating
  2. Resource guarding (can you take toys or rawhides away from them)
  3. Dominant traits or submissive traits
  4. Reactions to sudden noises (do they startle easy and cower, or do the react but are then curious)
  5. Reactions to small animals (prey drive)
  6. Reactions to small children (to determine if they can live in a household with small children)
  7. Dog on Dog aggression


Most shelters use them to determine the kind of home a particular dog should go to. With/without other dogs or cats. With/without children. In a home with an exprienced dog owner. That kind of thing. Sometimes they are used to determine whether or not a dog is aggressive and should be euthanized.

I can pm you the details on the cocker spaniel, but I am not sure you can really understand unless you see it.