Today we took 4 PONs took part in a Mental Test. The Nordic Mental Test is developed for utility dog breeds such as German shepherd to find out how trainable the dogs are for working dogs and what kind of nerves they have. The maximum amount of points is +300 pts and the minimun is -300 pts. But it is not the end result alone that counts, it is very important to pay attention to the grade for each quality given in the test.

9 different charasteristics/features of a dog are evaluated. Each feature is rated from -3 ... +3. Each feature also has a multiplier varying from 1 to 35.
For example, "Capability to function, multiplier 15" means that if your dog gets +2 for this feature, he gets 15 x 2 = 30 pts for this feature. If your dog gets -2 for "Capability to function", then he gets 15 x -2 = -35 points.
The multiplier is bigger for those features that are considered inherited, and smaller for those features that can be trained.

Here are Diesel's results:

1. Capability to function, multiplier 15
Like "courage" in people; the dog's capability to overcome its fear, to react correctly and without fear and not to interrupt its action even if he is scared.
The psychological threat is going into a dark room alone to search the owner, physical threats are different kinds of "spookies" suddenly appearing in front of the dog, and a noisy barrel falling down to the ground right behind the dog.
+3 Big
+2 Good
+1 Moderate (Diesel)
-1 Small
-2 Insufficient
-3 Uncapable to function

2. Tendency to aggressive behaviour ("sharpness"), multiplier 1
The dog's tendency to react aggressively when irritated by a person (judge). The dog's ability to defend himself against a threatening person, and the ability re-adjust to the situation when the threat is over. Negative grade will disqualify the final result.
The dog is chained to a wall with a 60 cm chain without possibility to escape and the owner goes out of sight. The dog is approached and threatened and attacked by person (judge) with a stick. Depending on the dog's reaction, the attack may be short and happen further away, or it may take longer and come all the way to the dog, and be repeated.
In the end the judge stops the threat and starts behaving friendly and goes close to the dog and touches the dog. If the dog remains aggressive at this point he gets a negative grade and cannot get a qualified result from the test.
+3 Moderate without remaining will to attack
+2 Big without remaining will to attack (Diesel)
+1 Small without remaining will to attack
-1 Small with remaining will to attack
-2 Moderate with remaining will to attack
-3 Big with remaining will to attack

3. Desire for defence action, multiplier 1
The dog's tendency to defend his owner and himself. Tendency and willingness for this feature are evaluated; not the actual skills to defend.
The owner is walking forwards with the dog on leash until they are threatened by an attacker (judge). The dog handler stands still and lets the dog do what he wants to do. After the dog's reaction is seen, the attacker acts friendly. The owner hands the dog over to the attacker (judge) and leaves. The judge tests whether the dog lets him touch him, then releasing the dog to be called in by the owner.
+3 Moderate, controlled (Diesel)
+2 Big, controlled
+1 Small
-1 Unwilling
-2 Very big
-3 Uncontrolled

4. Desire to fight, multiplier 10
The dog's tendency to enjoy using muscles and jaws in fighting/playing without aggression, playing with the judge. Also the ability to overcome obstacles.
+3 Big
+2 Moderate (Diesel)
+1 Very big
-1 Small
-2 Insufficient
-3 Unwilling

5. Nerves (nerve structure), multiplier 35
This means the inherited calmness or nervousness or restlessness in a stressing situation. This feature is evaluated based on the whole test. A negative grade will unqualify the final result. The average for PONs in Finland has been +1.
+3 Balanced and confident
+2 Balanced
+1 A little restless (Diesel)
-1 A little nervous
-2 Nervous
-3 Very nervous

6. Temperament, multiplier 15
"Mental livelyness" (not physical!), the ability to quickly react and adjust to changing situations and stimulus in the environment. The dog's ability to quickly organize the stimulus and not care about unnecessary things. A very vivid dog "sees and pays attention to too many things" and has difficulties in concentrating.
+3 Lively
+2 Moderately lively
+1 Very lively (Diesel)
-1 Disturbingly lively
-2 Neglecting
-3 Apathetic

7. Mental hardness, multiplier 8
How well the dog remembers or forgets unpleasant experiences caused by people (attackers) and things (spooky sled, barrel falling down etc), how strongly they will affect dog's functions, how willing or unwilling he is to face them again.
This is tested especially in the phase where the dog first experiences surprises (like a barrel falling down behind him making loud noise) and then he must walk the same way again and nothing surprising happens. A soft dog acts fearful in the places there used to happen unpleasant things even if nothing bad happens now, while a hard dog has forgotten all about it.
+3 Moderately hard
+2 Hard
+1 A little soft (Diesel)
-1 Very hard
-2 Soft
-3 Very soft

8. Accessibility, multiplier 15
Approachability. The dog's attitude towards a strange but friendly person. Tested especially in the beginning of the test but repetitively along the other test phases. Negative grade will disqualify the final result.
+3 Kind, accessible, open (Diesel)
+2a Accessible, a little reserved
+2b Accessible, somewhat reserved
+1 Eager to please
-1 Clearly reserved
-2 Attacking
-3 Unreliable/unpredictive

Gunshot sensitivity
Two or more shots with a 9 mm gun. Only + or -, no numerical value. Negative grade will disqualify the final result.
+++ Confident (Diesel)
++ Inexperienced
+ Irritated
- Prone to react
-- Afraid

Final score: +143 pts, gunshot confident.
 

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