WHY NOT HAVE A SCORED OR PASS/FAIL APTITUDE TEST like everyone else?
In theory, this always sounds like a great idea! Having a special breed test sounds like a great way to ensure that proper temperament and working ability are considered and valued by breeders, but unfortunately, as with many things the reality is a little different.
1.) Mandatory working titles and tests have historically not served the breeds that implement them.
2.) No one can even agree on what a suitable test be for a Molossers.
The only way to protect the future of working molossers is via breeders themselves knowing what they are looking at, communicating with other breeders with similar goals and spending time doing things with their animals so they may evaluate them day to day.
The APT was developed as an answer to the above issues. It is a "test" in that it follows a standardized format, but it is not graded or scored.
ALL dog's tested will be recorded and the videos made public via our database. For more information on the APT, please visit the APT page.
In theory, this always sounds like a great idea! Having a special breed test sounds like a great way to ensure that proper temperament and working ability are considered and valued by breeders, but unfortunately, as with many things the reality is a little different.
1.) Mandatory working titles and tests have historically not served the breeds that implement them.
- The German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Doberman, Boxer, etc. have required either working titles (Schutzhund/IPO) or very similar breed tests (ZTP, BST, etc) for many years, yet as a whole, their working ability isn not improved. This is because when these tests are mandatory, people invested in inferior stock will find ways to pass their dogs by either watering down the test, or changing the criteria to pass. This is a top GSD in Germany recently: Ballack. This dog "has" an IPO3, but you will be hard pressed to find the video of it online. You will however find countless videos of him running around a show ring and this one video of his breed test. (@ 18:15). Does this look like a dog worthy of an IPO3? Compare to him to this dog’s performance in an actual IPO3 championship trial.
- In contrast, the Malinois is a dog that has no such mandatory testing, yet as a breed it continues to advance and surpass all other working dogs where health and ability are concerned. Since 2005, the AWDF (National all-breed) Championship has been all but dominated by Malinois in 1st place. This breed is becoming better and better without any mandatory breed testing simply because the community of working Malinois breeders focus on utility above all else.
2.) No one can even agree on what a suitable test be for a Molossers.
- Temperament testing like the TT and (A)CAL are wonderful tools, but no one can agree under what conditions they should be administered. In theory, they should test natural ability and disposition and thus require no training, but this is rarely the case. These tests are simple, dogs of almost all temperament types can be trained to pass. Since there is no way of guaranteeing dogs are not trained to the test, if one is going to glean information about a dog’s worth from a test, it must be more difficult and complex.
- IPO and other inter/nationally recognized venues (Mondio Ring, French Ring, etc.) are fantastic sports that can test a dog’s character and expose a dog’s faults. At the top, IPO demands stability, nerves, drive, and biddability, all the things that make a good working dog. It is recognized worldwide and has a large governing body that ensures all trials are held under the same rules. Unfortunately, many people fail to understand this and see IPO merely as a “test for herders” or as a stylized routine. They do not see the scope that this venue can offer.
- In contrast, other tests can often be gimmicky, there are no regulations to ensure procedure, they have very little credence, often giving them a very distinct “back yard” feel and sometimes questionable legitimacy.
The only way to protect the future of working molossers is via breeders themselves knowing what they are looking at, communicating with other breeders with similar goals and spending time doing things with their animals so they may evaluate them day to day.
The APT was developed as an answer to the above issues. It is a "test" in that it follows a standardized format, but it is not graded or scored.
ALL dog's tested will be recorded and the videos made public via our database. For more information on the APT, please visit the APT page.