Exercise 4 - Pet. The purpose of this exercise is to determine the degree of social dominance that the puppy exhibits. Sit next to the puppy. Using firm strokes, pet him from head to tail repeatedly until a recognizable behavior pattern is established. Normal: He cuddles up to you and tries to lick you. Dominant: He jumps, paws and tries to nip you. Submissive: He rolls on his back and licks your hand. Independent: He gets up and walks away.
Exercise 5 - Lift. Similar to Exercise 3, the purpose of this exercise is to determine the puppy's level of acceptance of being dominated when he is in a position he cannot control. Lace your fingers together and place them under the puppy's belly. Gently lift him up until all four paws are off the floor. Hold the puppy in this position for 30 seconds. Normal: He doesn't resist and is relaxed. Dominant: He resists the entire time. He might be vocal about his unhappiness and might try to nip you. Submissive: He doesn't resist at all and might lick your hand. Independent: He doesn't resist and is frozen without any movement.
Exercise 6 - Play. The purpose of this exercise is to determine the degree of willingness to interact with people. Use a ball or other toy to get the pup's attention. Roll the toy across the floor. Encourage the puppy to go after it and bring it to you. Normal: The puppy goes after the toy and carries it away to chew, allowing you to take it from him without complaint. Dominant: The puppy gets the toy and carries it away. If you try to take the toy from the puppy, he growls or barks at you or resists giving it up. Submissive: The toy makes the puppy fearful. He is reluctant to approach the toy even when it stops moving. Independent: The puppy displays little or no interest in the toy.
ASSESSMENT - When you have finished testing, count the number of normal ratings for each puppy. Most people or families will do best with a puppy that has a normal rating in three or more of the six exercises.