Mixed Breeds For Dummies. Miriam Fields-Babineau

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      1 Touch her chest, up under her chin, up the sides of her face, her ears, her head, her back, her tail, and her legs.Most dogs, even overly excited ones, will calm slightly when getting a belly rub. Progress slowly and patiently if working with a fearful dog. Be patient if she moves away and allow her to approach you. Some dogs aren’t familiar with being touched in certain areas such as their ears, tail, legs, or feet.

      2 When the dog has accepted touch on her upper body, move your hands down her legs: Lift her feet (see Figure 4-1), touching her paws and toenails.Illustration by Barbara FrakeFIGURE 4-1: Lift the dog’s feet and touch her paws and toenails to see how sensitive she is.Here are some possible reactions you may see:The dog growls. If the dog growls, stop all temperament testing and move on to another dog. She may be injured or ill; ask her current guardian if the dog has shown any symptoms.The dog moves away, growling. A dog who moves away while growling may be aggressive and unsocialized. Don’t force yourself on this dog — she might display fear aggression. Give her the opportunity to return to you without force. She may be injured or ill; again, ask the dog’s current guardian if she’s shown any symptoms.The dog cringes but allows you to touch her. A dog who allows you to touch her but cringes may be friendly but also may have been abused at some point in her life. She would do well in a quiet home with adult guardians who have lots of patience and time for her.The dog allows touch, but doesn’t react. A dog who allows you to touch her but doesn’t react may be ill or traumatized. It’s highly unlikely that she won’t respond to some form of touch — dogs love being massaged and touched, especially on their backs, chest, and tummies. Look closely for a sly grin — you may have missed it.The dog allows touch and responds by moving closer. A dog who moves closer as you touch will be a great candidate for most environments except for being left alone for long periods of time. This is also a dog who might display separation anxiety because she has a great need for pack unity. She’ll likely work out well in a busy family home where there are family members who would like to include her in their activities.

      1 Collect several objects, such as a ball, squeaky toy, and bone. Have a baking pan, car keys, and a heavy book on hand.

      2 Lay all the objects on the floor and allow the dog to investigate (see Figure 4-2).Illustration by Barbara FrakeFIGURE 4-2: Be sure to include a variety of objects to see how the dog responds.Here are some possible reactions you may see:The dog moves away. A dog who moves away is very fearful of new things. Unless you’re very patient and live in a quiet household, you shouldn’t adopt this dog.The dog has no reaction. If the dog doesn’t react, she’s indifferent to new things — or at least to these new things. If you have very young children or elderly parents living with you, this dog may be ideal.The dog starts to investigate but stops and moves away. A dog who starts to investigate but moves away will take time to acclimate to new situations.The dog investigates the objects. The dog who investigates the objects is inquisitive but not bold. She’ll do well in most any home.The dog investigates and interacts with the objects. The dog who investigates and interacts is confident. She’ll do well in a home with children and an active lifestyle.

      3 One at a time, pick up all the objects and roll them across the floor, observing the dog’s reactions as you do. Begin with the object least likely to cause a reaction, such as a ball. Then try a bone, a squeaky toy, and car keys. Finish by dropping a pan or book.Some possible reactions that you may see include the following:The dog moves away. A dog who moves away is fearful and should not be in an active home. This dog may react fearfully when overwhelmed by new events, sights, or sounds.The dog has no reaction. A dog who has no reaction is a very accepting dog who should do well in most environments. Most healthy dogs have some reaction, though, so be sure that she at least watched the movement or responded somehow to the sound. Otherwise, you may want to check the dog’s health.The dog starts to chase but loses interest. This dog may work out well in a quiet environment, but is unlikely to want to play much with toys. She may like chewing a bone, though.The dog chases, grabs, and carries the object away from you. This dog is bold, possessive, yet playful. She needs to be in a home with structure and consistency.The dog chases, grabs, and brings the object to you. This dog will be ideal if you have an active family. She loves to play, retrieve, and interact with the world.