Dog personality and behaviour

smartDOG

Modern dog behavior testing based on the latest research to give you completely new information about your dog.

WHAT is smartDOG?

Research-based cognition and personality testing in dogs

SmartDOG Oy is a company that offers research-based testing of dogs’ cognitive and personality characteristics. The tests, suitable for all dogs, are based on the latest research and tell about your dog’s self-control, main problem-solving strategy and perseverance, ability to read human body language, and ability to solve difficult problems (among other things). smartDOG tests sections are shown to associate with dog’s everyday behaviour, trainability, impulsiveness, learning and even problem behaviour. Even smartDOG PUPPY tests are shown to predict adult behaviour.

SmartDOG was founded with the desire to bring research from scientific publications to dog owners – and at the same time to do science that benefits the average dog owner and the whole canine community. Are you interested in how dogs of different breeds perform smartDOG tasks? For example, are all breeds equally good at understanding human body language or to solve difficult problems? You can find answers to these questions and much more from BRECO, a database of dog breeds’ cognitive characteristics based on standardized smartDOG test results.

smartDOG™ licence tester training

Want to become a licensed smartDOG tester?
Want to expand your understanding of dog behaviour? You are already an experienced animal trainer or researcher and are interested in understanding more about dog behaviour. Do you want a new tool to assess your dog’s personality and work either full-time or part-time as a self-employed?
We already have 13 independent licensed smartDOG testers in Finland, and one in Italy and we now welcome testers from outside Finland.

You would be a great add to our tester team if..

You have a thorough experience with dogs, you are not the first dog owner. Preferably competition/training experience with several dogs and an added bonus if this experience is with dogs of different breeds. If you are an animal trainer, that is an extra bonus!
Good computer skills. You have your own a laptop and you will have no difficulty learning to use a new database.
University degree is a big bonus!
Customer service orientation – you will be working with people!

As a tester you will work as an an independent entrepreneur, and will pay a monthly licence fee (12% on the test income).

Cost of training is 3900€ (+vat 25,5%), and it includes training, database access, all the training equipment, and continuous support❤️. Payment can be divided into 2-3 parts. If the practical testing is done in the country of a student, then the travel and accommodation costs will be added to the training price.

The length of the training is (depending on the student) 20-30 days, where approximately max 2 weeks is done face-face learning in the same country. Rest can be done using zoom and video material.

Interested? ask more from Katriina (katriina@smartdog.fi)

TO WHOM?

Dogs of all breeds and ages

Dog owner

Would you like to get to know your dog’s personality better? Do you understand your dog’s behaviour? Do you know what your dog’s strengths are and what you should consider when training him? The test measures traits that affect trainability, problem behaviour and learning.

Breeders

As a breeder, do you know what kind of personality traits you breed? Many of the traits tested in the smartDOG test are heritable, such as inhibitory control and problem solving strategy. In addition, dog’s fearfulness can be reliably detected (without frightening the dog). The cognitive traits of your breeding dog are important not only for you, but also for the puppy buyer. As a breeder, you get a -15% discount and a summary report of the tested litter.

smartDOG™-Tests

smartDOG™ COGNITION

With the smartDOG™ COGNITION, you get a comprehensive overview of your dog’s cognitive and personality characteristics. We recommend this as the first test for an adult dog.

smartDOG™ PUPPY

smartDOG™ PUPPY (4-7months) is meant for puppies which are already in their new homes. With this test you can get information of the dog’s personality, and you use test information to direct and plan puppy’s training.

smartDOG™ SMALL PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT

The aim of the test is to briefly assess the dog’s personality and certain cognitive traits. Test includes written report. Access to the smartDOG database is not included.