Temperament Evaluation for Owner-Train Clients

Cost $150 - 45min and written report

At Woofability Service Dogs, every dog entering our owner-train program must first complete a temperament evaluation. This important step helps us set you and your dog up for success right from the beginning.

Our evaluations use two trusted, research-based tools:

  • The Behavior Checklist (BCL): Developed by Dr. James Serpell at the University of Pennsylvania in collaboration with leading guide dog organizations (including The Seeing Eye and Guiding Eyes for the Blind), the BCL is a standardized behaviour scoring system. It measures specific traits critical for service dog work and ensures consistent, objective analysis of each dog’s behavior.

  • The Guide Dog Behavior and Assessment Research Test (GDBart): This test follows a consistent room setup and set of instructions to expose dogs to common stimuli such as different surfaces, stairs, vacuums, and other dogs. The structured format ensures that every dog is evaluated under similar conditions, allowing for fair and accurate comparisons.

Together, the BCL and GDBart offer a clear, research-supported understanding of each dog’s temperament, giving us the information we need to customize training to meet your team’s needs.

Important Information About Service Dog Temperament Evaluations and Training

Service dog training is a long-term commitment, and not every dog will successfully complete the process. Temperament plays a crucial role in a dog’s ability to work as a service dog, and it can change as the dog matures.

While a successful temperament evaluation at the time of assessment is a positive step, it does not guarantee that your dog will be able to complete their service dog training journey. As dogs grow and develop, their personality and responses to the world can evolve, which may impact their suitability for ongoing service work.

At Woofability Service Dogs, we recommend temperament evaluations at key developmental stages:

  • 7/8 weeks

  • 6 months

  • 1 year

  • 18 months

If your dog is older than 18 months, one initial temperament evaluation is typically sufficient.

All owner-train dogs must complete a temperament evaluation before beginning any training.

Schedule your evaluation and complete our intake form!