Mental desciption for dogs - is it necessary?

1. Good breeding influences dog behaviour. Mental description (MH) is an excellent instrument for measuring and a guarantee for qualitative breeding.

   If puppy buyers regularly were to demand the parents to be MH-tested, then only really sound off-springs would be the breed outcome. MH guarantees quality.

   Sweden is far ahead in this field thanks to the MH-test, which has been developed by Swedish Working Dogs' Organisation Svenska Brukshundsklubben (SBK).

   In 1997 as much as 8000 dogs had been tested. Other countries (e.g. Germany) have shown a great interest in the Swedish MH-test, and also asked for help with the education of MH-test functionaries.

2. If the dog owner is acquainted with the mental status of his/her dog, he/she will have the proper pre-requisites for as correct handling of the dog as possible in connection with obedience training and other training.

The 10 phases of the MH-test

1. Contactability with strangers. The test leader takes the dog from handler and walks away; then manhandles the dog checking out fur and body structure pretty much the same way as does a judge in dog exhibitions. The dog must also show its teeth.
   It is desirable that the dog is neither too much on guard nor excessively fawning and that it is capable of collaboration with other humans.

2. The dog's play behaviour. Unleashed dog. Tug-of-war-play with a rug.

3. The dog's chasing behaviour. A rug is quickly pulled zig-zag about 8 meters from the dog.

   Good chasing behaviour makes learning and training easier.

4. The dog's ability to relax. Standing still during 3 minute's silence.
   It is desirable that the dog is able to relax.

5. Distant play. The dog's willingness to make contact with a stranger at a distance and collaborate with the stranger. A "Witch" comes out of the woods at about 40 meters distance. The witch unmasks herself and hides behind a bush, talks to the dog and invites it to play.

   This phase measures the dog's curiosity and willingness to leave its handler and willingness by itself to invite a stranger to play.

6. The dog's reactions to a fast emerging bigger object. Suddenly a stuffed man-size-overall emerges.
   It is desirable that the dog has the ability to quickly shrug off the discomfort.

7. The dog's noise sensitivity. A rather heavy metal chain is pulled over corrugated plate hidden in a shrubbery, the so-called "rattle".

   It is desirable that the dog should not be over-sensitive to noise.

8. The dog's reaction to approaching threat. Ghosts - two figurants clad in white sheets with white buckets on their heads, on the buckets there are huge black eyes and teeth painted on. The ghosts stride slowly forwards in a stereotype manner in order not to move like human beings. The wind must be off the dog to prevent it from sensing the humans scent.

   At a distance of about 3 meters the ghosts turn their backs to the dog. Finally the handler is allowed to say the dog's name, talk to the ghosts and unmask them.

   It is desirable that the dog is willing to defend itself and its handler.

9. The dog's possible change in playing behaviour influenced by the Tug-of-war-test.

10. The dog's tolerance to gun shots. Tug-of-war-play - 2 gun shots are fired at intervals of 10 seconds.The gun-man is hidden at a distance of 20 meters.

    It is desirable that the dog can withstand sharp noises in today's noisy society.

    After this, dog in leash with handler passive, and then finally another 2 shots are fired at intervals of 10 seconds.
    

What dogs are entitled to participate in those mental description tests?