Concurrent and Predictive Criterion Validity of a Puppy Behaviour Questionnaire for Predicting Training Outcome in Juvenile Guide Dogs

• Key finding:

  The ability to predict later success in guide dog training can be of great benefit to assistance dog providers, such as those providing guide dogs, to ensure maximum resource and production efficiency and to maintain high welfare standards. This study evaluated the predictive capabilities of a behaviour questionnaire (the refined puppy walker questionnaire, r-PWQ) completed by volunteer carers of puppies (puppy walkers) for dogs aged eight months of age. The r-PWQ includes traits such as “Distractibility” and “Excitability”, which are common withdrawal reasons for many guide dogs. The predictive validity of the r-PWQ was compared to a well-known behaviour questionnaire, (Canine Behavioral Assessment and Research Questionnaire—C-BARQ). The results show that the r-PWQ can be used to predict guide dog outcome and may be better suited to guide dog populations than the C-BARQ.

Links to Open Access Publications or DOI:

• https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122382

Citation:

Hunt, R.L.; England, G.C.W.; Asher, L.; Whiteside, H.; Harvey, N.D. Concurrent and Predictive Criterion Validity of a Puppy Behaviour Questionnaire for Predicting Training Outcome in Juvenile Guide Dogs. Animals 2020, 10, 2382. https://doi.org/10.3390/ani10122382