Topáz’s puppies enthusiastically threw themselves into challenging, playful tasks: at seven weeks old, we conducted their first puppy test. We spoke with our puppy foster coordinator about how she finds matches between foster families and puppies.
Guide dog training organizations, including the Baráthegyi Guide Dog School, conduct a brief but comprehensive test series with puppies born in their program at 6-7 weeks of age. This allows us to assess the puppies’ partial abilities and disposition even at this young age. The test is not an “exam” that can be passed or failed – it’s more like a map that shows what kind of nature these little ones are starting life with.
Their basic traits will later influence what type of assistance profession suits them best, and we even select the most suitable volunteer foster families based on these characteristics. (Our puppy foster coordinator provides detailed information about this below.)
Testing of the N litter took place at the home of our litter foster volunteer, Gizella Ménesi, where the puppies are being raised. Piroska Komondi, our foundation’s professional director, along with Emese Királyné Barkóczi, our trainer, and Judit Erdélyi, our puppy foster coordinator, observed several areas.
They observed the puppies’ social behavior – how friendly and curious they are with a stranger, whether they readily make contact, and how open they are to cooperation. This is important to know because guide dogs encounter many people during their work and must confidently establish contact in various situations.
They also assessed the puppies’ sensitivity and responsiveness: how the puppy reacts to unexpected sounds, movements, or an unfamiliar object. Puppies who are more sensitive than average or more impulsive and easily disturbed can be helped significantly with desensitization to stimuli even during the fostering period.
They examined their problem-solving abilities as well: for example, they had to figure out how to reach a rolled toy through a small obstacle. This enjoyable “task” for the puppies reveals how resourceful, persistent, and independent the little one is.
The test results help us plan each puppy’s individual development path. At this point, we can already sense who will need more support during the fostering period.
Our goal is always the same: to raise balanced, brave, and cooperative dogs who provide safety and freedom to their handlers who need their help.
Everything is Connected – And Often the Opposite is True
We asked our puppy fostering coordinator how she selects which environment puppies should go to after they turn two months old. Judit Erdélyi emphasized that even before the puppies are born, she knows who the puppy foster families will be. Our foundation publicly announces well in advance that we are looking for volunteer puppy foster families. First, we ask interested parties to read [a comprehensive summary](https://barathegyisegitokutya.hu/kolyokneveles), then those who still feel they want to take on the adventure contact us by submitting an online application form.
Judit first meets all applicants at a training session, where all important questions are discussed, and then in the following weeks, she visits the families, as it’s important information for properly placing the puppies to know who the foster families are, how they live, and what they do for a living.
So finding and informing prospective foster families is the first step, followed by getting to know the puppies. This happens at 6-7 weeks of age, when we test their behavior. Much can be learned from this – as mentioned above. For Judit, assessing basic behavior is most important, including whether the puppy:
- Is calm or not
- Seeks contact or not
- Handles change well or poorly
- How much they like their belly rubbed
A sensitive dog should be sent to the city center to get used to everyday noises. A less sensitive one is fine in a house with a yard environment, even in a quieter small town, because they don’t need greater stress. Of course, the foster family’s personality must also be considered – for example, to avoid a bold little dog getting out of hand with someone. An active puppy should be sent to a foster family that already has a dog; they’ll be able to handle it. Judit also talked about age groups:
“To families with small children, I try to send male puppies, because in my experience, during teething, females more frequently use their needle-sharp teeth for getting acquainted, which children find hard to bear, and I don’t want to subject them to this. Older puppy foster families are suited to more refined puppies who are neither too confident nor insecure.”
Many other factors determine which puppy fits which foster family; we’ll mention two characteristic examples:
- Someone who has had a male dog before and understands them better gets a male puppy; the same applies to females
- Someone who has an intact male dog at home doesn’t get a female puppy, because her first heat will occur at the foster family’s home; and the reverse is also true, meaning we don’t give a male puppy to a family with an intact female
Are There Differences Between Females and Males?
In the first 2-3 months, females are more energetic; after their heat, they calm down, while males work exactly the opposite way – they’re calmer in the beginning, and later, at sexual maturity, they become more challenging.
“Where there are many small children in the family, I prefer to bring a male, because females are more complicated. In any case, every puppy foster family should expect a dynamic year, which includes not only lots of learning and beautiful experiences but also solving challenges together.”
Judit considers it important to understand the above as general guidance; there are exceptions. We described dogs’ gender-based behavior according to her own experience; other dog handlers may notice and consider other things important based on their own experiences, which she respects.
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The Baráthegyi Team
