Temperament Assessment
Understanding your dog’s behaviour, needs, and potential – the welfare-first way.
At Pawsitive Action Leeds CIC, we offer compassionate, expert-led Temperament Assessments for dogs of all breeds and backgrounds. Whether you’re looking to better understand your dog, check suitability for assistance work, or support their training journey, our assessments are designed to help you make informed, welfare-focused decisions.
What is a Temperament Assessment?
A temperament assessment is a structured session that examines your dog’s natural traits, emotional responses, and coping strategies in a safe and supportive environment. We assess how your dog reacts to new people, environments, handling, sound, and more, always at their own pace.
This is not a pass/fail test, but an informative tool to:
- Identify your dog’s strengths and sensitivities
- Spot early signs of stress, fear, or reactivity
- Understand how your dog communicates
- Support future training or behavioural planning
- Evaluate suitability for specialist roles (e.g. assistance, therapy, or public access work)
Who is this for?
- People considering training their own assistance dog
- Families that are unsure if their dog is comfortable in busy or public settings
- Owners with rescued or reactive dogs who want deeper insight
- Organisations seeking temperament screening for dogs in care or rehoming
What We Assess
Every dog is unique – we tailor our sessions to meet your specific needs. Common areas include:
- Sociability and responsiveness
- Stress signals and resilience
- Handling tolerance and body sensitivity
- Adaptability to new environments
- Impulse control and arousal levels
- Interest in training or task work
We take a neurodivergent and disability-aware approach, adapting our process for both humans and dogs who need a gentler, clearer, or more sensory-considerate experience.
Temperament Assessments for Assistance Dog Candidates
If you’re training your own assistance dog, this assessment helps determine if your dog is likely to cope with the demands of public access work, travel, and task training.
We will not approve dogs for assistance work if it’s not in their best welfare interest, and we will always offer alternatives or support plans where needed.
What You’ll Receive
- A written report with clear findings and next steps
- Personalised recommendations for training or development
- Optional follow-up or referral for behaviour or welfare support
- Kind, honest, and judgement-free feedback
Pricing & Access
Temperament Assessments £90
(Concessions, payment plans, and funded slots may be available – contact us for details.)
Sessions usually last 60–90 minutes, and can take place:
- In your home
- At a quiet outdoor space
- In a controlled community venue (if needed)
- Remotely (where appropriate)