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AKC Temperament Test (ATT): What Is Your Dog Made Of?
The Temperament Test is AKC's most introspective evaluation. It doesn't test training — it tests temperament: how your dog reacts to the unfamiliar. Six categories of stimuli, from friendly strangers to sudden surprises, scored pass/fail on emotional stability.
What evaluators want to see: a dog that's steady, curious, cooperative, appropriately social for its breed, and — critically — recovers from startling moments in a reasonable time. What fails dogs: fear, shyness, obsessive barking, aggression, or shutting down.
For breeders, it's a data point on whether a dog's temperament matches its breed standard. For pet owners, it's genuinely useful information about how your dog handles the world. Pass twice under two different evaluators and your dog earns the ATT suffix.
Earning this title? Create your free ThePetAdvisor account — log it, track your dog’s progress, and find testing near you.
Requirements
- Eligibility: at least 1 year old; AKC or FSS registered, PAL, or Canine Partners number. Spayed/neutered dogs may participate. Bitches in season may test but go last.
- Category 1 – Social: reaction to friendly strangers and social situations — appropriately social for the breed, not fearful or aggressive.
- Category 2 – Auditory: reaction to sounds — startling is normal; panicking or not recovering is not.
- Category 3 – Visual: reaction to unfamiliar visual stimuli — curiosity and recovery score well.
- Category 4 – Tactile: reaction to touch and handling — cooperation matters.
- Category 5 – Proprioceptive (motion): reaction to movement-based stimuli — unstable surfaces, moving objects.
- Category 6 – Unexpected stimulus: the surprise — how the dog handles something genuinely unexpected, and how fast it bounces back.
- Noncompetitive pass/fail. Two passes under two different approved ATT evaluators earns the title. Dogs that don't pass may retest when ready.
Test items can be updated by AKC — confirm the current list with your evaluator before test day. Source: AKC official page.
How to earn it
- Step 1: Honestly assess your dog's temperament first — this test rewards stability, not training. A sound, well-socialized dog is already most of the way there.
- Step 2: Find an ATT test — they're offered by AKC clubs alongside shows and trials, and listed on the AKC Event Search.
- Step 3: Enter with your dog at least 1 year old and an AKC number.
- Step 4: Pass under one evaluator, then pass again under a different evaluator.
- Step 5: Submit both passing score sheets with the title application and fee. Your dog earns “ATT.”
Find testing near you
Many conformation dog shows offer CGC, Trick Dog, and Fetch testing right on the show grounds — sometimes you can literally walk up ringside, pay the fee, and get evaluated the same day. Check the premium list for any show you’re attending, or ask the show secretary. Training clubs and stand-alone test days run year-round too.
Frequently asked questions
Can I train for the Temperament Test?
You can socialize and build confidence — which is good dog ownership anyway. But the test measures innate temperament and recovery, not trained behaviors. Over-preparing for specific stimuli misses the point.
What if my dog fails?
Retest when ready — there's no penalty and no waiting period. Some dogs mature into steadiness; a young dog that startles at 14 months may cruise through at 2 years.
Is this the same as a behavioral assessment for aggression?
No. The ATT screens for fear, shyness, inability to recover, and lack of cooperation. It's an evaluation, not a diagnosis — and it's noncompetitive.
Who evaluates the test?
Specially trained evaluators — AKC obedience judges, rally judges, and approved CGC evaluators who've completed ATT training. They appear in the AKC judges directory.
Does my breed's temperament standard matter?
Yes — “appropriately social for its breed” is part of the scoring. A guardian breed isn't expected to behave like a retriever, and evaluators account for that.
How is this different from CGC?
CGC tests trained manners. ATT tests innate temperament and recovery from surprise. A dog can have perfect obedience and still struggle with the unexpected-stimulus category — and vice versa.
Track your dog’s Family Dog journey
Log every title, watch the progress bars fill, and never miss a testing opportunity.