This form can be used by trainers, behaviorists, or researchers to assess a dog’s social competence in relation to human interactions.
Dog’s Name: __________________________
Breed: ________________________________
Age: _______ Sex: _______ (M/F)
Evaluator’s Name: ______________________
Date of Evaluation: _____________________
Section 1: Attachment
1. Does the dog seek proximity to its human caregiver?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
2. How does the dog respond to being separated from its human caregiver?
Extreme distress (1) – Moderate distress (2) – Mild distress (3) – Indifferent (4) – Relaxed (5)
3. Does the dog show a preference for its human caregiver over unfamiliar humans?
No preference (1) – Slight preference (2) – Moderate preference (3) – Strong preference (4) – Exclusive preference (5)
Section 2: Social Learning
4. Does the dog imitate human actions?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
5. Can the dog learn new tasks by observing humans?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
6. Does the dog show local enhancement (learning from the presence of humans)?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
Section 3: Communication
7. Does the dog respond to human pointing gestures?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
8. Does the dog respond to human gaze direction?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
9. Can the dog understand human vocal cues?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
Section 4: Cooperation
10. Does the dog cooperate with humans in tasks (e.g., fetching, herding, etc.)?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
11. Can the dog work with humans to solve problems (e.g., opening a door, finding hidden objects, etc.)?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
12. Does the dog show a willingness to engage in cooperative activities with humans?
Never (1) – Rarely (2) – Sometimes (3) – Often (4) – Always (5)
Total Score: __________
Interpretation:
Low Social Competence: 12-24
Moderate Social Competence: 25-36
High Social Competence: 37-48
Very High Social Competence: 49-60
Please note that this evaluation form is a general guideline and may not cover all aspects of a dog’s social competence. It is important to consider the individual dog’s history, breed, and environment when interpreting the results.
Further reading
Tony Bierman, “Examining the Social Competence Model in Dog-Human Interactions,” OBTESA, Accessed April 5, 2023, http://esbt.us/fe.
