The Standard
Every Canis Testis assessment follows the same published protocol.
The protocol exists so that a report means something. Not an opinion. Not a favour. Not a favour returned. A defined set of tests, applied the same way to every dog, scored against the same criteria, signed by a named assessor.
The Canis Testis Protocol is published for transparency. It is the property of Canis Testis. Only assessments carried out by Canis Testis assessors, documented on a signed Canis Testis report, and recorded in the Canis Testis registry are valid Canis Testis certifications. Any other use of the protocol confers no rights.
What we assess
Every assessment covers three areas: health, temperament, and capability. Health and temperament are assessed for every dog. Capability is assessed against the working role the dog is being assessed for.
Health
Assessed by a licensed veterinarian by physical examination and review of available records. The veterinarian records the dog's general condition, weight, teeth and mouth, eyes and ears, skin and coat, mobility and gait, and verifies the microchip.
Where hip and elbow scores, eye scheme results, heart scheme results, or DNA test results are provided, they are verified against the issuing body. Where a score is claimed but cannot be verified, the report records the claim as unverified. Where no score is provided, the report notes the absence.
The health section is a physical examination, not a diagnosis. It does not guarantee the absence of hereditary, congenital, or hidden conditions. An independent veterinary examination before purchase is strongly recommended.
Temperament
Assessed by a certified trainer or behaviourist under standardised conditions. The assessor records the dog's nerve and composure, its drive, its recovery from stress, its social behaviour toward strangers, its reaction to children, its reaction to other animals, its response to sudden noise and movement, and its willingness to be handled. The conditions of assessment are recorded in the report.
Capability
Assessed against the purpose for which the dog is being assessed. The criteria within each role are fixed; the role determines which criteria apply.
For all working roles, the assessor records obedience under distraction, recall, off-leash control, and environmental stability around traffic, crowds, unfamiliar surfaces, and unfamiliar environments.
For protection roles, the assessor additionally records bite quality, targeting, outing on command, guarding behaviour, and control under pressure.
For detection roles, the assessor additionally records search pattern and stamina, indication behaviour, and accuracy.
For herding and livestock guardian roles, the assessor additionally records instinct and balance, and responsiveness to the handler.
How we score
Every item is scored against a defined scale. The same scale is used for every dog. Scores are recorded on the day of assessment, not reconstructed afterwards.
Each item is scored on a five-point scale. A score of zero means the item could not be assessed, and the reason is recorded. A score of one means the dog did not meet the minimum standard. A score of two means the dog met the minimum standard with reservations, which are stated in the report. A score of three means the dog met the standard. A score of four means the dog exceeded the standard in a defined and observable way.
The overall result is one of three outcomes. A dog is certified when it has met the standard in all applicable sections. A dog is conditional when it has met the standard with reservations, which are stated in the report. A dog is not certified when it has not met the standard in one or more sections.
The overall result is recorded in the report and, for certified dogs, in the registry.
The protocol is published and versioned
The protocol is written down. It has a version number. It is reviewed, and when it changes, the version changes. Every report states which version of the protocol was used.
That matters, because a report from one year should be comparable with a report from another. The version number makes that possible.
The current version is Protocol v1.0, published on 23 September 2026.
What the report contains
Every report includes:
- The dog's identity: breed, age, sex, and microchip number
- The location, date, and conditions of assessment
- The name and credentials of each assessor
- The full results, section by section, with scoring
- Filmed evidence of every test
- Any known limitations or information that could not be verified
- The version of the protocol used
- The signature of each named assessor
What the report does not contain
The report does not say whether you should buy the dog. That is your decision, not ours. The report tells you what the dog is. What you do with that is yours.
Our independence
Canis Testis does not sell dogs, breed dogs, or train dogs for sale. We do not take commission from any seller, breeder, or agent. The fee is for the assessment itself, regardless of the result.
In most cases the buyer pays. Where a seller or third party pays, the fee is fixed in advance, the report is issued in the same way, and no additional payment is linked to the outcome. Independence is structural, not a promise.
Read the full protocol
The full protocol is published as a downloadable document. It sets out every area of assessment, the scoring method, the composition of the report, the limits of the assessment, and the terms of independence and revocation.
Read the Protocol v1.0 (download PDF)
Request an assessment
If you have a dog you are considering, or a working role you need to fill, tell us about it. We will confirm whether we can assess the dog and send you the scope, the fee, and the timeline in writing.