24/01/2026
Last week, the entire litter and I visited Hundelykke for a puppy assessment, where each puppy was gently tested through a series of situations to observe how they cope with new environments, people and elements.
This is an informal but very useful test – not about right or wrong results, but about getting a snapshot of behaviour, resilience and individuality within the litter. And the results were honestly better than I had dared to hope for 🥺♥️
What we saw was a truly cool little gang: social, brave and steady puppies who seek out new things and new people without hesitation, settle quickly and find calm in unfamiliar environments, and recover fast if something becomes a bit much.
They are playful, curious, alert and smart, with great noses and a strong desire to explore. All but one – our yellow girl, a bit more reserved in very typical Shikoku style – were openly social even with strangers in a completely new setting.
I’m incredibly happy with what we saw 🙌
While this test is very promising for exactly what was the goal of this combination – steady, confident and accessible Shikoku – these traits are never guaranteed to carry unchanged through adolescence. It will be exciting to test them again around two years of age and see how these early traits compare to who they become as adults!
If anyone is curious, I’m happy to share the full assessment videos – just send me a message!
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ABOUT THE TEST
The assessment takes place in a pen with a stranger acting as a figurant inside, a test leader the puppies have only briefly met (observing and taking notes), and me as the breeder outside the pen. The focus is on how each puppy responds to a new environment and a variety of situations. There is no attempt to frighten or overwhelm them – everything is done in a positive, puppy-friendly way, with wellbeing as the top priority.
The test looks at:
🧑🤝🧑 Sociability – willingness to approach unfamiliar people
🤲 Handling – how the puppy accepts being touched and handled by strangers
🐾 Courage / initiative – exploring the space independently
🐇 Prey & play drive – interest in chasing and engaging with a toy
☂️ Surprise & recovery – reaction to an unfamiliar sound and element with the ability to recover
🔍 Curiosity & problem-solving – independent exploration of a new object
🔄 Adaptability – being lifted and calmly held by the tester
The umbrella moment was a highlight. None of the puppies had ever seen an umbrella before, yet every single one went straight in to investigate. The beautiful Japanese umbrella the tester brought was thoroughly explored, tugged at and nearly destroyed ☂️ Sorry, Tonje!!!
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🐾 We still have two puppies looking for the right homes. If you, or someone you know, might be interested, feel free to get in touch!
