We offer courses to become a certified PADA-ICofA Tester,
specialized in dogs.

You can also find PADA-ICofA Testers near you and book a personality assessment for your own dog — or for a client’s dog.

PADA-ICOfA
Personality assessment of dogs

PADA-ICofA courses canines

Find a PADA-ICofA tester near you

THE PADA-ICofA TEST

The PADA-ICofA test is conducted by an ethologist (behavioral biologist) specialized in dogs and provides an objective, professional assessment of your dog’s innate personality.

The test consists of several components that, depending on how the dog reacts — or does not react — to specific environments, stimuli, or situations, reveal key personality traits such as (lack of) fearfulness, sociability, responsiveness to training, (lack of) aggression, boldness, activity level, and more.

WHY USE PADA-ICofA?
When is PADA-ICofA relevant?

Many behavioral traits can be subtle and difficult to detect. Even for experienced dog owners, it is not always easy to fully and objectively understand a dog’s behavior. This can affect the relationship, communication, the dog’s well-being, the development of problem behaviors, and even the safety of both dogs and people.

By understanding your dog’s personality traits, you gain valuable insight into the dog’s motivations, the underlying causes of certain behaviors, and which environments or situations may be challenging. You also learn where your dog excels — and how you can adapt daily routines to better support its well-being and potential.

The many applications of PADA-ICofA:

Screening dogs for breeding — to select animals with stable and desirable temperaments.
More targeted training for competitive sports — by understanding individual strengths and sensitivities.
Improving general training and obedience — through insight into personality and motivation.
Understanding and managing problem behaviors — using personality data to guide interventions.
Enhancing quality of life — by adapting the dog’s daily routines to match its needs and preferences.
Strengthening communication and relationships — by gaining a deeper understanding of the dog’s behavior.
Assessing suitability for work — such as therapy, search and rescue, or police service.
Supporting professionals — as a valuable tool for behaviorists, trainers, and veterinarians.
Providing documentation — of the dog’s personality traits and temperament.

PADA-ICofA courses canines

Find a PADA-ICofA tester near you

The well-being of the animal

is our highest priority.

If an animal shows any signs of undue stress during testing, the process is stopped immediately.

The PADA-ICofA tests are carefully designed to mirror situations and environments that animals are likely to encounter in everyday life —

such as interactions with humans, unfamiliar surroundings, and common stimuli like sounds or movements.

Our goal is not only to evaluate personality, but also to ensure that every animal’s welfare is respected and prioritized throughout the entire process.