APWA-ICofA
Animal Personality and Welfare Assessment
Scientifically based, international protocol for personality assessment of animals
All animals have an innate personality that shapes their behavior and how they respond to their environment. APWA-ICofA is a behavioral test that objectively assesses an animal’s personality.
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 APWA-ICofA tests are carefully designed to reflect 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.
APWA-ICofA Advisory Board
The board consists of leading experts in animal behaviour, ethology, anthrozoology, and animal-assisted services. It provides scientific and ethical guidance in the development and validation of the APWA-ICofA assessment framework, ensuring that the methodology remains academically robust, welfare-centred, and internationally relevant. Through its combined expertise, the board supports ICofA’s objective of promoting good animal welfare and well-being for animals in human-centred roles.
It all started in Norway
The APWA-ICofA test was developed by ethologists and researchers specializing in animal behavior. The current version was created by the International Community of Anthrozoology (ICofA) in 2006.
ICofA - International Community of Anthrozoology
has worked within the field of animal-assisted services (AAS) for over 20 years. They are a well-established international organization in the field of therapy animals. ICofA educates and certifies new AAS teams, conducts research on the effects of animal-assisted services, and has co-authored several books in collaboration with other organizations worldwide.
ICofA developed the APWA-ICofA test to assess dogs and other animals for their suitability in animal-assisted services. The test identifies animals that are not well-suited for this type of work, thereby safeguarding welfare and ensuring that approved animals respond appropriately in challenging situations.
What is APWA-ICOfA used for?
Benefits and applications of APWA-ICofA
Some of the many applications for APWA-ICofA:
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Screening animals for service
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Assessing dogs and horses for targeted training in competitive sports
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Professional assessment of animals' mentality for breeding
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Assessing family pets with behavioral issues
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A tool for animal behaviorists and veterinarians
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A tool for trainers
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Rehoming of dogs
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Documentation of an animal's mentality
APWA-ICofA Stamp
Anyone who has had their animal tested with APWA-ICofA can use this stamp as proof that the animal has undergone a standardized personality assessment and that the results are documented.
Breeders can use the stamp to demonstrate that their animals have been tested for breeding purposes, that documentation exists, and that they prioritize healthy temperament in their breeding programs.
Handlers or professionals using their animals as working partners in various fields can show that there is verified documentation of the animal’s temperament.
The stamp may be used on websites, social media profiles, photos of the animal, and in email signatures to indicate a certified personality assessment through APWA-ICofA.
By using the stamp, you express your willingness to present documentation and a description of the dog's mentality.
After the test, you will receive an email with the official stamp from ICofA or from your Evaluator. If you do not receive it, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
APWA-ICofA
TEAM
Meet our team of experts who contributed to the research behind the APWA-ICofA project.
With their diverse experience and scientific backgrounds, our team has developed a reliable and efficient tool that provides a professional assessment of animal personalities.
Christine Olsen
Norway
Managing director and co-founder of the International Community of Anthrozoology
Dr. Christine Olsen holds a master’s degree in ethology, additional qualifications in special needs education and rehabilitation, and a Ph.D. in public health with a focus on animal-assisted interventions. Her research is frequently cited and ranks among the top 10% of all research outputs ever tracked by Altmetric.
Dr. Olsen is also a certified dog behaviorist and trainer who conducts personality assessments for dogs worldwide. She regularly lectures on animal-assisted services (AAS), canine behavioral testing, and animal welfare, and is a sought-after speaker at international conferences.
Dennis Turner
Switzerland
Institute for applied Ethology and Animal Psychology
Dennis C. Turner received his doctorate from The Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health in Baltimore, then moved to Switzerland where he first became an Oberassistant in zoology, later with his Habilitation became a Priv.Doz. at the Vetsuisse Faculty of the University of Zurich. For some 30 years he was Head of the Companion Animal Ethology and Human-Animal Relations Group at the Zoology Institute of that University and was Head of the Companion Animal Behavior Clinic at the Animal Hospital for 10 years. He has been the president of IAHAIO (15 years) and received the first IAHAIO Lifetime Distinguished Fellow Award (2021), was founding secretary of ISAAT, is a co-founder and Fellow of ISAZ, has been co-editor of Anthrozoös and Animal Welfare, is co-editor of People and Animals. The International Journal of Research and Practice (PAIJ), has written or co-editored scholarly books on cats, chapters on AAS and co-edited Attachment to Pets, and authored over 100 peer-reviewed research articles, mostly on cats and the human-cat relationship. For eight years he was a Trustee and Head of the Scientific Advisory Panel of the World Society for the Protection of Animals (now WAP). In 2023 he recieved the Honoris Causa Doctorate from The University of Agricultural Sciences and Veterinary Medicine Cluj-Napoca, RO, and has been a team member in the Erasmus Plus (EU) project “Animals for People”.
Line Sandstedt
Norway
Co-founder of The International Community of Anthrozoology
Line Sandstedt is a science lecturer and a postgraduate in special needs education and coaching. Sandstedt is also a dog behaviorist and dog trainer, and screen dogs' personality for AAS. Sandstedt gives courses in dog training both nationally and internationally. She is responsible for all of the education offered by Dyrebar Omsorg and ICofA, both dog training and training of human-animal teams. Line has worked for the organization since 2006.
PADA-ICofA Collaborators
What is a APWA-ICofA test?
The APWA-ICofA test is a personality assessment conducted by an ethologist (behavioral biologist) and provides an objective, professional evaluation of your animal’s innate personality. The temperament test is developed and grounded in scientific research.
What animals can be tested?
All domestic animals can be assessed. Dogs, cats, horses and farm animals
Who is the APWA-ICofA test for?
Pet owners and professionals that offer services to pet owners.
Trainers for competitive sports
Behaviorists that help animals with behavioral issues
Breeders who focus on healthy mentality in their breeding animals
Veterinarians that need additional information about an animal
Organizations that use working animals, for example police.
Who can work as a APWA-ICofA evaluator?
We offer courses for professionals who want to conduct APWA-ICofA tests for their clients.
Read more on our course page