THE APWA-ICofA TEST
The APWA-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.
APWA-ICofA Evaluators
Contact person | Country | Email |
|---|---|---|
Antonina Hoshovska | Ukraine | canistherapy.ua.by@gmail.com |
Melissa Winkle | U.S. | melissa@dogwoodtherapy.com |
Martina Čontofalská Michalková | Slovakia | martina.michalkova3@gmail.com |
Cristian Anghel | Romania | cristian.anghel.ccu@gmail.com |
Kuba Farkowski | Poland | jakub.farkowski@gmail.com |
Christine Olsen | Norway | dyrebaromsorg@gmail.com |
PADA-Nederland | Netherlands | info@pada-nederland.com |
Fumi Higaki | Japan | fumihigaki2016@gmail.com |
Anna Zamansky | Israel | annazam@gmail.com |
Gunnhildur Jacobsdottir | Island | gunnhildurj@gmail.com |
Kostas Koilias | Greece | kostaskls8@gmail.com |
Lena Scheidig | Germany | lena.scheidig@gmx.net |
Zuzana Prokopová | Czech Republic | zuzana.prokopova@canisterapie.org |
Tine Arets | Belgium | info@therapy4dogs.be |
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.
WHY USE APWA-ICofA?
When is APWA-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 APWA-ICofA:
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Screening dogs for breeding — to select animals with stable and desirable temperaments.
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More targeted training for competitive sports — by understanding individual strengths and sensitivities.
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Improving general training and obedience — through insight into personality and motivation.
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Understanding and managing problem behaviors — using personality data to guide interventions.
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Enhancing quality of life — by adapting the dog’s daily routines to match its needs and preferences.
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Strengthening communication and relationships — by gaining a deeper understanding of the dog’s behavior.
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Assessing suitability for work — such as therapy, search and rescue, or police service.
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Supporting professionals — as a valuable tool for behaviorists, trainers, and veterinarians.
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Providing documentation — of the dog’s personality traits and temperament.
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 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.
International APWA-ICofA database
All APWA-ICofA results and data are stored in an international database, so we can easily compare them and prepare scientific studies and papers.
