C.A.R.A.T.™
Clothier animal response tool
“Ethology of the individual”
Want to know what makes your dog tick?
Curious whether your dog is suited for the job or sport you plan to pursue?
looking for your next canine partner?
As a Certified CARAT Assessor™, Stephanie can help you to dig deeper into the traits that make your current dog unique, understand the root of a training challenge or performance problem, decide what works best for a new dog, or determine what you need in your next canine companion. Read on to learn more about the CARAT program.
What is CARAT?
Developed by Suzanne Clothier in 2007, CARAT™ (Clothier Animal Response Assessment Tool) is a novel assessment system that categorizes behavior traits in multiple components that are intuitive and practical.
Existing temperament scoring systems lump together different traits into broad categories (“big buckets”), such as confidence/fear, dominance, distraction, aggression, excitability, attachment, separation anxiety, etc. These “big bucket” categories are relatively crude measurements.
CARAT™ takes a more detailed view of the individual dog as a unique combination of many factors working together to influence, exacerbate, mitigate and enhance each other. In the profile created by the nuances and specifics of this complex interaction of multiple traits, an accurate picture is created of the individual, regardless of breed or age.
What Does CARAT Assess?
CARAT looks at these main categories and specifics of temperament traits:
CORE: Arousal, Resilience, Energy
SOCIAL: Sociability, Social Tolerance, Social Use of Space
SENSORY: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory
PERSISTENCE: Visual, Auditory, Kinesthetic, Olfactory, Predatory/Chase
INTERACTIVE: Patience, Biddability w/Familiar, Biddability w/Stranger
COMPLEX TRAITS: Social Confidence, Environmental Confidence, Self Modulation
Learn more about the CARAT traits and how they are scored here.
What can CARAT Tell me?
Is my dog suited for a particular sport or task?
How do I make the most of my dog’s talents or preferences?
What is easier or harder for this dog?
How do I meet my dog’s needs?
Is this a good fit?
Scheduling an Assessment
Please note: CARAT Assessments are available on a limited basis.
Informal Assessment - $150.00*
Steph will spend approximately one hour with you and your dog at our facility. Discussion of what information you wish to take away from the session, observation of your dog, and discussion of the traits observed and how those traits will shape your dog’s world are included. No written report will be provided.
Formal Assessment - $250.00*
A formal CARAT assessment includes an evaluation of your dog at our facility, a scored CARAT profile, and a written report detailing what the scores mean for you and your dog. Initial observations may be discussed briefly at the time of testing, but the formal report will be delivered within approximately two weeks.
*Additional travel expenses for off-site assessment may apply. Any follow-up training will be scheduled and charged separately.
Litter Assessments
If you would like to have a litter of puppies evaluated for placement, please contact Stephanie to discuss. Litter evaluations are available on a limited basis.