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Drive Explanations

 

To give you a better understanding of your dog, we have grouped instinctive behaviors into three drives

Prey

Pack

Defense

 

 

These drives reflect instinctive behaviors your dog has inherited from his ancestors and that are useful to you in teaching him what you want him to learn. Each one of these drives is governed by a basic trait.
Your dog and every other dog is an individual who comes into the world with a specific grouping of genetically inherited, predetermined behaviors. How those behaviors are arranged, their intensity, and how many component parts of each drive the dog has will determine temperament, personality, and suitability for the task required. It also determines how the dog perceives the world.

 

The Three Major "Drives"

Prey drive includes those inherited behaviors associated with hunting, killing prey and eating. It is activated by motion, sound and smell.

Behaviors associated with prey drive are:

• seeing and hearing
  
• scenting and tracking
  
• stalking and chasing
  
• pouncing
  
• high-pitched barking
  
• jumping up and pulling down
  
• shaking
  
• tearing and ripping apart
  
• biting and killing
  
• carrying
  
• eating
  
• digging and burying

You see some of these behaviors when your dog is chasing the cat or gets excited and barks in a high pitched tone of voice as the cat runs up a tree. Your dog may also shake and rip soft toys, or bury dog biscuits in the couch.

Pack drive consists of behaviors associated with reproduction and being part of a group or pack. Our dogs are social animals who evolved from the wolf. To hunt prey mostly larger than themselves, wolves have to live in a pack. To assure order they have to adhere to a social hierarchy governed by strict rules of behavior. An ability to be part of a group and to fit in is important, and, in the dog, translates itself into a willingness to work with us as part of a team

t is stimulated by rank order in the social hierarchy. Behaviors associated with pack drive are:

• physical contact with people and/or other dogs
  
• playing with people and/or other dogs
  
• behaviors associated with social interaction with another dog, such as reading body language
  
• reproductive behaviors, such as licking, mounting, washing ears and all courting gestures
  the ability to breed and to be a good parent

A dog with many of these behaviors is the one that follows you around the house, is happiest when with you, loves to be petted and groomed, and likes to work with you. The dog may be unhappy when left alone too long, which can express itself in separation anxiety.

Defense drive is governed by survival and self preservation, and consists of both fight and flight behaviors. It is more complex, because the same stimulus that can make a dog aggressive (fight), can also elicit avoidance (flight) behaviors, especially in the young dog.

Fight behaviors are not fully developed until the dog is about two years of age, and sometimes later, although tendencies toward these behaviors will be seen at an earlier age.

Behaviors associated with fight are:

• hackles up from the shoulder forward
  
• standing tall and staring at other dogs
  
• standing ground or going to unfamiliar objects
  
• guarding food, toys or territory against other people and dogs
  
• dislike of being petted or groomed
  
• lying in front of doorways or cupboards and refusing to move growling at people or dogs
  
• putting the head over the shoulder of another dog
• biting people or other dogs

Flight behaviors demonstrate that the dog is unsure. Behaviors associated with flight are:

• hackles that go up the full length of the body, not just at the neck
  
• hiding or running away from a new situation
  
• a dislike of being touched by strangers
  
• general lack of confidence
  
• urinating when being greeted by a stranger or the owner
  
• flattening of the body when greeted by people or other dogs
  
• Freezing -- not going forward or backward -- is interpreted as inhibited flight behavior.

 

Behavior Drive Explanations

Prey:
This indicates the dogs hunting instincts or his willingness to search for food.
This dog is excited by everything that moves, smells good, or sounds interesting, therefore, a handler of this type of personality must truly have the dog’s respect and admiration especially in a distraction situation. This type sometimes seems harder to train but a strong will and lots of patience will help you reach your training goals. These dogs are not at all stupid although usually highly energized.

 

Pack:
This indicates the dogs strong willingness to be part of the family unit (or his pack). He is
usually liad back and calm, making a lot of eye contact with you. This dog really, really wants to please you and follows you everywhere. Simply show this dog exactly what you want, in a nice way and you will get the results you want. Verbal praise is imparitive for this type of dog as this communicates your approval.

 

Defence-Fight :
This dog thinks about self preservation and the protectiion of his surroundings is very important to him. This strong dominent dog is the more likely to challenge you for pack leadership than any other personality. He may act tough or even aggressive with you but you must win the challenge. Timing the necessary corrections and reading the dog’s body language correctly will insure a quick resolve to the dominent notions your dog may have. Once your dog has a clear understanding of who is running the pack, he may never challenge you again.

 

Defence-Fight :
This is a dog that is very shy or fearful in a new situation or environment.
This is easily overcome by providing the dog with the proper type of reassurance. The most common error the master makes is to stroke the dog on the head or neck and verbally tell the dog (in a sympathetic voice) that everything is OK. This method only makes a dog more insecure and worried about his masters sad and fearful voice. Instead, make the dog face his fear. Bring him close to it, allowing him to sniff it if it hapens to be an object or person. Verbally praise the dog with avery confident voice, (Good Dog), when he is being brave enough to look at the fear or even acknowledge it. Firm shoulder petting or thumping will build the dogs confidence even further. When the dog starts to relax (tail wags or his eyes soften) move him away from the situaton and continue to praise in a confident voice. A few positive sessions of building your dog’s confidence will soon change his confidence in himself and in you. The dog's trust in you will strengthen and intensify as his fears subside.

 

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