| Understanding what drives your dog can help you | | | | Participating in such activities will ensure that your |
| teach him more quickly and efficiently. | | | | dog feels satisfied. |
| Similar to humans, dogs have unique personalities | | | | Behavior Dog Training Tip: The high pack drive |
| and learning styles thus respond differently to | | | | dogs require less effort to motivate in that they |
| various training methods. Whereas one person | | | | express a strong desire to please and respond |
| learns better from seeing, another learns better | | | | well to enthusiastic praise. |
| from touching. Same with doge, some respond | | | | The Fight drive is strong in dogs who maintain |
| better to hand gestures, others to voice | | | | their self-confidence in stressful situations. Dogs |
| commands - techniques that work with one may | | | | that exhibit a strong fight drive will not back down |
| not work as effectively with others. Therefore, | | | | when approached by other animals, guards his |
| when developing a training program it is important | | | | territory/food and enjoys activities such as |
| to consider what motivates your dog. | | | | tug-of-war. |
| Professional trainers Wendy and Jack Volhard | | | | Behavior Dog Training Tip: In order for any dogs, |
| observed how different dogs behave when faced | | | | especially that with a high fight drive, to control |
| with various stimuli and categorized these | | | | their defense drive and properly assess threat, |
| behaviors into four distinct drives: prey, pack, | | | | they require ample socialization. |
| fight, and flight drives. | | | | The Flight drive is also a defense drive and |
| The prey drive is demonstrated through | | | | indicates a dog's lack of self-confidence. A dog |
| behaviors that mimic hunting and foraging. For | | | | with high flight drive may hide behind his owner |
| example, dogs that seek and chew their toys (or | | | | when approached by new people or dogs, is |
| household items), chase moving object, steal food | | | | stressed when separated from his owner, lays on |
| or stalk other animals express a strong prey | | | | his belly when reprimanded or may panic when |
| drive. In order to ensure a dog with a high prey | | | | cornered. |
| drive is satisfied a handler must present many | | | | Behavior Dog Training Tip: Dogs with a strong |
| opportunities for him to employ his instinct to | | | | flight drive again need socialization so as to |
| hunt, such as hiding toys/treats for him to find | | | | accurately assess and appropriately respond to |
| and playing fetch. | | | | stressful situations. They also do not respond well |
| Behavior Dog Training Tip: Since dogs with a high | | | | to compulsion training which may propagate their |
| prey drive may exhibit aggressive behaviors | | | | fears. Dogs with a high flight drive tend to be |
| towards people and other animals, it is important | | | | nervous and fearful and require an abundance of |
| that they be thoroughly socialized - exposing | | | | attention and positive reinforcement. |
| them to as many different people, places and | | | | I hope this article will prompt dog owners to learn |
| things as possible, at a very early age. | | | | more about, what I term, Behavior Dog Training. |
| Dogs who need to be around people and enjoy | | | | Discovering what motivates your dog will enable |
| other dogs demonstrate a high Pack drive. Such | | | | you to manipulate a dog's inherent drives in order |
| dogs cry when left alone, initiate play, solicit touch | | | | to reinforce appropriate behavior and build a |
| and are attentive to their handler's voice. | | | | stronger more satisfying relationship. |