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