| Some people are driven to acquire the fastest | | | | dominant dogs meet and cannot negotiate a power |
| possible car. Or amass wealth. Or get the corner | | | | sharing arrangement. This is rare, because they |
| office. Others are driven to build a strong family unit, or | | | | normally can work out a solution. Fights can also occur |
| to find the perfect romance. | | | | when a dog lacks confidence, is high in flight drive, and |
| What drives you? | | | | is cornered by other dogs. |
| Humans are composed of many drives and desires. | | | | Generally, though, dogs communicate quickly, and for a |
| We humanoids are complicated creatures. Dogs, | | | | great reason. If they can instantly determine what their |
| however, are much simpler in their major needs and | | | | relationships are to be, there is limited need for fighting. |
| desires, or what I’ll call drives. | | | | And that is good for the species. Evolutionary success |
| A dog’s most important need is the desire for | | | | demands that social creatures work out their problems |
| social order, to follow a strong, compassionate leader. I | | | | peacefully within the species, lest the animals expend |
| call this Pack Drive. Pack drive can be best summed | | | | more energy on killing one another than thriving. Dogs |
| up like this; it is the desire to follow and collaborate with | | | | are a very successful species, and their drives, |
| a clear leader. You can see this drive in action when | | | | coupled with their ability to adapt, is the reason. |
| you notice your dog trying to please you. | | | | So what does any of this have to do with training your |
| But dogs do possess other drives as well. Here is a list | | | | dog? Let’s go back and remember Pack Drive, the |
| of the other most important instincts that literally drive | | | | urge to follow and collaborate with the Leader. Dogs |
| dog behavior… | | | | have this instinct for a good reason. If no one is in |
| Prey Drive: the urge to chase, catch, kill and consume | | | | charge, chaos reigns. This means in the dog pack, no |
| moving animals. You see this in action every time your | | | | one has the authority to determine when we hunt, |
| dog chases a squirrel. Unfortunately, you may also see | | | | which deer is slow enough for us to catch, which dogs |
| it when your dog chases your cat. | | | | should pass along the best genes by breeding, and so |
| Play Drive: a modified form of Prey Drive, Play Drive is | | | | forth. Lacking clear Leadership, dogs become nervous |
| the urge to engage in mock hunting behavior. Play | | | | or aggressive…or both. In the wild, neurotic or |
| Drive is at work when your dog pounces on a | | | | unproductive aggression spells doom for the individual |
| squeaky toy and pretends to shake it to death. | | | | so afflicted, or for the entire species if those traits |
| Defensive Drive: the urge to defend himself, his pack | | | | become common. |
| mates, or his territory. Not all dogs have the drive to | | | | Dogs are born with Pack Drive so that their species |
| defend, and not every dog can stand up to the | | | | does not live in chaos, thereby dying out. Instead, Pack |
| pressure of defending. A dog who reacts with a | | | | Drive allows a Leader to emerge and keep the pack |
| desire to defend, but who lacks the confidence to do | | | | safe, content and well fed. |
| so, generally shows fear before aggression. You may | | | | Training your dog is an important step in teaching him |
| note this if your dog barks at the door, but runs away | | | | to meet your expectations. By recognizing how he his |
| when you let someone in. | | | | psychology functions, you’ll have a better chance |
| Fight Drive: If your dog stands his ground when | | | | of helping him understand what you want. Appeal to |
| confronted by threats, real or imagined, he may be high | | | | your dog’s need for social order by being a clear |
| in Fight Drive, the instinct to take action to defend. | | | | and compassionate Leader. By all means, share |
| Flight Drive: A dog who does not stand his ground | | | | resources with your pet, just be sure you go first. |
| when facing a so called enemy or frightening situation, | | | | Here are a few tips that can help engage your |
| flees, and he is said to be high in Flight Drive. This and | | | | dog’s Pack Drive so that he’ll see you as a |
| other drives are well explained in the works of authors | | | | Leader, and want to cooperate with you. |
| Jack and Wendy Volhard. | | | | One, exit doors ahead of your dog. Encourage him to |
| It is important for us to understand what drives a dog, | | | | wait while you step through first. |
| what makes him tick, in order that we may not only | | | | Two, when walking your dog, don’t permit him to |
| live with him peaceably, but also so we may train him | | | | pull ahead of you. Instead, use any fair training method |
| in the easiest possible manner. To train a dog naturally, | | | | to teach him to walk at your side on a loose leash. |
| in a way that makes sense to his way of thinking, | | | | Three, ask your dog to sit before you feed him. Do not |
| means the dog will learn to do what you want at | | | | release an excited dog to his food bowl. Simply get |
| incredible speed. | | | | the sit and stand quietly until he relaxes for a moment, |
| If that sounds hard to believe, think about it this way. | | | | then feed him. |
| When dogs play or interact, from the second they | | | | Four, if you enjoy close contact with your dog, allow |
| meet, they are exchanging information using body | | | | him to snuggle with you, but only when you have |
| language. They speak much faster than humans | | | | invited him to do so. If he gets in your lap without an |
| because they can say “don’t come any | | | | invitation, take him off, have him sit, then invite him up |
| closer,” merely by squinting an eye. So their | | | | as a reward. |
| language is quick and most dogs speak it fluently. This | | | | Five, take your dog for a walk in a large open field on |
| is why you’ll see dogs introducing themselves | | | | a 20 foot leash. If he runs ahead of you, simply turn |
| carefully at the dog park before playing. First each | | | | around and walk briskly the other way. Before long, |
| must know where he ranks in the pack, who he can | | | | your dog will find it more pleasurable to keep an eye |
| be boisterous with, and to whom must he yield. Rarely | | | | on you and allow you to pick the direction. |
| does a dog fail to understand when another dog | | | | If you struggle with any of these matters, a |
| explains to him, “I am dominant. I would like to play | | | | professional dog trainer can help you upgrade your |
| with you, but please allow me to control the play.” | | | | Leadership skills. Reward your dog only when he is in |
| This happens in the blink of an eye and is the main | | | | Pack Drive, attempting to please you. As Dog |
| reason there aren’t constant fights in dog parks. In | | | | Whisperer Cesar Millan says, dogs follow a Pack |
| fact, one of the rare times dogs do fight is when two | | | | Leader. |