DemoDick wrote:As an aside, I think that pack drive is the most chronically underutilized aspect in breeding working dogs. A dog with high pack drive is MUCH easier to train versus an aloof dog.
Demo Dick
DemoDick wrote:As an aside, I think that pack drive is the most chronically underutilized aspect in breeding working dogs. A dog with high pack drive is MUCH easier to train versus an aloof dog.
Demo Dick
Mickle wrote:Probably more so individual dogs but certain breeds being more prone to show pack drive than others.
Good question, im very interested in seeing where this goes!
katiek0417 wrote:I was talking to Greg about this earlier...and one thing we talked about is the fact that dogs don't have to be around other dogs to be in a pack...even when a family owns one dog, the dog can treat members of the human family as their pack...
DemoDick wrote:katiek0417 wrote:I was talking to Greg about this earlier...and one thing we talked about is the fact that dogs don't have to be around other dogs to be in a pack...even when a family owns one dog, the dog can treat members of the human family as their pack...
That is exactly what I mean when I use the term "pack drive". I see it as the level of willingness a dog has to integrate into a human family. A dog with a high affinity to bond with other dogs is just doggy, and that's not what I look for, as I don't work multiple dogs at once and rely on the dog's bond with me to accomplish trust.
Demo Dick
First off I don't believe that the human members of a dog's family count as it's pack. Humans and dogs are very different in how we act and relate to each other.
We don't correct dogs by snarling and grabbing at their necks, nor do we assert our dominance by chasing them away from food or throwing our heads over their shoulders.
So though humans may be a pseudo-pack of sorts, it's not the type of pack drive I'm talking about.
DemoDick wrote:First off I don't believe that the human members of a dog's family count as it's pack. Humans and dogs are very different in how we act and relate to each other.
I disagree. Humans are capable of crystal clear communication with dogs, even with the interspecies communication issues. It's not as clear as dog-dog communication, but done correctly the dog will understand exactly what we are trying to communicate. This forms a very powerful social bond.
I understand where you're coming from, but when it comes to working dogs I've always been taught to refer to "pack drive" as the dogs readiness to bond to a human handler. From a strictly behavioral standpoint, I see what you are referring to, but considering the training jargon already in place, there is a lot of potential for confusion.
SisMorphine wrote:First off I don't believe that the human members of a dog's family count as it's pack. Humans and dogs are very different in how we act and relate to each other. We don't correct dogs by snarling and grabbing at their necks, nor do we assert our dominance by chasing them away from food or throwing our heads over their shoulders. So though humans may be a pseudo-pack of sorts, it's not the type of pack drive I'm talking about.
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