Just for the sake of discussion, I'd like to see what people think about this.
Let's say you get a dog from lines that notoriously exhibit some sort of trait. Like "aggressive", "protective", "dog aggressive"...that sort of thing.
How plastic (or, how changeable) are these traits given that you know of these tendencies when you acquire the dog as a pup. Let's say you love a particular line of dog, but don't want it to be 'dog aggressive' (dog-on-dog aggression)....do you feel that such a dog can become a reliable and friendly dog-dog? Or can a traditionally protective breed (one that alerts easily to any new stimuli) become an open, welcoming sort of dog?
PS: I'm not saying "dog aggression" is a working trait, but it shows up a lot.
Two different thoughts here...if it's a trait that is already apparent when you get the 8 wk old pup (dog aggression/fear or sound sensitive, for instance), I lean towards believing these are going to be life long traits. You can most certainly condition the dog and modify the behavior extensively, but I don't believe you ever really change the emotion that underlies the behavior. If they're scared of loud noises, and if you are patient and dedicated, you can get a dog to act like any other and accept loud noises, but I think deep down, the nervousness is still there. On the other hand, if it's a trait that the 'line' is known for, like handler aggression, which doesn't usually appear until the dog begins to mature, I think the handler can change the path of that dog's development and perhaps completely avoid the problem. Of course you can always argue that if the dog never develops the handler aggression, he never had it in him in the first place, which you'll never know cuz it isn't apparent in a puppy.
Robert VanCamp Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2001
Posts: 3916
Loc:
Offline
I agree with Lee, behavior can be modified. . .and I add. . . while the dog is in the presence of the handler, but you can not rewire a dog that is wired for a certain issue.
Originally posted by VanCamp Robert: I agree with Lee, behavior can be modified. . .and I add. . . while the dog is in the presence of the handler, but you can not rewire a dog that is wired for a certain issue. I do agree with Lee also but I'm not necessarily in the agreement that you cannot condition the dog to generalize it's modified behavior while not in your presence aka generalized. I think that depends on how meticulously you've worked on the modification.
David Morris Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2002
Posts: 570
Loc: North Carolina
Offline
I think the core of your question is the $100 question in dog training.It is the question that all seriouse dog trainers eventually come back around too. "How much is genetic and how much is enviromental?" Its one of those things that I think about whenever somebody mentions clones.Not to turn this into a clone thread but cloned dogs would certainly isolate training styles and imprinting and answer alot of questions, in my mind anyway. Im not yea or nae on the cloning issue, just pointing it out.
Stop making excuses for your dog and start training it!
David - "How much is genetic and how much is enviromental?"
Kelton - Let's say you love a particular line of dog, but don't want it to be 'dog aggressive' (dog-on-dog aggression)....do you feel...
I think enviroment has the biggest difference in a dog traits being enhanced or moderfied. I think if you take any dog and subject it to poor enviromental development even a really high dollar great genetic dog will be ruined 9 out of 10 times.
Whereas you can take a so geneticlly bred dog subject it to the best enviroment/trainers and you can bring out the best in the dog, moderfying handler or dog aggressiveness.
Such as the example of the Pit bulls that are in Shch, all those dogs around and they don't go for it, Centurys of dog aggression, shut down, deep in the back of their mind they probablly want to but they have been conditioned to ignore that urge.
Robert VanCamp Webboard User Reg: 11-28-2001
Posts: 3916
Loc:
Offline
Chris, if the dog's internal negative emotional response to dogs is high enough, IMO there is no way to generalize in training the huge group of behaviors that would allow for your dog to be on his own with other strange dogs.
Someone might argue the merits of being able to alter the emotional response itself through classic conditioning. . .but I question the ability to do so in most severe dog aggressive animals.
I suppose the only way to answer such questions would be to clone a dog with known traits...like 'dog aggression'....and see if that sort of aggression occurs regardless of environmental manipulation.
I'd betcha that the 'cloning' discussion has been beat to death in here! I doubt there is a good way of answering this question without using that technology, though.
When purchasing any product from Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. it is understood
that any and all products sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. are sold in Dunn
County Wisconsin, USA. Any and all legal action taken against Leerburg Enterprises,
Inc. concerning the purchase or use of these products must take place in Dunn
County, Wisconsin. If customers do not agree with this policy they should not
purchase Leerburg Ent. Inc. products.
Dog Training is never without risk of injury. Do not use any of the products
sold by Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. without consulting a local professional.
The training methods shown in the Leerburg Ent. Inc. DVD’s are meant
to be used with a local instructor or trainer. Leerburg Enterprises, Inc. cannot
be held responsible for accidents or injuries to humans and/or animals.
Copyright 2010 Leerburg® Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved. All photos and content on leerburg.com are part of a registered copyright owned by Leerburg Enterprise, Inc.
By accessing any information within Leerburg.com, you agree to abide by the
Leerburg.com Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Page 1 of 1 1
Top
Previous Topic
Index
Next Topic
