Quote:

I have noticed that when we are in the 'wagon'I.e. our vehicles, he goes on 'high alert', so that I have to be more alert as well. Just one of the quirks of this breed.

And I would see it as nothing to do with breed Ken. To me that sounds a little sharp. Maybe a little thin nerved too. I'm not picking on anything with you Ken, or knocking your dog. These are just things that don't automatically come with a high drive dog. These different things you're describing can be in a couch potato too.

I agree with Steve on this one, and I would also get away from anything you read that can cause you to make allowances for bad behavior. Your dog does sound a little sharp, and most likely insecure, and being that he is high drive, these traits can be magnified.

I have a female who is extreme energy, high prey and hunt drive(Even my training colleagues find her exhausting to be around). My male is high energy EXTREME prey, object, defense drives (with an AMAZING natural off-switch) - and I can tell you I make no allowances for bad behavior. I can have both in my truck and people can pass by and they may not even lift their head to look, but touch my vehicle and the guard dog comes out. They will settle as soon as the person stops touching the vehicle.

Because my dogs are high drive I am able to easily motivate them to do good behaviors and everything they do looks "easy, seamless and effortless" to the outsider. Because they are high drive, I make sure that they are in check at all times, which means no unwarranted aggression, at any time, and they must be at attention at all times and follow commands on the first say-so.

I think you may be experiencing more "temperament" than drive in the situations you are describing.

Either way, I think we can all agree that a high drive dog in the wrong hands, is an accident waiting to happen.

 Quote: Niomi Smith

I agree with Steve on this one, and I would also get away from anything you read that can cause you to make allowances for bad behavior. Your dog does sound a little sharp, and most likely insecure, and being that he is high drive, these traits can be magnified.

I have a female who is extreme energy, high prey and hunt drive(Even my training colleagues find her exhausting to be around). My male is high energy EXTREME prey, object, defense drives (with an AMAZING natural off-switch) - and I can tell you I make no allowances for bad behavior. I can have both in my truck and people can pass by and they may not even lift their head to look, but touch my vehicle and the guard dog comes out. They will settle as soon as the person stops touching the vehicle.

Because my dogs are high drive I am able to easily motivate them to do good behaviors and everything they do looks "easy, seamless and effortless" to the outsider. Because they are high drive, I make sure that they are in check at all times, which means no unwarranted aggression, at any time, and they must be at attention at all times and follow commands on the first say-so.

I think you may be experiencing more "temperament" than drive in the situations you are describing.

Either way, I think we can all agree that a high drive dog in the wrong hands, is an accident waiting to happen.

+1



And back to the topic of living with high drive puppies, setting aside all else:
http://leerburg.com/flix/player.php/238/So_You_Think_You_Want_a_High_Drive_Puppy

How many answering a Craigs list ad, for example, are good potential owners for a high-drive puppy?

What Ed says at 2:35 is so true ..... And that's what was behind the whole-hearted group attempt to get the drivey puppy mentioned in the O.P. into the right home.


JMO.

Most people think a high drive dog is too much work. A dog should be easy, right?

I can understand that- sometimes I wish my two high drive dogs (different drives) were a bit more show and go- but at the same time the reward from the intense focus and full-hearted devotion to "her" person from a good malinois or shepherd is unmatched. I also really like a smart dog.

I tend toward high drive in some ways myself, so we have a pretty good understanding.
.

LATE to the party.....my computer crashed AGAIN 2 weeks ago. UGH!!!!

Ditto on Steve & Naomi's last posts. Sounds like a temperment issue to me also.

My female is crazy high drive & is VERY intense when working. She does have an off switch as long as she gets enough work. My high drive male's off switch is kinda broken. :-)

They both are so quiet in the truck no one knows they are there until they touch the truck or come too close when I am in it.

Constant work to keep everyone happy & always some OB work to keep that spot on.

High drive dogs can be a pleasure or a curse. If you are not willing to put in the work .....you get the latter.

Just to add...I have a friend & neighbor that has 2 RR (male & female) & I have never seen this behavior with them. (they are from working lines) I have also known a few other RR that didn't exhibit more then the normal dog barking in the car or at the door of the house behavior.

Also working dogs need far more exercise, mental & physical, then pet dogs, with rare exception. But keep in mind that going past the amount of 'needed' exercise starts to add additional conditioning & stamina The more of this you do...the more endurance you build & the more 'work' is required to satisfy the dog's exercise needs. So unless you are planning on running long distance races with your dog or putting some kind of endurance title on them etc etc ..keep this in mind.

Its also best to vary the exercise into different types...jogging, pulling, fetch, jumping etc. Same with mental stimulation...and the good thing is some activities do both like agility or schutzhund.

I'm glad my dog is very mellow in a crate or vehicle and behind a fence for the most part. But I also don't allow him to go into crazy mode in those situations...could be part of it. Sometimes they are conditioned to go into crazy mode in a car...I see this in pet dogs too. Gotta nip it in the butt.

Delete. Not pertinent....

" ... going past the amount of 'needed' exercise starts to add additional conditioning & stamina The more of this you do...the more endurance you build & the more 'work' is required to satisfy the dog's exercise needs. So unless you are planning on running long distance races with your dog or putting some kind of endurance title on them etc etc ..keep this in mind. "




This is a great point to bring up Like exercising a race colt --- beyond a certain place, the fitness itself demands more exercise. "Dead fit" is not a restful state but a demanding one, the muscles themselves calling for work.


Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/18/2013 03:25 PM)
Edit reason: fix broken quote tags

delete duplicate

Edited by Connie Sutherland (02/18/2013 03:25 PM)
Edit reason: delete duplicate post