Interesting enough my 20m old Rott/Lab mix has, for the first time, shown a high level of drive. And at all things a roller coaster.

I was at Coney Island amusement park, across the street from the roller coaster. The first 5 minutes no particular reaction from him just looking at people and sniffing. Then he noticed the people coming off the ride and then the roller coaster cars moving with people screaming. Now he starts to bark, run back & forth, tail is straight and moving furiously, and he's pulling at his leash to try to get over there.

Mind you he never pulls when leashed (not for cats, dogs, squirrels, or his favorite people (loves people)), doesn't bark too much and has never shown such eagerness to get at something.

I take him across the street to the perimeter fence of the roller coaster and the behavior continues w/him standing on his hind legs trying to find a way over the fence. After walking away he is still focused on the roller coaster, from a block away to the point of bumping into things.

I was pleasantly surprised. I've considered the drive/focus not to lead to bite work or anything but to help in overall training but until now he hasn't shown high drive, not for food, toy/prey or people.

Is there a way to develop this "roller coaster" drive and build upon it for general drive. Would this be considered prey drive? Should I get the drive/focus tapes?

Thanks.
PP

I would try to motivate him with objects somewhat smaller than an amusement park ride - using the Flinks method, you'll find those somewhat difficult to conceal on your person.

That's a joke...


Your best bet at this early display of drive would be to isolate the various conponents of the noises and action that your dog is reacting to to and see what is activating him. But from a training standpoint, it's likely just the intensity of everything going on and this isn't going to end up being helpful to you in the long run, sorry. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

You know those big, blow-up 'people' (ok, no off-color remarks, please LOL) that the cell phone companies have outside their stores? They're attached to a generator or air compressor or something that blows air into them and makes them 'wave.'

Please say you know what I'm talking about. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/blush.gif" alt="" />


Anyway, my dog, Gypsy, goes absolutely C R A Z Y when she sees one of these things, whether we're 1000 feet or 2 feet away. I'm talking full hackles, barking and snarling and growling and acting as if she is going to bust clean through my car window if we happen to be in the car. If we're not in the car, she just looks like an out of control aggressive beast. But like Will said, it doesn't mean squat. She isn't cut out for protection work just because she goes crazy at a gigantic blow up doll. LoL

I had to chuckle at this thread..... It reminded me of the first time I had my work dog out around firemen. It didn't take long to figure out that 8 firemen walking around in bunker gear looked like a smorgasbord of bite suites to my dog. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Remember in the early 90's the triple fat goose or duck jackets? I almost had some serious ooopsies with people walking in those.

My old dog used to go wild for those big fur boots - (were they called moon boots?) - from the '60's. Quite a few near misses... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />

Finally got back to this post.

Oh well since I can't fit a roller coaster in my pocket and have no intentions of living next door to one I'll have to find another "drive" object.

I think I will purchase the drive and focus tape. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />