Thread: Understanding Pack drive

Naitche, it mightbe me but, I do not understand what you mean by pack drive. I understand pack structure or order, is this what you meant?

Thanks Vendo,

No I think I have a good understanding of the structure and order.

The trainers where this dog has started mentioned the pack drives.

I want a dog with great handler focus at all times,one who works to please and is very "loyal".I've always called it a pack drive because it seems the dogs are driven to bond from pups,then to work as a team.Your appproval is more important than the food/prey reward.A drive to support the pack as a unit and work towards stability?

Or do you see this as a myth?

The trainers were very keen to start this boy who they say is more like the old style dobes.They were amazed at the bond and the versatility it gives the dog.Hes raised as a companion 1st,and has been very extensively socialised like a good family pet with no loss of handler focus in those situations.They called it pack drive too.

With luck,he will be seen working soon,his owner is very motivated and keen to see how far she can take him and has had a lot of encouragement from the club who also seem to want to see what he can do.

Thanks Naitche

Look I find myself corrected on every new dog I get. So if people with more experience say it is so then I tend not to argue with them too much. However how a dog is either more bonded to its handle or more aloof can be contributed to a few different conditions. Eg age of separation from litter, breed, temperment, initial socialization and continued exposure. I am sure you would agree.

I would however not consider this a drive. Dogs seek leadership and respect it, I would agree with you that a dog that is out for its self is hard work to train.

Bit of trivia for you ... The only canines that have a consideration for the pack as a awhole or for each other in a pack including the sick or injured is the wild dog of Africa. Also the only canine that has refused domestication even if born in captivity. Also claims the most successful kill rate per hunt than any other land based carnivour.

Thanks for your answers guys.
Looks like My definition of pack drive is close enough to the acepted version I won't have trouble following conversations anyway.

Johnathon,
Your a Dobe Man...Do you find the pack drive as difficult to come across as these trainers said ? It took me years to find it,but I hadn't realised the split in working lines verus show was so big back then..I stupidly thought if you bred Dobermans,you were breeding "Dobermanns".
I fell in love with the breed years ago largely because of that and veared off much later when told by the Dobe club I "wouldn't get a dog like that" when I described what I was after.(twice with different speakers)

Vendo,yeah,I see it as more complex too and totaly agree so much can affect the out come,but will acept the term drive for lack of better.There does seem a basic need to bond with a human in some pups that shows up clearly and theres going be ways to develop this quality like you do with prey drive.

Interesting trivia! Are the African wild dogs a separate species or still close enough to be true dogs? Would be a great job,observing animals in the wild.

Ann Marie, Yeah,I think the recall would be affected by this a lot,a think the natural protection abilities seem to stem from it as well.? My partner often comments on my" escorts" walking one on each side close enough my fingers brush their necks as we walk.
I find our dogs have good recall too.We train them to stay in the yard unless we invite them out with us,always on lead untill recall is fully trusted 'cos we are surounded by bush and often have critters bolting from underfoot.Squealing,running horses could be pretty distracting too .The usual prey drive is more a liability with us and took some getting used to in my bitch,whos got the full drive in spades.Great hunter.

The same dogs raised differently would likely be another matter.We tend to throw 'em in the deep end and start as we want to continue, training as we go.We don't often need to "Put away" one of the dogs.