Drives

[corgipower]

i have got a dog who has always been a super hard worker. he doesn't have any play/prey drive, no ball drive, high food drive, but he doesn't work for food as much as he works simply to work.

when i retired him, he seemed depressed. he got plenty of attention, although he isn't a warm and cuddly kind of dog, so i don't think the attention meant a lot to him. it was as if there was something missing. every once in a while i'll bring him out and put him through some of his obedience exercises, and he lights up when i do.

i have worked with dogs that have a multitude of different drives and levels of drive.

what i am wondering is do you think there is such a thing as work drive? and if so, is there a way to test or select for it? is there a way to build it? and if there isn't, then what would you think accounts for my dog's strong desire to work?

[Doberluv]

Definitetly, I think there's a "work" drive. It's been selectively bred for in many breeds for a long time. My dogs are just the way you describe, especially my Doberman. Dogs were bred to do jobs for man early on. Sporting/hunting dogs, herding, guarding, tracking and more.

You have Corgis. I presently have a Doberman and Chihuahuas and a mix. All of the things dogs love to do, like you describe your dog loving to are connected in some way, directly or indirectly to all dogs' natural drives that were used for survival... the predatory motor patterns, of eye stalk, chase, bite, grab, kill, dissect & consume. Most dogs don't have the whole set of predatory motor patterns, but the ones selected for happen to be more specialized and intense than wolves...which have the whole set. In dogs, they're just enhanced in some breeds...exentuated by selection.

My Doberman loves obedience as long as it's not made boring or too repetative. He loves being obedient. (for the most part. LOL) He loves agility and following directions. He watches me intently much of the time when we're interacting as if to say, "at your service...what do you want me o do now?" His "work" is play to him. He gets depressed too, if we don't do anything much for a few days. Even the Chihauhas love learning new things, although they don't seem depressed if we're just couch potatoes sometimes...same with Toker, the mix breed, although she's ecstatic when we do somthing "work" related. I think all dogs do to one exent or another.

They're such social beings and love the relationship with their humans. (when it's a good one) Plus, they were selected biologically speaking to work with man, do a job and they all have it to one degree or another.

I'm really not sure if my response is exaclty what you meant. Maybe not quite.

A book you might thoroughly enjoy is, Dogs, a new understanding of canine origin, behavior and evolution, by Ray and Lorna Coppinger. It's absolutely fascinating if you like detail. This sounds right up your alley. I absolutely was fascinated by it. I'm so glad I got this book and read it. I couldn't put it down. Some people are put off by the extreme and sometimes tedious detail, but I like that sort of thing. The authors are highly esteemed biologists and ethologists and looked upon by most experts in the dog field as leading authorities on their subject. Their theory of how dogs became domesticated blows the old theory out the window, very compelling.... which has a huge bearing on our relationship with our dogs and, IMO, on how we train them. I highly, highly recommend you get this book. I'd love to hear what you think after you read it.

[corgipower]

the predatory motor patterns, of eye stalk, chase, bite, grab, kill, dissect & consume. Most dogs don't have the whole set of predatory motor patterns

those would describe prey drive, which mine doesn't have. or does he have it but it manifests in such subtle ways that i am not seeing it?



Even the Chihauhas love learning new things, <snip> I think all dogs do to one exent or another.

how much of the enjoyment is because there will be a reward after, and how much is truly enjoying it for the sake of doing the task at hand?


Plus, they were selected biologically speaking to work with man, do a job and they all have it to one degree or another.

true, but so much of today's breeding for working dogs is based on prey/play drive, not on work drive.

I'm really not sure if my response is exaclty what you meant. Maybe not quite.

i'm not sure either, LOL, but thanks! there are times when drives, and differentiating between them gets complex, and i think my understanding of it is a bit too limited.


A book you might thoroughly enjoy is, Dogs, a new understanding of canine origin, behavior and evolution, by Ray and Lorna Coppinger.

i'll be sure to look for it as soon as i have the money, or i'll put it on the christmas wish list!

[Doberluv]

I think if you get that book, a lot of what you're wondering will be answered and expained much better than I can. It's not a simple thing and takes an awful lot of explaining to thoroughly get at the nuts and bolts.....a lot of typing. I'll be thinking on it. But I'm too distracted right now....am running in and out, doing chores, cooking for Lyric and just running around. But I'll think on it. Tee hee....ever feel like a chicken with its head cut off? LOL.