A test told me that my "dog's drives" were as follows:
prey = 35
pack = 45
defense-fight = 65
defense-flight = 10
What does it mean?
If you know and can provide any advice for us, it would be great, thanks.
Answers:
Those are Volhard scores - or a test very similar.
Go here to see it:
http://www.volhard.com/training/cpp.htm.
In looking at them, think of 50 as being the average.
What this means are:
(1) Prey: how much your dog wants to chase and catch things. German Shepherds are typically nearly double your dog's score at minimum..The hunting breeds - particularly the retrievers are going to more - say 60ish or better - if they come from line of dogs bred for field work.
Now a dog with 35 will play chasing a toy - but it is not a big deal and they enjoy it for a bit but are not going to be retrieving fools or prone to chasing the rabbit for the fun of it.
Also "prey" means food to a dog (the chase and catch instinct). The lower this score, the less motivated this dog will be to obey for treats - it just isn't that big of a deal to them. The higher the score, the more motivated they are with food as the reward.
(2) Pack: How closely the dog bonds to the group and seeks their approval and seeks to have a strong role in the pack. Does the dog crave companionship or is if it has company fine but if not fine or is it "leave me alone, I don't care what the others do and don't want to join in.
This score is very important in terms of how much the dog will try to fit into the pack hierarchy (and remember, in a household setting, you are part of the pack.) The higher the score the more the dog wants to be part of the group - and if you are the Alpha (leader) - to do what it takes to please you in reutrn for phsyical and verbal approval. (To a dog, food is NOT the same as receiving approval from the pack/leader.) The lower the score, the less the dog will care about complying with the group and the less it will be motivated by approval in the form of praise and pets and attention. A low score is difficult to train - they really don't care even to trouble themselves just to get approval.
A 45 is a mid range score. The dog is happy being part of the group but doesn't bond so closely to the group that it is stressed if it isn't part of the group. It will try to please you for your approval (voice, pets ect) provided the requested behavior is not a whole lot of trouble. This is the dog that will do the retrieve because you ask and give it verbal praise and pets but might draw the line at doing the retrieve in a half-frozen lake.
Defense-fight: How much will the dog stand its ground and not give in in order to be dominant. This is a score that has to be considered in relation to the pack score.
A mid-range or high pack score with a high-fight score (and this 65 is high) is going to want to be part of the pack BUT it wants to be the leader. We are talking a dominant dog here.
Now a high flight/low pack would be the dog who doesn't really care about leading the pack or even belonging and will be aggressive simply pick a fight. Put a high fight with a high prey score and you have an aggressive dog that wants to chase and catch. (The Shutzhound dogs and patrol dogs.)
(4) Flight: How timid is the dog, how fearful. Some flight is good because the dog will give in to a stronger personality but you don't want too much. A high flight score is a dog that frightens easily and can be a fear biter.
Now with a 35 prey, 45 pack 65 fight and 10 flight, without knowing anything about the breed, here is what I see.
The dog is not going to chase after anything that moves - like running after the rabbit for the sheer fun of i for more than a short distance if at all. This dog is NOT a candidate for Shutzhound, police work, field trial or hunting and getting it to even do the retrieve of the dumbell in AKC obedience competition is going to be a fight - it simply isn't that interested.
You are not going to reliably train or motivate this dog to perform by giving treats. It'll take them but if it decides it doesn't want to do something, you are not going to get co-operation by saying "please, if you do it, you get a cookie."
Pack and flight scores need to be taken in reltionship to each other. This dog is quite happy being part of the group and wants the approval of the group (its pack). The important thing is that it wants to be the Alpha and top dog in the group. You can motivate this dog through physical and verbal praise BUT you are going to have a serious fight on your hands over who is boss.
Add into the mix, the low flight score and this guy is NOT going to give in or retreat - ever.
Difficult temperment for the amateur inexperienced owner. The dog is going to constantly be trying to be in charge. The owner is going to have to be right there saying "Don't you dare", be prepared to back it up with insisting the dog obey even if they are there for hours trying to get a 'sit', and never give in to the dog. This is the dog where the handler spends a lot of effort roaring "NOT OPTIONAL MISTER - NOW DO IT" if they have control over the dog and are in charge. The best motivator for this dog is for the owner to establish that they are in charge, not the dog, and reward it lavishly with physical pets, hugs and verbal praise. If the owner isn't in charge, this dog is going to run the household and their lives and simply ignore them ad d as it pleases.
This is what professional handlers call a "tough" temperment.
If hazarding a guess at the breed, I would say a guarding, herd guarding, some working breeds or a dominant herding dog.
Probably not a Dobe or GSD - they would normally have a much higher Prey score. Maybe boxer (guarding breed.) Akitas come to mind - also Huskies and Malmutes
Herd guarding would be Great Pyreenes, Kuvasz, Anatolian Shepherd etc (called Livestock Guarding Dogs)
Herding: Maybe a Bouvier des Flanders (hard to call - some of those have a high prey score,some middle and some low.) That high fight score would be very unusual for the other herding breeds.
That low prey score rules out the Sporting Breeds - unless we are talking a bossy, headstrong Lab, Golden etc who dislikes the job for which they were bred.
Not a hound or terrier like an Airedale - not with that prey score.
Also, could one of several of the Non-sporting and one the comes immediately to mind is a Chow-chow (bred to guard without giving chase, tough to train and handle.) Dalmation - not likely since the idea of running after something makes this dog say "right - you do it, not me.)
Toys - Not likely a Min Pin. Maybe one of the toys bred to alert and challenge intruders - lhasa is a possiblity.
Love to know how close I came on the breed.
----
Now, change and answer on the test and it changes the outcome. A misunderstandng of the question will give an incorrect answer - and thus and incorrect score.
(Sorry about any typos - its late and I'm tired.)
Hmm.. very tired - just saw the breed. Odd on the prey score. A Staffie should have a MUCH higher prey score since they were originally bred to hunt vermin. May want to redo the test. Now some dogs don't fit the breed standard - had a beautiful top-flight conformation Golden who if you threw something, she looked at you, shrugged and said "Not in my job description - breed standard has a typo and it should be "never retrieves. You threw it - you go get it."
What type of test was this? What kind of dog are we talking about?
This looks like
35% of the time he is more likely to prey on something. (rabbit, small dog etc)
45% of the time pack behavior
65% of the time defend himself in a fight
10% of the time run instead of fighting
Hope you didn't pay for this?
Is it a math equation that should be left in the math category or maybe even home work? I really wish I could answer your question but this has me stumped.
35+45+65+10=155
Every breed of dog has a different "drive". I have a American Pit Bull Terrier .. and his "drive" would be somewhat different than your dog. My Pit Bull's drive is as follows:
Prey = 70
Pack = 70
Defense - Fight = 20
Defense - Flight = 15
Drives defined:
The four drives outlined by Volhard include prey, pack, fight, and flight reactions.
The prey drive includes those behaviors that highlight hunting and foraging behaviors. Dogs that hunt and kill their toys (or objects of clothing, pillows, etc.), chase anything that moves, steal food, stalk the cat, and pounce on toys or other animals are probably high in prey drive.
The Pack drive involves a dog's affinity for humans or other dogs. A dog with a high pack drive cannot get enough of people; he barks or cries when left alone, solicits play and petting, likes to touch, enjoys grooming, and loves the sound of his master's voice.
The Fight drive is defensive and indicates a dog's self-confidence in stressful situations. A dog with a strong fight-defense drive stands his ground, walks high on his toes, guards his territory and his family, may guard his toys and food, tolerates petting and grooming but does not really enjoy these activities, enjoys tug-of-war, and seems ready to fight.
The Flight drive is also a defense drive and indicates a dog's lack of self-confidence. A dog with high flight drive is unsure in new situations and may hide behind his person, is stressed when separated from his person, crawls on his belly or urinates when reprimanded, and may bite when cornered.
So, in comparing our dogs .
My dog has a higher prey and pack drive than yours, which means that my dog likes to hunt, forage, chase, steal food, stalk, be near humans, be groomed and be touched . more than your dog does.
My dog has a lower defense - fight drive, which indicates that he is not the type of dog to be aggressive . unless trained to do so. He is not possesive of his food or toys and he will not guard his territory or family ~ this holds true . as Pit Bulls are the most stolen dogs . world-wide. Your dog would make a much better guard - dog than mine.
Our dogs flight drive is almost the same. They become unsure in certain situations and would more than likey run or cower when they are scared.
Whew . lol . hope all this helped ya!!
Okay, it's kind of like those card games that give stats on the elf, dwarf, or wizard.only it's for dogs.
A bunch of geeks came up with it, most likely.
And if you take your dog for a walk.he can have +2 immunity! Sweet!
Here is the chart to explain the Volhard puppy temperament testing> http://www.volhard.com/puppy/pat.htm.
You can improve those scores with a LOT of socialization with other dogs, such as puppy training classes..And her pack drive by DOING with her..Agility, obedience, frisbee, etc.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment