Dogs show different personalities
Canine Drive Theory can help explain Rover's actions

The Penningtons love Fred, a 1-year-old Basset. When they found the little dog wandering down the street and were unable to find its owner, they decided to keep the pup instead of sending it to the animal shelter. They opened their home and their hearts to this newcomer.
Fred grew, and before long weighed 55 pounds. While on one end of a leash, he would take the person on the other end for the ride of his life. And he would steal food off the kitchen counters, off the dinner table and even out of the children's hands. This dog was like no other dog the Penningtons had ever owned. This 55-pound canine superpower soon ruled the house and the neighborhood. He would chase the neighbor's cat and shred the children's socks and underwear. Fred liked nothing better than a romp through the neighborhood with Mom and kids chasing behind, calling for him to come back. The Penningtons were baffled - never before had they owned a dog with such "drive" before. What they didn't know was that with different dogs, as with human beings, individual personalities can vary widely.
Much of Fred's behavior can be explained by the Canine Drive Theory. This theory has been around for years, but it was not until 1991 that Wendy Volhard, a nationally-known dog trainer and canine behaviorist, put it down on paper. A founder with her husband of the motivational method of dog training, Volhard determined that almost all canine behaviors could be explained through this Drive Theory.
The theory is simple - dogs have different personalities, and therefore, learning styles and techniques that work with one dog may not work with another dog. Some dogs obey with almost whispered commands, and others need firm words and stern expressions. Some dogs panic at quick movements, and others stand their ground. Some dogs need wide space, and others are not happy unless leaning against their owner's leg.
The three drives outlined by Volhard in her book, "The Canine Good Citizen," are the Prey Drive, the Pack Drive and the Defense Drive. The Defense Drive is made up of two sub-drives: the Fight and Flight Drives.
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 most likely have a high Prey Drive.
The Pack Drive involves a dog's love for humans or other dogs. A dog with a high Pack Drive cannot get enough human contact; this is the dog that barks or cries when it is left alone, seeks out play and petting, likes to be touched, and enjoys grooming. Like the RCA dog, he loves the sound of his master's voice.
The Defense Drive focuses on fight or flight instincts, self-preservation and survival. 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 on his toes, guards his territory, food and toys, and is overly protective of his family. This dog may tolerate petting and grooming, but does not really enjoy these activities. However, when he is given a chance to play tug-of-war, the battle is on!
A dog with a high Flight Drive is the exact opposite. This type of dog is unsure in new situations, hiding behind his person, and may become stressed when separated from his owners. When reprimanded, he may roll over on his back or urinate. A dog with a high Flight Drive may also bite when cornered.
Dogs that are high in Flight Drive should not be overly corrected. Even a loud tone is too much. Dogs that are high in Fight Drive can be handled more firmly by using a deeper, more forceful command tone. The least amount of correction, however, is always best. Most dogs respond well to positive reinforcement training techniques. Each new command should be taught and repeated until the owner is certain that the command is understood. Once the dog learns the command, mistakes can be corrected by first guiding the dog back into the position, progressing to voice corrections in a soft tone, increasing to a harsher command tone if necessary. Finally, "checking" the dog with a leash and collar can make corrections.
After I conducted an initial evaluation of Fred, I discovered that Fred worked primarily in a high Prey Drive and a low Defense Drive. With this knowledge, the Penningtons and I were able to use Fred's prey behavior tendencies to train him to be a more enjoyable family member.
So, if you are training your dog or just trying to figure out why it acts the way it does, remember the Canine Drive Theory. Watch your dog's behavior and see how it reacts in new situations or around other animals. These behaviors will tell you what you need to know about your dog's personality and help you to find the best training style to use with your dog.
Eamon P. Riley is a certified master trainer and canine behavior consultant, and is also an AKC certified canine good citizen evaluator. For questions or comments please call 689-9427 or 636-5777.