When you choose a particular breed of dog for yourself, you should investigate the background and purpose
the breed was developed. Make sure you understand and accept your choice as he is and that the breed is suitable for your lifestyle. For example, do not select a Great Dane if you live in an apartment, nor would a Border Collie be a great choice if your time is scarce and exercise time is limited. There are 4 basic behavior drives that all dogs are born with instinctively. That is, their instincts resort back to the wild dogs or wolves running in a pack. In every litter of puppies there is an alpha (dominent) male and an alpha(dominent) female. All other puppies must submit to their leadership or challenge them for the top position. Therefore your dog is either a leader or a submitter. The personality test will help you determine which one your dog is. If you do not challenge and dominate the leader type when he is placed in his new pack (your home) he will indeed take the initiative to run the household, thus making you the servant and him the master.Teaching him to submit to you through mutual respect, love and basic obedience exercises will insure a happy co-existance and reliable companionship for all.
This indicates the dogs hunting instincts or his willingness to search for food. This dog is excited by everything that moves, smells good, or sounds interesting, therefore, a handler of this type of personality must truly have the dogs respect and admiration especially in a distraction situation. This type sometimes seems harder to train but a strong will and lots of patience will help you reach your training goals. These dogs are not at all stupid although usually highly energized. This indicates the dogs strong willingness to be part of the family unit (or his pack). He is usually liad back and calm, making a lot of eye contact with you. This dog really, really wants to please you and follows you everywhere. Simply show this dog exactly what you want, in a nice way and you will get the results you want. Verbal praise is imparitive for this type of dog as this communicates your approval. This dog thinks about self preservation and the protectiion of his surroundings is very important to him. This strong dominent dog is the more likely to challenge you for pack leadership than any other personality. He may act tough or even aggressive with you but you must win the challenge. Timing the necessary corrections and reading the dogs body language correctly will insure a quick resolve to the dominent notions your dog may have. Once your dog has a clear understanding of who is running the pack, he may never challenge you again. This is a dog that is very shy or fearful in a new situation or environment. This is easily overcome by providing the dog with the proper type of reassurance. The most common error the master makes is to stroke the dog on the head or neck and verbally tell the dog (in a sympathetic voice) that everything is OK. This method only makes a dog more insecure and worried about his masters sad and fearful voice. Instead, make the dog face his fear. Bring him close to it, allowing him to sniff it if it hapens to be an object or person. Verbally praise the dog with avery confident voice, (Good Dog), when he is being brave enough to look at the fear or even acknowledge it. Firm shoulder petting or thumping will build the dogs confidence even further. When the dog starts to relax (tail wags or his eyes soften) move him away from the situaton and continue to praise in a confident voice. A few positive sessions of building your dogs confidence will soon change his confidence in himself and in you. The dog's trust in you will strengthen and intensify as his fears subside.
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Canine Personality Profile Test
Prey Drive
Does Your Dog:
1. 2. 3. 4.
Pack Drive
Yes No Does Your Dog: Yes No
1. Get along with other dogs? ____ ____ 2. Get along with people? ____ ____ 3. Bark when left alone? ____ ____ 4. Solicit petting or like to snuggle?____ ____ 5. Respond to verbal praise? ____ ____ 6. Like to be groomed? ____ ____ 7. Make eye contact with you? ____ ____ 8. Tremble or whine on stays? ____ ____ 9. Follow you like a shadow? ____ ____ 10. Play with you or other dogs? ____ ____ 11. Jump up to greet people? ____ ____ 12. Show a lot of reproductive behaviors, ie., courting or mouunting another dog ____ ____
Sniff the ground or air alot? ____ ____ Get excited by moving objects? ____ ____ Stalk cats, dogs or other objects? ____ ____ Bark in a high pitched voice when excited? ____ ____ 5. Pounce on his toys? ____ ____ 6. Steal food from the counter? ____ ____ 7. Shake and KILL his toys ____ ____ 8. Rip soft objects apart? ____ ____ 9. Wolf down his food? ____ ____ 10. Like to carry things? ____ ____ 11. Like to dig? ____ ____ 12. Bury things?
Defence Drive (Fight)
Does Your Dog: Yes No
____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ ____ 1. Investigate strange sounds or objects? ____ 2. Play tug of war games to win? ____ 3. Bark or growl in a deep tone? ____ 4. Guard his territory? ____ 5. Guard his owner? ____ 6. Guard his food or toys? ____ 7. Dislike being petted? ____ 8. Dislike being groomed? ____ 9. Bite leash when corrected? ____ 10. Dominate other dogs? ____ 11. Like to fight or challenge? ____ 12. Get picked on by mature dogs? ____ 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6.
Defence Drive (Flight)
Does Your Dog: Yes No
Run from new situations? __ __ Hide behide you when insecure? __ __ Avoids direct distractions? __ __ Run away when told to Stay? __ __ Crowd you when Heeling? __ __ Raise his hackles when meeting someone new? __ __ 7. Avoids you when youve called him to you?` __ __ 8. Crawl on belly or turn upside down when repremanded? __ __ 9. Tries to escape if being examined?__ __ 10. Urinates when he thinks hes made a mistake? __ __ 11. Urinates during a greeting? __ __ 12. Bite or nip when cornered? __ __
SUMMARY
Prey Drive Pack Drive Defence (Fight) Defence (Flight) Yes______No______ Yes______No______ Yes______No______ Yes______No______
