Drive training
So out of interest, I looked up drives to see what my books say are inherent/instinctual. As far as I can tell the only drives that are instinctual are things like primary reinforcers. That of course implies that anything else is a secondary reinforcer and therefore is learned.
That begs the question: are "prey drive" and "pack drive" just other flashy phrases people like to throw around? I often feel like for every time someone says, my dog is like THIS because he's a CERTAIN BREED it makes me eyes twitch (same for the excuses as for what a dog can't do). Isn't it enough to just say my dog can or cant do (X behavior).
The thing is, as far as I'm concerned evidence of this doesn't exist unless the genetics for "drives" are mapped ( and yes, things like aggression, bonding ability, and OCD have been mapped if I remember correctly, so I think it CAN be done). Let's consider all the other things that can affect developmental behavior:
1. Rearing bitches and their training, nutrition, rearing ability, mother skills
2. Owners and their level of knowledge of handling, unintentionally reinforced behaviors by owners ("oh look, fluffy s already stalking at 5 weeks old! AW!"),
3. Nutrition, training, developmental rate, healthy usage and pruning of nuerons
4. Anything environmental, socialization, exposure, and even climate
5. IMPRINTING! Also the reason why dos are "known" to recognize their own, prefer familiar breed oriented play, and gravitate towards others that share similar features and relative eye level.
Um, work beckons now. More thinkingthonking later.
That begs the question: are "prey drive" and "pack drive" just other flashy phrases people like to throw around? I often feel like for every time someone says, my dog is like THIS because he's a CERTAIN BREED it makes me eyes twitch (same for the excuses as for what a dog can't do). Isn't it enough to just say my dog can or cant do (X behavior).
The thing is, as far as I'm concerned evidence of this doesn't exist unless the genetics for "drives" are mapped ( and yes, things like aggression, bonding ability, and OCD have been mapped if I remember correctly, so I think it CAN be done). Let's consider all the other things that can affect developmental behavior:
1. Rearing bitches and their training, nutrition, rearing ability, mother skills
2. Owners and their level of knowledge of handling, unintentionally reinforced behaviors by owners ("oh look, fluffy s already stalking at 5 weeks old! AW!"),
3. Nutrition, training, developmental rate, healthy usage and pruning of nuerons
4. Anything environmental, socialization, exposure, and even climate
5. IMPRINTING! Also the reason why dos are "known" to recognize their own, prefer familiar breed oriented play, and gravitate towards others that share similar features and relative eye level.
Um, work beckons now. More thinkingthonking later.