The Different Drives in Working German shepherd Dogs

Working German shepherds are dogs selectively bred from proven working lines and therefore are equipped with good temperament, courage, and a strong commitment and drive to perform arduous work under pressure. Police forces, search and rescue teams, and security services often use German shepherds as do some guide dog groups. In order to carry on with these tasks, these dogs are equipped with different drives.

  1. Prey Drive

    • All dogs have prey drive to some extent. This is an instinctual drive to chase anything that moves. It derives from a dog's ancestral need to hunt and eat in order to survive. In the working German shepherd dog, prey drive is high because they were originally bred as herding dogs. The prey drive of a dog therefore can be successfully channeled to a dog owner's advantage. When working German shepherds are trained to perform in Shutzhund, a sport developed in Germany to test whether dogs exhibit the traits necessary for police work, the sacks, tubes and sleeves are used to stimulate prey drive.

    Defense Drive

    • Defense drive takes place when a dog is faced with a real or perceived threat. For a good working German shepherd to be involved in personal protection work, police work, or Schutzhund work, it must have a solid defense drive, according to professional dog trainer and German shepherd breeder Ed Frawley. A German shepherd with a good defense drive will react with aggression rather than avoidance. Defense drive typically develops fully by the time the dog is 18 to 24 months old up to 3 years old.

    Fight Drive

    • As the working German shepherd progresses being trained in defense, its confidence levels will increase. In protection work, fight drive starts to build when the German shepherd perceives the helper wearing the sleeve as someone to be suspicious of, and ultimately, a fighting partner. Not all German shepherds have what it takes to develop good fight drive.

    Considerations

    • German shepherds of strong working lines used in protection, are not vicious dogs. They are trained to have a high level of control and must learn to use prey and defensive drive in a positive way. Not all dogs are equipped with solid drives and good nerves and the capability of applying them properly on request. Well bred German shepherds are very social dogs from good working lines that make excellent versatile dogs used in a variety of specialties.