| Training Classes
I mentioned previously that I am taking my son's Goldendoodle, Cooper to training classes. My 16 year old granddaughter also comes along. These are positive training classes, which I have never taken before - using no corrections (which is what I am used to) and positive rewards. They also did a personality profile after my son answered a questionnaiire. I don't have the profile here, but basically Cooper scored 70 on prey drive, and they like that to be under 50. He also scored low on pack drive, which they like to be high! He scored reasonably low on the "fight" and "flight" categories, which she said was good.
As soon as I read about the prey drive, I realized that this is why if you use your hands, i.e. hand signal for sit and down -- Cooper tries to bite them. He is just playing but I assume that having a very high prey drive, anything that moves attracts him! It also explains why he bullies my Shih-tzus and leaps on them all the time! When we get to the training classes around other dogs, its all we can do to hold onto Cooper when he is leaping at the other dogs!
As to the pack drive, they suggest enforcing NILIF, which we have all been doing since day 1 on a very consistent basis. Cooper is now almost six months old and he has always had to sit for food, sit to go in his crate, sit to come out, sit to go out the door, never allowed to race out of the door ahead of you etc. etc.
I guess we have to build up his pack drive. Perhaps its just that he is a very hyper dog and he is still basically a puppy.
This is a basic manners class and most of the dogs are young. At the end of the class we let the dogs play on leash. There is a six month old Dobe puppy -- really nice. The owner had told me that this was the most hyper Dobe she has ever had. The owner has had seven Dobes in her life so she knows about Dobes. They leaped about and barked at one another and had great fun, but in the end Cooper had the Dobe backed against the wall. Even the owner said "Boy, he seems to be getting the better of you!"
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how we can work on increasing Cooper's pack drive and decreasing his prey drive?
Don't forget that I don't have him all the time - just when my son is working, and also that while he is here part of the time for two days, he is also here two nights when he mostly spends the time sleeping in his crate.
Thanks for your advice - its always useful! | 
