First off living with the high drive dog can be very rewarding. But it does not come without work. We don’t advocate living with a high drive dog unless you are a family or person who plans on devoting a fair amount of time to the dog. This includes dog training and socializing outside the backyard. Often people that do not have experience with high drive dogs have very good intentions when bringing one into their lives. However, very often they don’t have a realistic idea of what it takes to live with one. Raising the high drive working dog is a lot like having a child. They require a huge amount of undivided attention in the early part of their lives. They are not just satisfied with our human existence. They love playing with their humans and enjoy being taken places just like anybody else.

 

High drive dogs need to be challenged mentally and not just run to the ground to burn off energy. Many of them are very intelligent and to this day, even under domestication they are working with their very intuitive, natural instincts. Because they are task and survival oriented they usually enjoy learning through reward based training. By keeping this in mind, we can find creative ways to deflect much of that mischievous behavior while at the same time teaching the dog something useful.

High drive dogs must be provided with an outlet for their energy in addition adequate mental stimulation. Walks are a great form of exercise, but even better is to set up a situation where the dog can run. Once the dog has a reliable retrieve a good old game of fetch in the park is fun for both human and dog. Off leash hiking and swimming is excellent exercise as well. High drive dogs thrive on dog sports especially. Most dog sports involve one on one human interaction, so you will quickly build a strong bond with your dog. There are endless opportunities for fun with the high drive dog.

 

We enjoy having our high drive dogs in the house. After all they are pack animals and love being with their family. While they are in the house we are vigilant about directing their energy. We work on Obedience for food. We teach tasks in the house; such as picking up objects off the floor or searching for hidden objects. We even teach our dogs to take the laundry from the washer to the dryer. A hallway in the home or A galley type kitchen is a great place to start the very beginning retrieve work with a young puppy. Start this work by sitting on the floor and rolling a ball 10' to 20' away from you. When the puppy comes back exchange the ball for food. A toy for toy exchange is less preferable since it is more difficult to phase out. Once again, high energy working dogs can be very smart. They enjoy learning and having their energy directed. Through direction we teach the dog boundaries. It’s a benefit all around.

Some high drive dogs settle down very nicely in the house and some do not. For the ones who do not they can be taught a “go to place”. A solid down stay is good for all dogs. They need it for everyday life. The down stay can be taught while doing any task where you can devote a little attention to the dog.  A great situation for teaching the “down” is in the kitchen while cooking. The dog can easily be rewarded for lying down in a specific location or on a mat. This teaches the dog to be occupied while staying still and at the same time if taught using positive reinforcement the dog is actually working for something.

 

Teaching the dog manners in the house will also be a benefit for you and the dog when dealing with the outside world. For example down stays are very useful on walks. When stopping and talking with people simply put the dog on a "down". It will keep him from pulling and tugging on you. Also he won’t pester the person you are talking with. Teaching the dog manners ultimately means a more enjoyable relationship and also means the dog is less likely to end up in an animal shelter.

 

High drive dogs bring lots of joy to our lives. Yet, at the same time we are constantly working to maintain boundaries with the dog. Nothing worth anything is ever easy and it certainly is no different with dogs. It is your responsibility to make sure you are ready for a high drive dog. Do your research before you purchase or rescue one. The dog you bring into your home should be genetically solid in temperament and health. After that your job will be to socialize, train, be fair to the dog and give him or her a loving home with plenty of attention.