Survival Drive is a behavior seen in all dogs, all animals for that matter. It is the behavior a dog will use to escape from, or protect itself from, a threat. The inherent drive to survive. Dogs will show Survival Drive in one of two ways: flight or fight (bite). Flight Drive is seen when a dog runs as fast as possible to escape from a perceived threat. Almost all dogs will display this behavior unless they are forced to defend themselves. If the dog is backed into a corner where there is no way of escape, they will fight. Fight will be in the form of biting. We talked in the last post about Fight Drive NOT being a vicious behavior. The same holds true in this instance. The Fight Drive displayed in the form of biting is defensive not aggressive. The dog perceived no way out other than to bite.
It is important to fully understand the importance of Survival Drive in dogs from a training stand point. While the flight or fight (bite) behaviors are not acceptable, at least in gun dog training, it's very important to make sure, as trainers, we do not force a dog into a situation where their perception of the situation, initiates Survival Drive. Once Survival Drive is initiated, flight comes first, and then fight (bite). When training, we need to avoid this situation, if at all possible. Most of the time it is. When we see the onset of Survival Drive, we must get out of the training session, effectively. Effectively meaning we don't lose what we have gained up to this point in the training session. We can’t allow the dog to run away or bite, but by the same token, we can’t allow the dog to end the training session by displaying one or both of these behaviors. If this happens once, the next time it will be even worse, and so forth. The flight and fight (bite) behaviors must be corrected, ending the training session on a positive, productive note.
There are dogs who will display one or both of these behaviors due to a poor training attitude, which is different than, and has nothing to do with Survival Drive. These dogs have learned they can get out of a situation by either trying to run away or by trying to bite. Many times this can be traced back to a prior incident when a dog tried to escape or bite its way out of doing something the dog just didn’t want to do. The owner / trainer conceded, and the problem got worse. And it will get worse, not better. It won’t go away by itself. This behavior can escalate in some dogs to the point where it can never be cured, only managed. And only managed by certain people / trainers.
As a trainer you are now presented with the proverbial gray area in dog training. Is Survival Drive being initiated because we backed the dog into a corner where he perceived no other way out, or does the dog just have a poor training attitude? This is a judgment call, and you had better get it right.
Tomorrow: Subordinate Drive