On/Off Switch. All genetic or not? - Page 2

Definitely training;  the hyperness is genetic.  Nan  Or I should say, can be genetic but teaching the on/off is important, yep early on.  N

Refocus the energy; change the pattern, very important not only physically but mentally.  Nan

"Well, I'd think just the oppostite, because a pet is more likely to be a free ranger and thinker, since the containment level, and therefore restriction isn't there. My pet any way. lol"

I think we might be thinking of different types of pets.  I'm thinking of folks who buy a WL GSD and then leave it in the house or in a crate 8-10 hours a day while they're at work, take it for a 30 minute walk, and then wonder why their dog doesn't have an "off" switch.  

For me, thie difference is first to NOT equate the OCD type restless behavior as having anything to do with drive.  Drive is what motivates the dog, the desire to get what it wants.  So then, the on/off switch (for me) really applies only in terms of DRIVE, and not hyperactivity levels.  For the dog to switch "off" it's protection drive, for example, he simply ceases to be motivated to fight the bad guy, in compliance with his handler's instruction.  The ability to switch drives, and NOT anything to do with restlessness.

Okay darylehret, I am pretty sure I get which drives you want to talk about, but what would you say if I said I think the OCD hyperactivity is a drive... the herding drive gone overboard? Not just ... "restlessness"? There is a german word for it and it is buried in one of the SC threads. Maybe someone else will know what I am trying to talk about.

I think the OCD behavior might be the way a particular dog might manifest expression "of" it's drive, but it is not "the" drive itself. A drive is a motivating force that perpetuates a dog toward it's goal. Hyper, restless or frantic behavior is not a drive.

Hmmmm, well, I think there is a goal, but nevermind. This is not frantic, it is deliberate, just sayin'. The compulsion is innate and comes from somewhere...and if you are a dog, ... what else do you have except drives and instinct?  There are triggers a person can learn to perceive in a dog, if you've actually delt with a dog who does this behavior.

When I shared my story about my OCD GSD, I should have stated that the first puppy that I selected from this litter turned out to be a fear biter.  I had the puppy evaluated by a famous Schutzhund exhibitor who has represented the US on more than one occassion.  He confirmed this and advised to return her.  I then returned that pup and was given her sister as a replacement.  This 2nd puppy is the one who grew up to have her behavior manifest itself as OCD.  This puppy was intro to puppy obed class at above mentioned exhibitor's highly respected training school.  At 6 mons of age, said puppy began SAR training.  She also was my jogging buddy. As time passed her "on" button became stuck  As she reached adulthood this single faceted focus, i.e. pattern running,, precluded any training, interaction with the family, eating or drinking water etc.  Any type of confinement to help her collect herself, resulted in a psychological panic.  I had her eval'd by a breeder who has produced numerous LE K9s and also the above mentioned Schutzhunder.  Their advice was the same as my decision when the breeder recommended Prozac - no can do.  In hindsight, a red flag for this type of behavior was when our dog was an infant.  She only focused on biting our hands non-stop, despite introducing distractions such as a tug toy, a ball, a bone or even a harsh "no".

Since that experience I have been blessed with  dogs who not only have an on/off switch at work and home but also produces it in their progeny who also serve in the work force.  IMO having on/off switch is genetic and is needed for any animal in any species to survive.  Observing any animal in the wild there is on/off switch and if an individual lacks one or the other, they are eliminated from the gene pool by nature. 

Cassandra, I don't think biting your hands non-stop as a puppy is a good indicator of a future OCD with pattern running. Matter of fact, I have exact opposite experience. Your other dog sounds more likely to have suffered from many issues besides this particular aspect relating to the thread.

And really, I think this thread wanted to talk about a dog who is easy to settle down, or not. I think the real answer is, some dogs might need some help by being taught or conditioned. Others, are naturals. 

I don't think all dogs who can't settle develop OCD problems. Nor do I think that OCD indicates or is related to drive level. But some OCD problems do manifest when dogs are not given appropriate outlets for their drive and energy. Some OCD problems will manifest no matter what. And some dogs will never develop OCD problems no matter what.

In addition, I don't think that energy and activity and drive are all perfectly correlated.