Capping Drive - Page 1

I was wondering about capping drive.  I wonder that there must be many ways to do this, even with the different drives? Also, I figure there must be more than a few reasons why one would want to cap drive? It might be interesting to hear some thoughts on the subject from our various members. Maybe someone will offer a great definition, too, that even a novice might then make a connection, if they are seeing behaviors related to what I am now appreciating as, leakage of drive? 

Okay - I´m an outlander - what´s the meaning of "capping" ? Google translator didn´t help...

Susie, to put " a cap" on something would be to conclude something, limit or restrict it, but not get rid of it.

Some times I feel stupid...

I´d put a cap on a very strong drive to make this drive manageable for training.and to get the results I want.
Too much drive = no more attention to me and my goals of training...
although I think too much is better than too less - it´s easier to "cap" than to advance.

My take on this is the dog has to learn to cope with frustration of not being able to obtain its goal. This improves with maturity. We all know kids will burst into tears if you prevent them from having what they want, but as they get older they learn to cope. Of course, training helps, too, for both the kid and the dog.

Being able to burn off energy helps, as does being given a task. My female goes a little nuts when she realizes she is going out with me (sees me pick up my keys, her leash or her service dog vest.) She also cries and whines in anticipation when we reach our destination. If she is going to the store with me, she settles by the time we are halfway to the door, and is fully into 'work' mode by the time we're inside.
 

Capping explanation from Schutzhund Village:
Capping

The last point I want to discuss is capping. Unfortunately, this word is thrown around way too much in the world of Schutzhund. Capping is a good concept, but it is much easier said than done. I watched a seminar in which the instructor told the handler "OK, cap him now!" The handler yelled some command and hammered on his dog. The instructor said, "Good." Was this capping? Maybe, but then again, maybe not.

What is capping? Capping refers to capping drive. Like putting a cap on a bottle. If you want to visualize, put the cap on a bottle of Coke and shake it. Open it and the Coke will come shooting out of the bottle because of the built up pressure. So the concept is that the drive is bottled up and it will come out more forcefully when released once again. Obedience during protection has long been used as a form of capping. The problem is once again that the dog is not considered enough. One dog's capping may be another dog's shut down. Capping takes place in the dog if the dog stays in the drives he was in when the obedience command was given. Because the obedience does not really allow the dog active expression of any drives, but the stimulus for all the drives (namely the helper) is still there, the drives naturally build up. This should take place if the dog clearly understands the concept of obedience during protection. Unfortunately, a bit of a misconception has developed that capping has to do with harsh obedience. Like slamming a lid on something that is bubbling over. But the harshness that has become commonplace has the least to do with capping. The dog has to learn that he has to contain himself, bottle himself up if you want to look at it like that. This article has dealt with a correct way of teaching that to a dog. Telling the dog, "Listen to your handler, and if you have to hold still, then keep all that drive inside and let it out when the time comes." That is capping. Kicking the dog into the down position does not cap a dog (of course, there are exceptions to every rule), in most cases that will actually reduce drive.

A lot of conflict is created in the name of capping. And all that really happens is that the dog is not comfortable with the handler. Some dogs may need some compulsion to learn to contain themselves, others may only need a quiet voice, "Easy Buddy, wait for the right moment." Corrections and punitive influence are usually not the way.

I´d put a cap on a very strong drive to make this drive manageable for training.and to get the results I want.

Too much drive = no more attention to me and my goals of training...

I just hope with a little age my dog will calm down and pay more attention to me. 

ChrIs Wild of Wildhaus kennel also posted a similar explanation, but a little easier to understand for novices, and a couple more examples-
http://www.germanshepherds.com/forum/schutzhund-ipo-training/156976-capping-drive.html
I didn't know if it was ok to copy paste so there is the address to the forum. It is public. A good read.

18:47   
I´d put a cap on a very strong drive to make this drive manageable for training.and to get the results I want.
Too much drive = no more attention to me and my goals of training...

I just hope with a little age my dog will calm down and pay more attention to me. 

This is not what capping drive refers to

Sheesh has a very good description.  Armin does a very good job of describing "capping."  It is basically making the dog contain itself during a heightened state of drive.  It absolutely has important applications for Police K-9's when working.  If I am about to do a building search at 3 AM for a commercial burglary before I enter the building I must give a series of "K-9 warnings" to notify anyone inside that the dog is about to be deployed.  This gives the suspect a chance to comply and an innocent person on scene, ie business owner or janitor a chance to exit safely.  The dog absolutely knows that he is about to embark on a "find and bite" mission and gets very wound and excited with the anticipation.  Now, my dog needs to be "capped"  he needs to be in a heightened state of alert, ready to engage a suspect, but must lie quietly at the door until I finish my warnings.  The dog is not allowed to bark or whine, barking or whining would be the "leaking" of that heightened drive.  If the dog barks during the warnings a person may not hear my announcement and thus not be afforded the chance to give up or exit safely.  Dogs that can not contain themselves or be "capped" will bark, whine, fidget, spin, or become frustrated and possible bite another team member or officer.  These are all problems.  Boomer will lay quietly just inside the door way and there may be some trembling of his shoulder muscles, but he is completely silent and completely focused.  He will not break until he is given his search command, he stays focused straight ahead and on task, this would be him being capped.  If I want him to bark and announce his presence I can command him to bark and then to turn off and be quiet.  

For me the "barking, whining or frustration" or "leaking drive" being expressed before a building entry is completely unacceptable.  The dog needs to learn to contain himself and manage that energy and drive.  I have one new handler in our unit and I observed his dog barking so loudly during his warnings last Tuesday that no one could hear the K-9 warning.  This was addressed and will not be allowed to continue.  

It is hard to imagine examples for a pet where it may need to contain itself in a heightened state of drive.  I suppose the best example I can come up with is a high prey dog that wants to chase a cat and the dog is told "No, leave it!  Sit!"  The dog sits and trembles with excitement wanting to chase the cat but does not because of it's obedience overriding the drive or natural desire to chase.  That dog would be capped.  The dog that gets so frantic at the sight of the cat and can not control itself, can not hear your commands and still goes spastic after the owner yelled "fluffy, no leave that cat alone, bad boyyyyy, phooey, sit, no, sit, sit sit sit LEAVE IT."  "Ohh crap I give I up."  Inevitably, some people will think "heh, that's my dog!"  "That explains his behavior, HE CAN'T CAP!"  No, capping is not the problem the dog's obedience is shit....said in my best German accent