01/29/2025
HIGH ENERGY VS HIGH DRIVE IN DOGS...
When working with dogs, understanding whether a dog is high-energy, high-drive, or both helps you tailor their training, exercise, and enrichment needs.
~~ High Energy~~
A high-energy dog has a lot of stamina and physical activity needs. These dogs require frequent exercise and can struggle to settle if they don't get enough physical and mental stimulation. A dog can have high energy but lack motivation for specific tasks, meaning they enjoy movement but don’t necessarily have an intense focus on a job. High-energy dogs might engage in behaviors like...
•Constantly wanting to run or play
•Having trouble relaxing even after exercise
•Being hyperactive indoors
~~ High-Drive ~~
A high-drive dog has an intense motivation or instinct toward a specific goal or behavior. A high-drive dog will push through fatigue, distractions, and discomfort to complete a task. Drives are often categorized into different types such as...
•Prey drive like chasing, stalking, and catching moving objects
•Food drive
•Toy drive
•Herding drive
•Hunt drive
A dog can have high-drive but moderate or low energy. They may not need excessive physical exercise but will be relentless in their motivation for a particular activity, such as a dog may be fixated on chasing but not hyperactive when nothing is moving
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A High Energy Dog With Low Drive Looks Like...
•Constantly on the move but without a strong focus on any particular task
•Loves to run, jump, and play but lack persistence in structured training or work
•Easily get distracted and struggle with sustained focus on rewards like food or toys
•Needs a lot of physical exercise to avoid restlessness
•Loses interest quickly in repetitive activities, like fetch or tug, rather than becoming obsessed
•Enjoys social play and general movement more than working toward a goal
These dogs thrive in active homes where they can burn off energy through play, hiking, or running but may struggle in jobs that require intense focus and persistence. They can be great companions for active individuals but might not excel in high-level working or sport environments
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A High Energy Dog With Moderate Drive Looks Like...
•Constantly moving but lack intense focus on any one task
•Enjoys playing fetch or tug but lose interest after a while, rather than obsessing over it
•Loves to run and play but not have a strong work ethic or persistence in training
•Easily distracted by their surroundings rather than staying locked onto a goal
•Needs a lot of exercise to stay balanced but doesn't necessarily need structured jobs like herding or protection work
•Has an off-switch and settle down more easily once their energy is burned off, unlike a high-drive dog that still wants to work
These dogs thrive in active homes and enjoy outdoor adventures but may not have the relentless intensity needed for working roles. They do well in casual dog sports, hiking, and as energetic companions rather than in high-pressure jobs
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A High Energy Dog With High Drive Looks Like...
•Obsessing over a task, such as chasing a ball, tugging, or searching for an object, and keep going even when tired
•Push through distractions in training, staying laser-focused on their goal (e.g., a Malinois ignoring everything except their handler's commands).
•Demand constant engagement
•Keep working despite exhaustion
•Have an off-switch only when fulfilled
Without proper outlets, these dogs may develop neurotic behaviors like spinning, excessive barking, or destructive chewing. But in the right environment, they excel in demanding jobs like police work, search and rescue, or high-level dog sports
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A High Drive Dog With Moderate Energy Looks Like...
•Stays intensely focused on a task but not need to be constantly moving
•Has strong work ethic but work best in structured sessions rather than endless activity
•Persistent in training or problem-solving but not requiring hours of physical exercise to stay satisfied
•Has a strong desire to engage in activities like scent work, obedience, or protection but be able to settle when not working
•Enjoys rewards intensely but not exhibit excessive hyperactivity
•Thrives in mentally engaging jobs like search and rescue, detection work, or obedience without needing extreme physical output
These dogs excel in roles that require focus and determination without overwhelming physical exertion, making them great working and competition dogs with balanced needs
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A High Drive Dog With Low Energy Looks Like....
•Being highly motivated to complete a task but not need excessive physical exercise
•Stays intensely focused on food, toys, or training, even in short bursts of activity
•Being persistent in problem-solving, such as a scent detection dog methodically searching without needing to run around constantly
•Works in short, powerful sessions rather than sustaining high activity all day
•Has strong instincts, such as prey drive or food drive, but express them in a controlled manner rather than hyperactivity
•Engages deeply in training without needing hours of physical exercise to be mentally satisfied
These dogs thrive in structured training environments where their drive is used efficiently without excessive physical demands
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Please make sure you have your dogs drive and energy level labeled correctly so you can offer the proper training, exercise, and enrichment needs!
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