Spinners: any opinions - Page 3

GSDFan, does she actually spin, or does she just do the quick
jump turns to knock you off your center of balance? The wife's male
will pop forward, then a quick left turn and speed up as he comes out
of the turn, yanks her off her feet every time. The dog has it down
to a fine art. Now, when backtied he won't do this 

Bubba, you're female's behavior is of interest to me.  I have a Dasty son who does not spin, but for example on his way from the crate to the door, will make a tight circle a few times if I don't sit him. Very high drive, extremely powerful dog, no spinning issues/avoidance by any means when working.  Same with his daughter.  They can be calm in the house, but outside always on the go to the extreme.  Every thing they do, even simply walking, exudes power.  To me it's like the idle is set just a little high, they go from zero to a hundred in an instant, but don't show any nerve issues.  So it would be interesting to know how many others coming down from Dasty show this behavior and these traits.  I'd own another in a heartbeat.

I think I figured it out.  I think what you WL folk call "leaking drive", a SL or pet owner would call, OCD! It is something that really becomes obvious when you have a dog that does not have any of those behaviors.

And this is the thing. If you think it is all about "exuding power" and "the idle is set on a little too high", and that is desirable over a dog that doesn't expend his energy in a way that never truly releases and depletes that energy, then I am glad when you say to yourself, it is genetic and can found in certain lines! I was told the Arminius lines are responsible for the "pacing" OCD I see in my SL dog?  Now, maybe he's just leaking his drive when a boat load of teenagers show up suddenly, and set him in motion? 

At the same time, we'll see my mutt, calm, unperturbed at all the commotion, and then someone will say, "That other dog is mental!" and he paces round, and round and round. You could say he is frustrated, bored, not exercised enough? And I would just shake my head and say, no he just can't help himself sometimes. 

I can let him continue with this flipped switch in his head, knowing full well he'd be skin and bones working off all that "power" until the last kid goes home, if I let him. It requires a mental change to snap him out of it. I have a few tricks about that, that work for me. LOL

 

I considered a similar post, BeeTree. I think you are right, it's all about semantics and how we refer to a dog that exhibits the behavior in question.  Generally speaking WL people want it;  GSL people want it to a lesser degree , and ASL people don't want it at all .

I have to agree with Slam and Gustav. I guess I worked for too long in basically a social services capacity....user services in a public library (where do you think the mentally ill homeless people go during the day?? Also, we were right next door to a substance abuse rehab center), so I may have a higher tolerance for what I consider "OCD". To me, a child jumping up and down with excitement every time they get taken out for ice cream is not OCD. If that same child HAS to jump up and down, in ways that interfere with his or her life, and can’t interrupt the behavior to do something else, then that child may have OCD. I see it the same way in dogs. Some dogs get really excited, they have a lot of energy, and since they are confined by leash, kennel, crate, they simply CANNOT release that energy without spinning in a circle or jumping up and down.  Some dogs though, will do it compulsively. My collie has several compulsive behaviors, and she cannot stop herself from engaging in them even when she wants to stop. When you see it enough, you know the difference.

I do mind if my dog WL has no control over it's nervous system. A dog can have plenty of drive and very serious fighting desire matched with the nerves to go with those drives. I personally, because my dog is my constant 24/7 companion as well as a sports dog, prefer a dog that does not leak, is socialable and discerning.  If one is taking his dog out of the kennel just for training and trialing then maybe it's easier for them to put up with the leaking. I just hope that breeders take a close look at this as down the road we may end up with a breed of fruit cakes.
JMHO

http://www.dogchannel.com/dog-magazines/dogfancy/dog-channel-exclusive/dog-fancy-exclusive-0712/rate-your-dogs-ocd.aspx

Justde .. I suggest a new thread on Dasty v.d. Berger Hochburg if you want to discuss .. I am a Czech centric breeder and owner but I need to add a little "other" to my GSD recipes from time to time.  Hessel had some Czech blood too.  As far as spinning goes it is no different than hopping up and down, running the fence, or barking excessively.  Trying to explain every dog with some simplistic rationale for why they do what they do is simply trying to pound square pegs in round holes.  All different size square pegs and all different size round holes .. it means nothing.  Seeing each dog as an individual is much more important than any explanation or theory.

@MollyandJack.....

Blitzen wrote:

Generally speaking WL people want it;  GSL people want it to a lesser degree , and ASL people don't want it at all .

I hope you are kidding Ms Blitz? I cannot think of a single dog trainer I know that
would want a dog that cannot control it's own body & mind, especially when stimulated
into drive