In a domestic setting, your dog's prey drive might make him more playful and active, and also might make him helpful in keeping down the unwanted rodent and pest population, depending on how his prey drive manifests. Generally speaking, dogs bred to either hunt or to herd have the strongest prey drives. These include dog breeds in the herding group, such as Australian shepherds and border collies; terriers such as the Airedale and the bull terrier; hounds such as beagles and greyhounds; and sporting group breeds that include retrievers, spaniels and pointers.
Some working group breeds, such as Siberian huskies or boxers, although not specifically bred for hunting or herding, nevertheless possess a strong prey drive and may require close supervision around smaller pets. While certain aspects of prey drive in dogs range from somewhat annoying to borderline out of control, most of the time a strong prey drive is relatively harmless. In these cases, to curb the annoying behaviors, engaging your dog in play that involves chasing, catching and retrieving, like playing fetch with his favorite tennis ball, can provide a healthy outlet for his instincts.
Involving your pooch in agility sports is another positive and fun outlet for your pup's prey drive. However, if your dog's prey drive leads him to engage in behaviors that compromise either his own safety or that of other animals, you may need to take additional steps to protect your dog and your neighborhood from his prey instincts. In addition to engaging your dog in sports and play, the dog training site Positively recommends the following:.
While we often like to think of our dogs as children on four legs, the fact remains that they possess animal instincts that can make them unpredictable. While your dog's prey drive has a lot of positive aspects, you should learn how to manage it as early as possible for his happiness and safety. Select Your Region. Facebook Twitter Pinterest Instagram Youtube. As used herein, denotes registered trademark status in the U. Your use of this site is subject to the terms of our Legal Statement.
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Underline links. Images Greyscale. Invert Colors. Remove Animations. Remove styles. Reset Settings. Accessibility by WAH. Sticking to the same routine every time will get boring. Your furry friend will know what to expect and what to do. As a result, they may start to look for potential prey. Even if you have to walk on the same path each time, there are things you can do to keep your dog on their toes.
Simple acts like walking around obstacles, taking sharp turns, or changing speeds every few minutes are enough. Your dog will have no choice but to focus on what you're doing, leaving no time to look for prey. While your dog may not mean any harm by their chasing, not everyone knows that. Dogs with high prey drive are the first to be labeled as aggressive. You need to make sure that you and anyone that may come across your dog remains safe.
Your dog should be kept on a leash at all times when they're not in the confines of your home or yard. Even if your dog is great at responding to commands, there's always a chance that their urge to hunt will be stronger. You should avoid no-leash places like the dog park as much as possible. These locations have a lot of distractions that could trigger your pooch. A high-quality fence is a great way to give your dog some freedom while still keeping them contained.
You should also install a lock that prevents people from accidentally letting your dog out. Early mornings and late evening are prime walking times.
It's when sidewalks and streets are the busiest. You can avoid a lot of issues by simply taking your dog for a walk at different times. Hold off for another hour in the morning and leave a bit earlier in the evening so that there are fewer distractions on your walk. If your dog is still having trouble holding back even after all of your training, you can invest in tools that are designed to grab your dog's attention in the event of an emergency.
One such tool is a training collar. They wrap around your dog's neck like a normal collar but have features that can command attention. Some products utilize a small spray bottle located beneath their chin while others produce a high-pitched tone.
With a simple press of a remote control button, your dog will stop their behavior and focus all their attention on you. With a bit of extra training, you can manage your dog's prey drive. You'll be able to put a stop to potentially dangerous chases before they begin and take your dog out for walks without any issues.
Last Updated: June 8, Why Do Dogs Chase? How to Train a Dog with High Prey Drive Dogs with high prey drive will need a lot more training than those that don't.
Focus Before your dog even starts chasing, they'll do a number of things. Drop-Down The drop-down method can be used once your dog has already found something they want to chase. Here's a video from KeenDog on how to train your dog to drop down. Leave It! Callbacks Callbacks are used to get your dog's attention once they've already started running towards their target. Don't Stop You should never stop during your walk. Use Your Commands to Stop the Chase The training commands from the previous section can all be used during your walk.
You should use your focus command the moment you notice that your dog is acting strangely. Keep Things Unpredictable Taking a unique path each time you go for a walk is a great way to keep your dog focused. Staying Safe While your dog may not mean any harm by their chasing, not everyone knows that. Use a Leash at all Times Your dog should be kept on a leash at all times when they're not in the confines of your home or yard.
Install a Fence A high-quality fence is a great way to give your dog some freedom while still keeping them contained. Avoid Peak Hours Early mornings and late evening are prime walking times. Training Tools If your dog is still having trouble holding back even after all of your training, you can invest in tools that are designed to grab your dog's attention in the event of an emergency. Over to You With a bit of extra training, you can manage your dog's prey drive.
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