Can Prey Drive in Dogs Be a Good Thing? Dogs with a high prey drive are serious ball-chasers. In the wild, a predatory drive is a survival mechanism. Patterns of Predation Before dogs became pets, they were wild and lived by preying on animals big and small. Prey chase drive, or predatory chase drive, is an overwhelming desire to chase things, such as other dogs, small furry animals, cars, bikes, scooters, etc. Prey drive is adrenalin fuelled and therefore offers a chemical reward for the dog. There are five stages of the prey drive: the search, the stalk, the chase, the catch and the kill and Harris said not all dogs show all five stages or with the same intensity. This means that the dog will have a higher-than-average difficulty in controlling the desire to chase and kill. Even the most well-trained dog has it in their DNA.Dogs that have a noticeably high prey drive can be difficult to deal with. Most of us do not want that dog. These sports also teach dogs to listen to people even when in chase or prey mode. Just today we walked right past a … Dogs with low prey drive normally don’t pose a risk to those around them, but if you see signs of prey drive (stalking, chasing, or biting other animals) you should use extra caution. They live with a cat that they recognize as part of their pack. Dogs with high prey drive aren’t always fun to take for wilderness walks. If you want to increase your dog's prey drive, play tug of war with him, buy him squeaky toys and tease him with them, or buy a “flirt pole," which is a toy attached to a flexible pole similar to a fishing pole. In an article she wrote for The Bark titled “Prey Drive: Fact or Fiction,” Dr. London claims the term is too ambiguous to legitimately apply it to specific dog behaviors.. However, I’m not sure they would be as considerate to a cat that is not a member of our family. He's about two years old and shows all the signs of having lived on the street for at least a year. All dogs have prey drive, to varying degrees. In this “Ask A Behavior Consultant,” Amanda K. asks: My 5 year old Dutch shepherd, Konrad, has an EXCESSIVE prey drive. He plays fine with dogs of all sizes and is so afraid of cats it's hysterical. For some breeds, the instinct to chase and kill has been used as an asset. These are ALL Very Serious Signs of Aggression that Should be Respected! These are all signs of a dog with a high prey drive. If your dog always wants to attack other dogs or has a habit of attacking cats, he might have a strong predatory drive. It's that need to stalk, chase, and kill prey. Thus, the level of prey drive varies between breed groups – even between breeds. Signs Of Prey Drive In A Boxer Dog. Dogs are natural predators and most dogs have a tendency to be alerted to and chase smaller animals, but some breeds have been specifically bred to enhance this drive. They’ll chase anything that moves, and that poses obvious problems when it comes to both their safety and their prey’s. Quirks aside, I actually have video of him in the shelter hanging out in the cat room. Your dog’s Prey Drive is the magic key to controlling your dog’s behavior. Some dogs even see children as prey. Gameness, Aggression, and Prey Drive in Dogs by Paul Skelton. Dogs that are reactive are those that overreact to certain things or situations. This behavioral trait, known as leash aggression or leash reactivity, is most frequently triggered by fear or frustration, although a high prey drive can lead to … Flyball, agility and treibball provide high drive dogs with a physical outlet that allows them to indulge in their favorite pastime but in a controlled way. Hunting Drive relies on the dog’s “Prey Drive.” Prey Drive is … I have two cats and as soon as he saw them, he went into pure hound prey drive. He cowers in fear if we come across one on a walk. In pure prey drive, a dog will not show signs of insecurity or signs of feeling threatened. Pet owners regularly see their dogs bolt after small animals. Otto was a terrible racer and I think that translates to a very low prey drive. Dogs would gather together to chase down an older, younger, or injured animal, grabbing the jugular vein or abdomen, resulting in a kill. Not all dogs like children. These two groups are Hunting Drive and Defense Drive. Prey drive is not related to chase motivation, which is the desire to chase an object that is not an animal.Some greyhounds with strong chase motivation can be very safe with small dogs (i.e. #1 Hunting Drive aka Prey Drive is extremely common in all dogs, including our pet dogs and is most often seen in a dog’s desire to play. Some dogs love to chase squirrels, while others in more rural areas might run after foxes or other types of animals. Prey Drive Perspective. The absence of warning signs plus the fact that killing is the natural end point for the behavior makes it dangerous for target animals and prey facsimiles. You must be vigilant to educate your children and ensure that they are not bitten! Consult with a positive reinforcement trainer to discuss training methods to help your dog moderate their prey drive. The term prey drive primarily refers to a dog's level of excitement or motivation to perform a task involving hunting-related behaviors or going after an object, says The Bark. In pure prey drive a dog will not show signs of insecurity or signs of feeling threatened. It is crucial to keep yourself, but even more crucial to keep your children from being bitten. All dogs have prey drive. Prey drive is a very different behaviour to aggression which is usually anxiety or fear-based; where the dog is in a negative mental state. A dog’s interest and eagerness in chasing and catching a ball or playing tug-of-war is defined as the dog’s prey drive.Dogs don’t always need to be given a food reward for good behavior because chasing a ball can be more rewarding.. Many natural drives of dogs, including prey drive, have been modified by selective breeding practices. Examples of breeds with high prey drives include: Terrier breeds Photo: Chris Prey Drive. Raised hair, growling, and deep sounding vocalizations/barks are never seen when a dog is in pure prey drive. Prey drive also has a positive side, however. Understanding prey drive, where it comes from, and what it looks like, can help you know if your dog has a high prey drive. Unfortunately, this drive to prey doesn’t translate well when it comes to a pet. Prey drive is fun for dogs, whereas aggression is not. All of the dogs would feed in turn, and bring some back to the pups at home. Dogs with high prey drive tend to be more alert and easier to train. Dogs with strong prey drive are more likely to follow a moving object, and this can be useful when training a dog for agility work. The Stages of Prey Drive. Some dogs with high prey drive excel at sports where they can run and chase in a positive environment. From an ethological perspective, the term “prey drive” doesn’t make sense. It is said that prey drive follows a distinctive sequence that goes through distinctive behaviors.The predatory sequence encompasses: orienting, eyeing, stalking chasing, biting, dissecting and then finally consuming, but selective breeding in dogs has led to a modified version of prey drive in many dogs. The more time you can spend with your dog engaging in dog sports or walks, the more they can burn off the excess energy. When your dog has a high prey drive, no squirrel, cat, or plastic bag floating in the wind is safe. Reactivity is commonly confused with aggression. pets at another home), even if there are no local muzzling laws. As for the prey drive I can't help you. In common language, the term can have positive or negative connotations depending on who uses it and how. While modern dogs are domesticated creatures that can be trained to behave in a civil manner, their instincts can always come out. Hide and seek games and tricks can be fun energy-releasing alternatives. Descended from wolves, every dog at its base level is considered a predator. Remember that prey drive is not the same thing as aggression in dogs. So we were convinced that he was cat friendly. Herding behavior provides the best example of the predatory behavior at work in modern-day domestic dogs. Breeds most well known for having high prey drive are contained within the herding group. But there’s hope – many dogs with high prey drive can learn to control themselves around bunnies, squirrels, and pigeons. When you learn how to work with your dog’s prey drive, you will see a huge shift in your dog’s behavior and emotional state. They (my dogs) will kill squirrels, chipmunks, skunks and anything that appears to be prey. It’s at the core of how a dog interacts with the world. Dogs who escape their own fences and roam free in the neighborhood killing cats and sometimes even other dogs are a menace to society. Dog Breeds With High Prey Drive. When prey drive crosses the line from normal dog behavior to serious problem is when the dog is out of control. Dogs with high drive generally also have high prey or chase instincts, so lots of play with balls, Kong toys, Frisbees, and other active toys can use up energy. Dogs who may normally be friendly with other dogs can sometimes become reactive and aggressive when attached to a leash. Raised hair, growling, and deep sounding vocalizations/barks are never seen when a dog is in pure prey drive. The pattern of see-chase-grab-kill is the predation sequence. The movement of the “prey” triggers the dog to chase, similar to a reflex, and is a part of normal dog behavior. Aggression is a protective mechanism. In greyhounds, the prey drive is relatively strong with signs including stalking, freezing, fixed and focus eyes, lunging and excessive tail wagging. If you find that your dog does tend to get distracted by their prey drive, then you can use the seven tips in this article to help them avoid injuring themselves or … A pet that sees you or any family member as prey can be dangerous. High prey drive is best managed with plenty of exercise. They are reacting on impulse, rather than using the logical, thinking part of their brain, so familiarity and former friendships are often forgotten in the heat of the moment. Dogs have prey drive instincts and nothing can erase that. Prey Drive (Picture Credit: Haydn West - PA Images/PA Images via Getty Images) Dogs who were bred to hunt, such as Terriers, have an inborn desire to chase--and sometimes kill--other animals. 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