Bronte Canine Dog Training understand the need to work with prey drive when training. In this guide to prey drive and dog training, we look at what prey drive is, whether it can be trained through or not and what exercises can help.

What is prey drive?

The term prey drive refers to a dogs instinctual desire to chase, hunt and sometimes kill prey. This can often be triggered by movement of either animals or objects. It is an innate behaviour rooted in the dog’s natural hunting instincts.

It can manifest in various ways such as chasing toys, squirrels or even sometimes cars.  Some breeds may engage in prolonged hunting at distance from the handler, sometimes going out of sight. This is extremely dangerous for the dog but also for livestock and wildlife.

Do all dogs have it?

Some dogs have a high prey drive and can struggle in certain environments if training is not established. These dogs will be more likely to chase and hunt away from their handler without checking in to see where their human is. At this moment they are lost in the chase. Other dogs may have much less prey drive and can manage off lead walks in more challenging environments such as woodland and moorland without issue. 

Is it possible to train through it?

There are always improvements to make! BUT it is important to be mindful of how long the dog has been able to reward itself by practicing predatory behaviour on its’ own terms. The more a dog is left to do this the harder it is to train through it. 

We must also consider the breed of the dog. For example, a German Short Haired Pointer is bred to work at distance from its’ handler and will naturally roam further away. Without careful training such dogs may be able to fill their own reinforcement cup by leaving their handler in search of wildlife. 

What exercises can help?

It is important that handlers put management in place from the outset, a dog that is able to practice chase on their own terms will be more likely to follow their prey drive and ignore their handler. 

Basic obedience exercises are a great place to start, many people expect to unclip their leads in the outdoors and have their dog return when called when they haven’t even established a good recall in from the garden. Teaching a dog to leave forbidden items can save their life or the life of wildlife. Impulse control is so important, if your dog can’t wait to go through the door calmly when you walk them it may be quite a challenge for them to control their impulses when a bird flies out of the heather.

Connection is key! Working on connection in the environment is the cornerstone of developing a good recall. If the environment is more interesting than the handler then the dog will choose the option that they enjoy the most!

Teaching the emergency stop is also a great exercise. If your chase recall is not yet established, but you can stop the dog, you are much more likely to be able to recall your dog from a stop.

Let’s also consider outlets though, if you have a working cocker spaniel, a border collie or any sort of working dog it is so important to provide a suitable outlet for the job they were bred to do. Working dogs have been developed over time to have patterns of behaviour woven into their genetics, this makes them easier to train for the job they were bred to do. If they are not given suitable “work” or outlets by their handlers they will find a way of channelling that instinct or drive into other jobs such chasing the hoover, free hunting in the woods or escaping. A skilled trainer will be able to support you in providing alternative outlets for your dog. Working dogs need a balance of mental and physical exercises but also need to work as a team with their handler.

What do I do when it all goes wrong?

For some handlers it can be quite a challenge when their dog starts to run off, hunting, chasing or searching. It’s so important to acknowledge that this is not helpful and prevent the dog from doing so. Failure to prevent will lead to the dogs enjoyment of the undesirable behaviour therefore making them more likely to practice the behaviour again. Management could be:

-       Walking in a less challenging environment 

-       Less off lead time

-       Being mindful of where you are when you do take the lead off

-       Using a long line

Remember though, without adequate training the dog may not improve and for some dogs with an extremely high drive there may always need to be some aspect of management in place.

Enlisting the help of a suitably qualified trainer is very helpful. A trainer should be able to look at where you are at with your training and guide you through the steps of progression at a pace that suits both you and the dog. 

To conclude

Prey drive can be demonstrated by all dogs, but some dogs have a higher drive than others. The dogs breed, reinforcement history with chase, the environment and early training will all influence the dogs desire to chase. Management and training is essential in working with prey drive, but providing suitable outlets for the dog will also support a training plan. If you need help working with your dogs prey drive enlist the help of a suitably qualified trainer. A chase recall is a life saving behaviour!

FAQs

What is prey drive in dogs?

The term ‘prey drive’ describes a dogs instinctual desire to chase, hunt and sometimes kill prey.

Do all dogs have prey drive?

Whilst all dogs will have a degree of prey drive, some dogs will naturally have higher prey drive than others. Examples are a Working Cocker Spaniel, German Short Haired Pointer and of course a Border Collie.

Can dog training help manage prey drive in dogs?

Yes. There are training exercises that can help reduce prey drive, such as obedience exercises.