Prey Drive
Prey drive in dogs is the natural urge to chase something like animals, cars, etc. The movement of these objects triggers dogs to dash after them. This behaviour is a reflexive, natural behaviour in most dogs.
This instinct stemmed from when wolves needed to find, pursue, and capture their own prey in order to survive. Even though our dogs live in our homes and eat delicious meals in a special bowl two to three times a day, this instinctual behaviour can still manifest.
Prey drive in our dogs can manifest in entirely innocent and ordinary ways, like chasing after a ball or stick. Sometimes, though, it can manifest in more harmful or problematic ways, like chasing bicyclists or chasing us when we run.
Some breeds, like working, hunting, or herding breeds, have a more powerful prey drive than other breeds. These types of breeds have been selectively bred for the act of finding small objects, catching them, and bringing them back to their owners. Similarly, Terriers have been bred to find and attack small animals. This is why these breeds make good companions for active and hunting families.
Fear
Sometimes dogs chase us when we run because they’re fearful. The fast movements actually scare them. In these instances, these dogs usually have anxiety, and runners passing them actually startles them. This fear can actually cause these dogs to try to bite and attack runners, so it’s important to get a good handle on this behaviour through training.
Encouraging the Prey Drive
Since prey drive is a normal behaviour for dogs, it can be something that you encourage in certain safe scenarios. Playing with your dog in a safe and controlled environment is something you should be doing on a regular basis. Playing with your dog is an excellent form of exercise, which is important for the physical and mental health of your dog.
Play fetch with your dog using a tennis ball or other dog toy. This is a fun game for your dog. It’s a great way to bond with your dog and give him the exercise he needs.
Another fun and easy game to play with your dog at home in the backyard is to have your dog chase you. All you have to do is get your dog’s attention by making some noise or calling his name and running! His natural prey drive will kick in, and he’ll chase you. When he gets to you, you can reward him by praising him and giving him a toy or treat.
When Chasing Is Problematic
As mentioned above, sometimes, chasing and prey drive can be problematic and harmful. If that is the case, you’ll want to work on training so that nothing bad happens.
Create Positive Associations
If your dog has a problem wanting to chase joggers or bicyclists, be sure to keep him on a short, 6-foot leash at all times. When you’re walking, you’ll want to keep an eye out for joggers and bicyclists. As soon as you see one, step off the trail and create as much space as you can. At that point, you want to reward your dog with a high-value treat once the jogger or bicyclist is in view. Once they’re gone, you can stop rewarding them.
Eventually, your dog will associate the jogger or bicyclist with a tasty treat. Instead of being fearful and wanting to attack, your dog should start to turn to you for his reward for nice behaviour.
Teach a “Leave It”
“Leave it” is a valuable cue that can come in handy in a variety of different scenarios. To teach your dog how to leave it:
- Place a treat on the floor.
- Tell your dog to “leave it.”
- If your dog tries to get to the treat, be sure to cover it with your hand or foot so that he can’t get it.
- When your dog looks away from the treat and looks up at you, use a verbal marker such as “yes” to mark this moment.
- Reward your dog with a treat.
Start by teaching this inside your home with few distractions. As your dog becomes familiar with this, you can start slowly adding in other distractions inside your home, like placing multiple treats on the floor. Once your dog has mastered this at home, consider practising in your backyard and then putting the skills to the test on a walk at the park.
Conclusion
Prey drive is a natural instinct for your dog, and chasing is a natural and fun behaviour for our dogs. You can encourage this behaviour at home in a safe and controlled way by playing games like fetch or playing with dog toys. This is actually beneficial for your dog because it meets his instinctual needs.
As an owner of a dog, it is your responsibility to be in control of your dog. You should never let your dog chase or attack joggers, cyclists, or other small animals. Give your dog distance from these things on walks or create positive associations with training. Training a “leave it” cue is also helpful and can be used to prevent your dog from chasing.
