8 Ways to Manage a Dog with a High Prey Drive

A canine’s need to hunt prey is an intuition they would want to outlive within the wild. But as domesticated companions, canine now not have to hunt meals, and a prey drive could cause undesirable behaviors. Here are eight methods that will help you handle your canine’s looking instincts.

Although you may discover it exhausting to imagine there’s any wolf left within the tiny Chihuahua carrying a sweater sitting in your lap, all canine nonetheless have instincts left over from their wild ancestors—together with instincts to hunt and kill. When a canine acts on their prey drive, they could chase, monitor, stalk, herd, and even kill. Targets can embody cats, different canine, wildlife, and even automobiles or individuals on bikes. Some canine have deeper looking instincts than others, and it’s not one thing you need to punish or attempt to get rid of. However, there are methods you’ll be able to handle your canine’s excessive prey drive and provides them a constructive outlet for his or her instincts. These eight suggestions will get you began.

1. Teach Basic Commands and Focus

Ensure your canine has a stable basis in training instructions like sit, keep, come, wait, and go away it. These instructions may be essential in controlling your canine’s habits, particularly in conditions the place one thing may set off their prey drive. What’s extra, educate your canine to concentrate on you through the use of treats or toys. This may also help redirect their consideration away from potential prey.

2. Give Them Lots of Exercise

High-energy canine usually profit from common and intense bodily train. This can embody actions like operating, fetching, or agility coaching. A drained canine is usually a extra manageable and targeted canine.

3. Always Supervise Your Dog Outside

Even with complete coaching, your canine may nonetheless be tempted to provide in to their instincts in the event that they’re alone exterior and encounter a set off. To keep away from temptation, keep watch over your pup once they’re exterior.

4. Teach Walking Manners

When strolling your canine, use a sturdy leash that doesn’t lengthen and retract so you’ll be able to keep management. Consider utilizing a harness for added management and luxury. Further, educate your pup to stroll calmly on a free leash. This helps you keep management and prevents them from lunging at transferring objects.

5. Don’t Let Them Off Leash

If you don’t belief that your coaching has totally sunk in but, it’s finest to keep away from letting your canine off leash, particularly when there are triggers current.

6. Avoid Electric Fences

A canine with a excessive prey drive will run proper by an electrical fence if the stimulus is nice sufficient. They may damage themselves, and the shock gained’t cease them from leaving your property or chasing their goal.

7. Use Interactive Toys and Games

Puzzle toys, hide-and-seek, treat-dispensing toys, and interactive games interact your canine mentally. This may also help fulfill their instincts in a managed surroundings.

8. Find a Positive Outlet for Their Instincts

There are a lot of actions which can be wholesome retailers on your canine’s chasing, stalking, and catching instincts, together with:

• Agility coaching
• Nose work
• Flyball
• Digging in sandpits
• Chasing a ball
• Mantrailing

Your canine’s prey drive is pure, and you need to by no means punish them for appearing on these instincts or attempt to practice the instincts out of them. Instead, use the following tips to assist handle your canine’s need to hunt.