Prey Drive in Dogs

All dogs have some level of prey drive, but it does manifest differently depending on the dog breed.

What is prey drive in dogs

Prey drive is an innate instinct in dogs, inherited from their ancestors, to hunt and capture prey. It’s a powerful force that motivates dogs to chase, catch, and sometimes even retrieve objects.

Being terrier crosses, both Darcy and Vindi have a high prey drive, as do other breeds like Australian Shepherds, Border Collies, Hounds, Retrievers, Spaniels, and Pointers, for example.

What happens if a dog’s prey drive is not being met?

Without proper outlets, this energy can manifest in excessive barking and destructive behaviours such as digging, or chewing, so channeling your dog’s prey drive in constructive ways, will promote a happier and healthier dog…and happier human too!

How to fulfill your dog’s prey drive

Interactive games like fetch, tug-of-war, and hide-and-seek tap into their natural instincts while working their brains and their bodies.

Food, can be a powerful motivator for dogs with a strong prey drive, so using food puzzles, treat-dispensing toys, or scatter feeding, will simulate hunting and foraging behaviours.

This not only satisfies their instinctual needs but also promotes problem-solving skills and prevents boredom. Rotate the toys, create obstacles and increase the complexity of games to keep them challenged and entertained.

Treats are excellent high value rewards and can form part of the challenge too – in a treat treasure hunt for example.

Use treats in moderation though to prevent overfeeding and maintain a balanced diet, they should not make up more than 10% of their total daily calorie intake. I find the Vitapet pocket trainers are nice and small, and I often chop them up even smaller to stretch out the fun.

Remember Consistency, positive reinforcement, and patience are essential for successful training, whilst providing your dog with enriching experiences, that satisfy their prey drive in a positive and constructive way, helps to reduce those unwanted behaviours.

About the Author: Lara Shannon is a certified dog behaviourist and trainer, pet food nutrition specialist, Executive Producer and Host of Pooches at Play on Channel 10 and editor of Poochesatplay.com. Lara also runs her own dog training business in Melbourne’s Bayside area and is the Author of World of Dogs and Eat, Play, Love Your Dog