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Five Minute Dog by Personable Pets Dog Training
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Five Minute Dog by Personable Pets Dog Training
#208 Beyond the Chase: Understanding Your Dog's True Motivations
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"Prey drive" gets tossed around in dog training conversations as if it explains everything from bicycle chasing to lunging at joggers. But what if we're missing the mark? This eye-opening episode cuts through the confusion about what prey drive truly is – and what it isn't.
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People talk a lot about prey drive, almost like it's a built-in excuse for certain dog behaviors. Oh, he's chasing that bicycle because of prey drive, or she can't help it. That's just prey drive. But do we really understand what prey drive is? Or are we sometimes lumping other behaviors under that label and missing what's actually going on At its core? Prey drive is a sequence of instinctive behaviors that go back to a dog's wolf ancestors. Think of it as a hunting sequence Orient or notice the movement, stalk, chase, grab bite, kill bite, dissect and consume. Different breeds have been bred to emphasize or soften parts of this sequence. Border collies, for example, have a strong desire to orient, stalk and chase, but typically don't carry through to the kill. Terriers, on the other hand, were bred for the grab bite and kill part, were bred for the grab bite and kill part, and retrievers were bred to grab without crushing so they could carry birds back to their owners. So prey drive is real, it's in the genetics, but it's not a blanket term for every time a dog reacts to movement. Here's where the confusion happens.
Speaker 1:Many things can look like prey drive over arousal or lack of impulse control. A dog chasing cars or bikes may not be acting out of hunting instinct. They might just be overstimulated and undertrained, fear or reactivity. Lunging at a jogger isn't the same as chasing prey. The dog may just be scared, defensive or frustrated and play behavior. Tugging or chasing another dog can mimic hunting, but it often has a very different intent. Mimic hunting, but it often has a very different intent.
Speaker 1:So when we label all of that as prey drive, we dismiss the chance to train or manage or understand what's really happening. Saying it's just prey drive can shut down the conversation and it can leave owners thinking there's nothing they can do because it's instinct. In reality, a lot of so-called prey drive behaviors can be shaped, redirected or managed. With training, dogs can learn to channel chasing into fetch or tug. Impulse control can be built with cues like leave it or structured gains, and fear and reactivity need desensitization, not dismissal. So prey drive is real, but it's not a catch-all excuse. The better we understand what it truly is, the better we can help our dog succeed in everyday life. So the next time your dog lunges, chases or grabs, ask yourself is this really prey drive or is something else going on? And that question will most likely change how you train.