Find them an outlet
The thing about high prey drive dogs is that just stopping them doing the thing that worries you isn’t enough. Most breeds of dog have been created to help humans in some way – and almost always the help involves their prey drive. Prey drive is all about a sequence of different things a dog might do, known as the predatory motor sequence. Selective breeding has been used to create dogs who will do certain parts of it with a great deal of enthusiasm. If you’re not sure about what the predatory motor sequence is, you can find out more here.
What that means is that the dogs will love to do those things. They will often seem most alive and happy when doing the thing they’ve been bred to do. Dogs who can’t do the thing they’ve been bred for can become anxious or frustrated and reactive. They can be hard to walk and make life difficult. If your dog is like that and you haven’t already, spend some time researching their breed or the breeds that make them up. It will help you to understand more about what will make for a happy life for your dog.
Don’t worry I’m not going to suggest you do anything unpleasant. If you have a terrier, I would not suggest that you allow them to catch and kill small furry animals. What you can do, though, is look for games and activities that will give your dog an outlet for their predatory desires. You might worry that it will just encourage your dog. Really, what is encouraging your dog is internal to them – it comes from many generations of selective breeding. By giving them an outlet, you will give them – and you – a happier, more enriched life.
