Prey Drive In Labrador Retrievers

12 Mar 2024, 5:58 a.m. by Tracey McLennan

Breeding

Labrador Retrievers are a gundog breed, prized for their ability to retrieve. The breed is thought to have originated in Newfoundland where they were said to have been used to retrieve fish. They are popular around the world as assistance dogs and family companions.

Research

Predatory Motor Sequence statistics for Labrador Retrievers. The graph shows the percentage of Labradors in my research study that had no interest at all in each behaviour.

Hunt: 1%

Orient: 1%

Eye: 21%

Stalk: 46%

Chase: 3%

Grab-bite: 6%

Possess: 0%

Kill-bite: 27%

Dissect: 24%

Consume: 45%

There were 67 dogs of this breed in my research. As you can see, although the numbers show that they were number two on the list of dogs with no interest in some parts of the predatory motor sequence , that does not mean that the breed has no interest in prey animals. For instance, 100% of those dogs had some interest in possessing items with over a quarter of them being described as living to possess. Over a third of them were described as living to chase and nearly 40% of them were described as living to hunt.

If you have a Labrador and would describe them as having a high prey drive, you are not alone. The fact is that they are all individuals and many of them have a strong interest in prey. Find out more about your own dog’s preferences by filling in my quiz and letting me give you detailed information about what your dog loves the most when it comes to prey drive.