Even though we have domesticated dogs to the point they no longer need to hunt for food, the predatory instinct remains alive and well. It's part of their nature. Many owners observe their pets chasing small rodents or cars without realizing the behavior is innate. Canines are "hardwired" with a prey drive.
The tendency toward predation rarely causes problems unless it leads an animal into traffic or the lair of a dangerous predator. However, it's worth understanding why canines exhibit predatory behavior in the first place. We'll address this trait below. The next time you notice your pet chasing a squirrel, you'll know the reason he does so.
Elements That Contribute To Predatory Behavior
Not all dogs are equally predatory. Some breeds have a stronger prey drive than others. Some have past experience where such behavior was rewarded, as might be the case for canines trained for hunting and herding. Still others are driven by their environment. Surrounded by small rodents, the prey drive initiates, and the animal gives chase.
In the wild, the main motivating factor is hunger. The dog must find food for himself and his fellow pack members. If he fails to do so, he will have no food to eat.
Hunger-Driven Predation In Dogs
On any given day in the wild, a canine will spend hours searching for food. He'll use his sense of smell to uncover traces of potential prey, and then rely upon his inborn sense of direction to find it. Once his prey is in his sights, he'll attack it.
Sometimes dogs hunt alone, especially when their prey is small. Other times, they'll hunt together, which is necessary when their target is larger, and able to repel an attack from a single animal. In the latter case, the canines will surround their target to eliminate all routes of escape. When they move in to attack, a few will pull the animal down by its throat while other pack members attack from behind. Once the attack is over, and the prey has been overwhelmed, the meal begins.
Predation And The Domesticated Pet
Gaining insight from observing domesticated dogs displaying predatory behavior is difficult. As noted earlier, there is no need for them to hunt for food since meals are provided by their owners. Yet, canines continue to give chase to prey when they are given the opportunity. To use our previous example, your pet may chase squirrels when you take him to a park.
In most cases, dogs will not attack their prey; they will only give chase. This is the reason some pets appear hesitant when they catch and corner the rodents they're chasing. This is consistent with the removal of their main motivator (i.e. search for food for survival) for predation, but not the removal of the instinct itself.
Owners will often observe their canines chasing each other as a mode of play. Here, too, this seems to be an expression of their predatory instinct.
How Your Dog May Display His Predatory Instinct
Even if your pet does not chase rodents, he may still exhibit a prey drive. For instance, many dogs chase cars, a habit that can be dangerous since doing so may lead them into busy intersections. Some chase people who pass them on bicycles. You might also see your pet chase balls that are thrown to other people. Many children have found their canines are happy to chase them when prompted to do so.
If your dog lacks the opportunity to chase prey, he may "attack" toys to simulate preying upon them. Or, while inside your home, he might bark persistently when he hears cars drive by.
Realize that you may never be able to entirely curb your canine's predatory behavior. It is based on an instinct that has survived thousands of years. However, with patience, you can train your pet to set aside his prey drive to comply with your commands.
The tendency toward predation rarely causes problems unless it leads an animal into traffic or the lair of a dangerous predator. However, it's worth understanding why canines exhibit predatory behavior in the first place. We'll address this trait below. The next time you notice your pet chasing a squirrel, you'll know the reason he does so.
Elements That Contribute To Predatory Behavior
Not all dogs are equally predatory. Some breeds have a stronger prey drive than others. Some have past experience where such behavior was rewarded, as might be the case for canines trained for hunting and herding. Still others are driven by their environment. Surrounded by small rodents, the prey drive initiates, and the animal gives chase.
In the wild, the main motivating factor is hunger. The dog must find food for himself and his fellow pack members. If he fails to do so, he will have no food to eat.
Hunger-Driven Predation In Dogs
On any given day in the wild, a canine will spend hours searching for food. He'll use his sense of smell to uncover traces of potential prey, and then rely upon his inborn sense of direction to find it. Once his prey is in his sights, he'll attack it.
Sometimes dogs hunt alone, especially when their prey is small. Other times, they'll hunt together, which is necessary when their target is larger, and able to repel an attack from a single animal. In the latter case, the canines will surround their target to eliminate all routes of escape. When they move in to attack, a few will pull the animal down by its throat while other pack members attack from behind. Once the attack is over, and the prey has been overwhelmed, the meal begins.
Predation And The Domesticated Pet
Gaining insight from observing domesticated dogs displaying predatory behavior is difficult. As noted earlier, there is no need for them to hunt for food since meals are provided by their owners. Yet, canines continue to give chase to prey when they are given the opportunity. To use our previous example, your pet may chase squirrels when you take him to a park.
In most cases, dogs will not attack their prey; they will only give chase. This is the reason some pets appear hesitant when they catch and corner the rodents they're chasing. This is consistent with the removal of their main motivator (i.e. search for food for survival) for predation, but not the removal of the instinct itself.
Owners will often observe their canines chasing each other as a mode of play. Here, too, this seems to be an expression of their predatory instinct.
How Your Dog May Display His Predatory Instinct
Even if your pet does not chase rodents, he may still exhibit a prey drive. For instance, many dogs chase cars, a habit that can be dangerous since doing so may lead them into busy intersections. Some chase people who pass them on bicycles. You might also see your pet chase balls that are thrown to other people. Many children have found their canines are happy to chase them when prompted to do so.
If your dog lacks the opportunity to chase prey, he may "attack" toys to simulate preying upon them. Or, while inside your home, he might bark persistently when he hears cars drive by.
Realize that you may never be able to entirely curb your canine's predatory behavior. It is based on an instinct that has survived thousands of years. However, with patience, you can train your pet to set aside his prey drive to comply with your commands.
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