When you choose a dog, whether from the shelter, rescue or directly from the breeder, it’s highly advised to know ahead of time what you’re looking for and what you should avoid. When you notice a cute puppy and simply decide to work out the kinks later and train the dog to be what you hope for, that’s not always the case.
Some traits are simply ingrained in the breed, and can’t be easily “trained out.” Prey drive is also an instinct in some breeds of dogs. Some dogs have quite an active prey drive, whereas others are much calmer and less likely to go after your cats or children.
What is prey drive?
Prey drive is often defined as three different areas of focus for a dog. First, there’s finding, locating, and collecting prey. It’s also a very strong instinct in many dog breeds. Herding and hunting dogs have natural “equipment” consisting of a high prey drive to be good for the job.
As a canine, which is a descendant of wolves, all dogs have some sort of prey drive, especially since their ancestors needed it in order to survive. A wolf without a high prey drive can’t even last for too long in the wild. It is also the way they seek out prey, hunt it, and capture it to survive.
As you would do with any other dog, it’s not advised to leave an unsupervised dog with small children. Dogs can easily go from tail-wagging to biting faster than we think. Children can also prevent this from happening if they refrain from climbing on top of a dog, taking their toys, or getting close to their food.
Another important thing you should watch out for is for anyone who tries to enter the dog’s kennel. A kennel is basically the dog’s safe space, and if anyone enters it, the animal or child is basically trespassing. Dogs are automatically territorial, which is yet another character trait that descends from the wolf.
A high prey drive isn’t exactly something that you can or should even try to train out of your dog. It’s nothing but an instinct and not something that can be simply shut off. If you are trying to seek out ways to let your dog exercise their high prey drive in a safe fashion while not causing stress for other animals, this is probably the smartest way to go about it.
There are so many ways to do that! But first, it’s worth talking about which dog breeds will require special attention in this sector.
Australian Cattle Dog
Australian cattle dogs are amazing dogs, well as long as you know what to expect. They are also high-working dogs that can become quite destructive if they’re bored. To be well, happy, and healthy, they require plenty of activities.
It’s quite unlikely for them to become aggressive towards humans, but they might try to herd small kids, and with herding comes nipping. If you have toddlers or kids running around, that’s not something you might want. If the dog is adopted and they grow up with kids or cats around them, they will never feel threatened by them.
German Shepherd
The wide majority of German Shepherds are amazing family dogs, especially if properly trained. These guard dogs bond quite rapidly with their owners, and they tend to be very protective of children. German shepherds can also be ferocious, especially by the way they look and sound, which is great if you want your home to be protected from people looking for trouble.
They are also great to have on a walk, run, or even hike, because of their protective nature. This very well-intended aggressiveness can sometimes turn for the worse if it stays in the wrong hands. One flaw of this breed is its extremely high prey drive.
Anything that runs from them is an easy target. That’s because they see chasing and catching prey as a game, and it’s something they enjoy doing. After all, there’s a reason why they make great police and guard dogs.
Pit Bull Terrier
Pit Bull Terriers are definitely on the receiving end of hatred amongst people who do not understand them. It’s in their instinct to be a bit territorial, protective, and always ready to chase other small animals and children.
Due to this, they have gotten a very bad reputation, which isn’t completely deserved, if you ask us. They can make amazing, lazy companions that snuggle and spend time with you better than anyone else.
They live their best life in households without children and cats, that’s true. Strange smells and sounds generally set them off into some sort of prey-driven frenzy, especially since small animals often make strange noises. On top of everything, they’re known to be quite curious by nature.
Siberian Husky
Siberian huskies are known to be finicky, hilarious, vocal, working dogs who need a lot of attention and constant effort to keep them from destroying your home out of boredom. They also come with a very active prey drive and will go after smaller animals, just like cats.
These dogs can be quite nippy and might not be the best choice for small children, because of their rough style to play. However, they make great dogs as long as you understand the breed and are willing to lead an active life alongside them. Siberian Huskies are generally extremely friendly with other dogs as well as with people.
Greyhound
Greyhounds are fast and they have a high prey drive. They are sweet family dogs but do not require a lot of playtime and exercise. Their vision is much sharper than other dogs with flatter faces, and they use it to move small, fast-moving animals, just like your cat or even rabbits grazing in the neighbor’s yard.
They aren’t very vicious or aggressive, but they can be quite difficult to walk if you’re somewhere with lots of squirrels and rabbits or even neighborhood cats. After all, that’s exactly why greyhounds run very fast in races: it’s like they chase a fake rabbit or a squirrel.
Rottweiler
Rottweilers are yet another large dog breed that many people worry about. They will keep your yard and home safe, and they can be amazing family dogs for a family with older kids. They have quite a high prey drive, and will generally go after anything that runs. This can also include small children and cats.
They should be supervised at all times, especially around small children and animals. There’s a tendency to bite and be grouchy at times, and that’s not something you would want children to fall victim to.
Rottweilers are extremely protective and territorial, both of which are amazing qualities in a guard dog. Because of their size and desire to chase virtually anything that runs or makes high-pitched noises, they can pose a series of challenges when walking.
Rhodesian Ridgeback
Rhodesian ridgebacks were initially bred to hunt lions, believe it or not. They can be extremely fierce and strong, which might cause a bit of a hassle when walking or playing in the park. But then again, look at their origins!
The dogs also have quite a high prey drive and can see any small animal as an opportunity to hunt and chase. They are also territorial, and children shouldn’t crawl on them or in their crates because that’s their safe place when they need to escape. They are wonderful family dogs, but they live their best lives in homes with older children and no small pets.
If you found this article interesting, we also recommend checking: 6 Ways to Prevent Motion Sickness in Dogs During Travel
