The surest way to perceive the life of a domestic dog with a powerful prey drive is to set it as an animal with dual nature, both fascinating and challenging. Such instincts are noth flaws; instead, they are the very nature of the dog imprinted through history, survival, and purpose.
The Development of numerous dog breeds was animed at shagging, tracking, herding, or guarding, which very well explains their extreme emphasis on movement, scent, and small animals. These instincts still persist in contemporay households and require the right comprehension.
Fun Fact
Dogs with a strong prey drive usually exhibit quicker learning in scent games. Dopamine is relased in their brains during movement chasing. This instinct used to ensure survival and is still the main characteristic of working dog behavior today.
Top 9 Dog Breeds with Intense Prey Drive Explained
1. Irish Setter
Originally, the Irish Setter was a gun dog breed and is still now really preety. It had to find birds and ”set” by standing still, this requiring a sharp sense and intense concentration.
The strong drive of the dog still exists and can be clearly seen when the dog sees a small animal moving. It is not aggression but rather enthusiastic excitement which is a result of the dog’s hunting work for generations.
Irish Setters, even though they have great instincts, are still regarded as charming, brillant and docile pets. The Amercian Kennel Club describes them as loving, sociable and interaction needing pooches.
The dogs are full of liveliness and have a playful nature so they are great with kids. But because of their size and excitment, it is a must to be vigilant around very small Kids.
2. Border Collie
The Border Collie is often refered to as the most intelligent herding dog in the world and at the same time has a strong prey drive that is more related to controlling the movement of the animals rather than chasing and catching them. The animals movement as their instant triggers for instincts.
The medium-sized dog was bred to work for long hours managing the livestock. Their eyes are glued to the movement, whether it is a ball, a bicycle or another animal in the house.
You cannot keep a Border Collie as a pet unless you are an active person or have a very active lifestyle because they will be noisy and might even try to herd kids, other pets, or even moving objects indoors if they are not kept busy mentally and physically
3. Greyhound
One of the oldest dog breeds, the Greyhound has been the epitoms of dog speed and elegence for centuries. This dog has been bred for sprinting and it can run at a whopping 45 miles per hour
A visual lure characterizes their hunting instinct. Swiftly moving small creatures may easily induce the chase mode; such behavior was even mentioned by Britannica in the context of ancient hunting practice.
In a very unexpected way, Greyhounds are the most tranquil dogs and they just relax indoors. Once their short excercise periods are over, they are all for lying and having quiet companionship.
They can be quiet self-sufficient and at times be slow in responding to commands. This surely does not mean that their intelligence is low, but rather the breed is made for independent hunting rather than obeying commands.
4. Bluetick Coonhound
The Bluetick Coonhound is an excellent tracker that takes its scent-driven nature to an extreme level. This dog has been developed for the quality of following the scent of raccoons and, therefore, won’t give up on the trail once it picks it up.
According to PetMD, these hounds are always up for outdoor activities and at the same time, they are very affectionate indoors. This behavior totally astounds many first-time owners.
They are very playful and caring while indoors. As soon as they are outdoors, they become hunters and their only guide is their sense of smell. Their strong drive for the hunt is powerful enough to render the distractions around them completely unnoticeable.
Boredom can lead Blueticks to be either destructive or loud. Their high-pitched, sorrowful bark is a characteristic trait passed down through generations and is not regarded as a behavioral flaw.
5. Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian ridgeback was the dog of the South African area and its main purpose was to hunt and catch big game including lions. Their ancestry is the reason for the aggressive but restrained nature of their prey drive.
That Rhodesian Ridgebacks are calm, even-tempered, and very loyal to their families.
The Ridgebacks, though having a hunting history, are considered to be great friends with children, provided they are socialized correctly. Their beautiful nature of guarding is well combined with family life.
They are the ruling breed and have their own opinions. Training that is consistent and firm is very important to have the dog operate in the right direction without crack his natural confidence.
6. Weimaraner
The Weimaraner is a streamlined canine of the sporting group that was bred for the traits of a long-distance runner and a fast dog. Their hunting instinct is very high and it is caused by both the smell and the sight of the moving prey.
Purina claims that this breed needs a minimum of 2 hours of exercise a day in order to keep its emotional balance.
They are nice, bold, and mainly obeying after proper training. But if they get bored then they might exhibit destructive behavior rather than disobedience.
Weimaraners love very active lifestyles in the outdoors. They get very attached to their human family and have a hard time when left alone without any kind of mental stimulation.
7. Basenji
The Basenji is a breed of dogs that originated in Africa and they are considered to be one of the oldest breeds that existed since the year 6000 BCE. Prey drive in them is similar to that of cats as they are very independent animals.
These canine friends are small-sized but possess amazing curiosity and scent-driven instincts, thereby being very reactive to movement.
WebMD Basenjis are described as clever but also very quickly bored animals. Their trait of being independent implies that they will not always obey commands right away.
Due to their powerful instinct to pursue small animals, they must always be leashed when taken out for walks. Fencing that is very secure is a must for safe ownership.
8. Siberian Husky
The Siberian Husky is a breed developed as a working dog for the purposes of sledding and endurance. The dogs’ high prey drive was a result of the constant need to survive in tough conditions.
They are known to be very playful, silly, and cute individuals, particularly with the little ones. Nevertheless, their amiability is what makes them not very effective watchdogs.
Huskies, as per Hill’s Pet Nutrition, are the most content and performing dogs when their day is filled with work or they follow a daily routine. In the absence of structure in their lives, the wolves’ ancestors’ instincts may come out in them as they roam or chase.
The developed desire for killing small animals can be a problem in case of living with small pets. By practicing proper training and providing supervision, one can live peacefully with many pets under one roof.
9. Beagle
The Beagle is classified as a scent hound possessing one of the strongest olfactory senses of the dog world. Their hunting instinct is solely and entirely based on following scents.
This breed is medium-sized and is divided into two varieties with the weight usually below 30 pounds.
Beagles are sociable, inquisitive, and extremely attached to their families. Their adventurous nature can lead them to stray if not closely monitored.
The floppy ears are the reason for the infection susceptibility, thus the need for regular treatment. They could be easily bored, so mental stimulation is recommended to prevent the development of diffused behaviors.
Conclusion
A dog with a strong prey drive is not a difficult one; rather it is a dog that is very honest to its origins. These instincts were once a matter of survival and purpose but now need to be understood rather than corrected.
With the right home, training, and activity level matched, prey-driven dogs turn out to be very loyal companion. Their nature is respected and so they thrive both emotionally and physically.
