Predatory Drift....

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Predatory Drift....

Posted : 7/23/2006 9:21:22 PM

What is the deal with this behavior? How do you tell if this is your dog? Sally has been around kids and played with/met small dogs and pups. When we first got her she would jump on kids and knock them over. We have taught her to be gental with them and she does not seem to have any issues.

However, she does have what I would call a moderate prey drive. She can be around our cats, and can now see them run past her without chasing (unless she is already excited, and if she catches them she just sniffs and pokes them with her nose). She did chase a horse--once--and got kicked for her trouble. She has not done it since. When we are out she will get excited about squirrls and larger animals like deer even. She has chased a cat outside once, but when she caught up to it she just bopped it with her nose.

She does seem to be aroused by squealing noises, like the ones kids make. She seems less excited once she sees that kids are making them, but today in the. She also loves squeaky toys and the lazer pointer, and will chase stuff if we throw it.

She has met a crying baby and while she sniffed and licked it that is all she did. She seems more interested in appraoching kids than adults, but I've always assumed she was just less threatened by adults.

I have been reading things about predatory drift and it has concerned my--could my dog kill a kid? Is the amount of prey drive she has something that I should worry about?

jeano

Posted : 7/23/2006 11:43:16 PM

I've never heard of this term. But for a dangerous possible predatory situation that far oustrips what you have ever seen with Sally, read the thread about the daughter running away from the four dogs. [&:]

Sally sounds like she's fine. You might want to consider not letting her chase cats at all, ever, if you can. She sounds like she's fine with kids, if you ask me, but it's hard to say without seeing her. From what you say she sounds like a very nice, friendly dog. As long as you don't expect her to put up with kid abuse, I think she's probably having a great time!

Sofia has an extreme predatory drive. She has also really disliked children under five, and used to go nuts when she saw a baby being carried or wheeled by! But over the years she has both outgrown this sketchiness, and has made many friends with kids, and now is far more social. I take her progress as a combination of maturation and my helping her to be comfortable with people. I suspect Sofia's prey drive far oustrips Sally's and yet she's good with kids now.

My dogs over the years have learned the things they can and can't kill. Mice, voles, yes. Birds, rabbits, no. And they have learned, too, just by my either praising or disapproving of what they brought me.

I think you worry too much. [

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