It's dangerous for him and the person or animal he is chasing. To control chasing behavior, you must teach your dog 3 main commands: “COME”, “OFF or HALT!” and “LEAVE IT.” Your dog must respond immediately to each one of these commands. For this exercise, we will use the word “OFF!”
Since chasing is a natural canine behavior, it will be helpful to have appropriate outlets for your dog to express it, such as by playing with toys, playing fetch, tug o' war or by enrolling in fun sports that'll curb your dog's need to chase.
Make sure you say “leave” as soon as your dog spots something to chase. Then, reward your dog for giving their attention to you instead. Teach your dog recall. Training your dog to come back to you when you call is suitable for their safety.
Practice, Practice, Practice
Dog training exercises can go a long way toward taming a dog's high prey drive. Reducing distractions is key to getting them to learn and demonstrate commands. Without distractions they'll be able to hold the command for longer periods of time, increasing their future recall.
The first step to training your dog to not run away is to not let him off the leash when you think there is any chance that he could take off. Dogs build habits through repeating behaviors over and over. If you let your dog repeat the behavior of running off, it will become ingrained.
These dogs usually have lots of anxiety, insecurity, and either negative experiences with runners or lack of familiarity with them. That combination causes many fearful dogs to respond by attacking those that move fast and come too close as a way to defend themselves, even if there is no real threat.
Today, most dogs do not need to hunt to eat. Yet just the sound, scent or sight of a moving object can trigger the prey drive in dogs.
Frisbee and Fetch
Playing Frisbee is a perfect activity to excite and exercise the prey mind in your dog. Sunny days are the best for this activity because it requires you to be outside. Like other high prey drive activities, playing fetch is a low-cost activity that you can play anytime you have free time.
Do not kick or punch the dog if at all possible (that might escalate in their arousal). Once the attack is over, immediately get yourself, your dog or your child away. Don't turn around, try to get further control of the situation, or try to find the owner. Just go.
ORIENT > EYE > STALK > CHASE
In most dogs, owners will see the latter part of the original predatory sequence (GRAB-BITE > KILL-BITE > DISSECT) through play, such as chasing after a tennis ball, catching it, then ripping off the material of ball – mimicking the ripping of the sinuous tissue of the prey.
Prey drive is not dominance aggression and neutering is not going to diminish prey drive. Neutering an adult dog will hardly ever effect dog aggression or handler aggression. In fact, studies have shown that neutering adult females often makes them more dog aggressive rather than less dog aggressive.
Instead of shouting or hitting your dog, you'll want to use more effective punishments, like ignoring them or withdrawing your attention. Since dogs respond to positive reinforcement, your dog will quickly learn what behaviors to avoid.
If your dog is highly energetic, make sure they first get all their physical exercise needs met. Keep in mind mental exercise can be just as important as physical exercise. Look into harnessing fido's energy by involving him in nose work, agility training, or other canine sports.
All dogs are born with different levels of prey drive. Some enjoy chasing a ball or even a cat, but would never hurt the kitty (or the ball). Others are literally fixated on movement. Still others will seek out and kill mice, rats, gophers, or squirrels.
Breeds that have been systematically bred to pursue, chase, or hunt are more likely to exhibit behaviors labeled under the term "prey drive." For underprepared owners, not recognizing and addressing these potential behaviors in their dog's breed could lead to trouble.
Small dogs can look like prey.
Dogs that like to chase things may mistakenly chase a smaller dog just because, from a distance, the small dog looks like something that should be chased. This is particularly true in a play area where dogs get riled up and run around quite a bit.
Many domestic dogs are skilled hunters and have been bred to exhibit certain parts of the 'predatory sequence. ' Sighthounds such as the Greyhound and Saluki are skilled chasers, while Labradors and Weimeraners are adept at flushing and retrieving birds and other small prey animals.
No scolding, no yelling, and no physical punishment. Gently take hold of her collar, lead her to a quiet room away from the action, and leave her there with a bowl of water and a chew toy.
Dog bites are not rare; these are common events that occur in normal family's lives and it is estimated that 15% of dog owners have been bitten by their own dog. Once a dog bites, he has shown his willingness to use biting as a behavioral strategy at least in that situation and therefore is more likely to bite.
Is training an aggressive dog possible? Yes. Aggression in dogs, whether it be toward a dog's owner or other dogs, is a serious behavior that should be adjusted with the help of a professional dog trainer.