Predatory Aggression in Dogs
Predatory aggression is a normal part of dog behavior. Dogs are carnivores and predators. Individual dogs all have some drive to chase and kill prey. Some dogs have a high level of predatory aggression, making them unsafe around smaller animals, wild animals and in extreme cases even children. There is no single cure or treatment for predatory aggression because it is natural, not abnormal, behavior. It can be controlled through consistent training and management, but a dog's natural prey drive can't be changed.
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Types
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All predatory aggression is based on a dog's natural hunting instincts. Predatory aggression ranges from fairly mild to severe enough that the dog is an unsafe pet. Most predatory aggression is triggered by movement. There is usually little or no change in the dog's mood preceding, during or following predatory aggressive behavior.
Dogs who display mild predatory aggression may chase rabbits and squirrels, ignoring their owners' commands until the chase is completed. They may also stare or nip at smaller pets. Mild predatory aggression is not enough to disqualify a dog as a family pet. However, smaller animals and young children should never be left unattended with any dog that has ever displayed predatory aggression.
Severe predatory aggression may involve a high level of arousal and intense, unwavering focus on the subject of the aggressive behavior. It can be difficult or impossible to distract these dogs from the object of their aggression until it is completely out of sight. Severe predatory aggression may be directed toward wild animals, other pets, children or even cars. Dogs that display this behavior are generally not suitable family pets.
Misconceptions
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It is easy to misinterpret predatory aggression as vicious or malicious behavior. While it is destructive and damaging, predatory aggression doesn't indicate any abnormality or behavioral disorder. It's simply part of some dogs' genetic makeup. Dogs have been bred over thousands of years to single-mindedly chase game and either kill or retrieve it. A dog that displays predatory aggression isn't being "bad," it's just doing what its genes have programmed it to do. Harshly punishing predatory aggression will not change the behavior.
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Breeds
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While predatory aggression can occur in any breed, it is most common in dogs in the sporting, herding, hound and terrier groups. These dogs all have been bred for an intense drive to pursue other animals, which may manifest as predatory aggression.
Terriers are often particularly single-minded in their drive to chase, maim and kill smaller animals. Even a small dog like a Yorkshire terrier can do significant damage to other animals. These dogs also frequently endanger themselves in the pursuit of what they see as vermin to be chased and eliminated. Small terriers are frequently seriously injured while starting fights with larger dogs due to their high prey drive.
Benefits
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Predatory aggression does have its benefits when it can be used as part of a directed activity. Hunting dogs need a high prey drive. Dogs that are used for hunting that don't have these strong instincts will become bored and discouraged rapidly.
Smaller dogs with a high level of predatory aggression often fare well in Earthdog competitions. These contests require dogs to proceed through a series of underground tunnels chasing the scent of rats. The rats are kept safe in a cage at the end of the course and if accustomed to dogs often sleep through the whole ordeal.
Management
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Dogs that display even mild predatory aggression should never be left alone with small animals or children. If the aggressive dog itself is small, it should also be separated from larger dogs except when supervised.
In some cases, positive reinforcement training can enable the owner to redirect a dog's attention from a prey object back to the handler. This requires training commands like "Look At Me" and "Leave It" and reinforcing that training continuously in many situations and with various distractions present. Even if this training is successful, predatory aggression will recur as soon as the owner is not present to actively manage the behavior.
In cases of severe predatory aggression, the dog may be unsafe for average owners. If this is the case, it should be placed in a home where it will be handled only by an adult who is highly experienced with dogs that display predatory aggression. A dog with a very high prey drive that makes a poor family pet may become an excellent working dog in the right environment.
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