How Can I Minimise Prey Drive?

[mishkabear]

Mishka's parents were very docile, even lived beside a cat. However, since growing up with me, she has become increasingly dangerous to be around smaller animals. Always inquisitive about my cat (who unfortunately runs, giving chase), and the latest few instalments to her memory have worsened it. She killed the neighbour's rooster and just this evening I brought home some hunted rabbit which I was going to prepare and freeze for the dogs. Mishka tore one from my hands and went all demonic on me, also threatening to attack my other dog if she came too close. I couldn't take it off her, it's her first time seeing a rabbit - dead or alive. 

Usually her food aggression is only directed at other dogs. 

 

I'm worried that if she ever manages to catch my cat now, she WILL remember that taste of blood! The way she chewed that bunny up was disgusting.. and on easter too! Sheesh  Eventually I was able to catch her and take it away. 

 

Anyone got success stories with these kinds of problems? I would love to know. 

 

P.s. Here's a confronting picture the culprit caught in the act!! Also, the rabbit hunting occurs sometimes as they become a growing pest on our friend's farm.

 

[jmscott]

They don't remember the taste of blood, that is a myth. All my dogs are fed Prey Model Raw and live with cats.

 

Prey drive is something genetic, and while things like checking in behaviors will help her learn self-control, it is unlikely it will be stopped and may only increase as she matures. Things like running or panicking animals is what will trigger that reaction. Thats why wolf packs will kill multiple animals like sheep. The sheep are confined and unlike in wild herds, where the rest of the herd will run away, enclosed sheep herds will stay near the downed animal and will keep triggering that prey response.

[jmscott]

Although you can bet your last penny that any critter found outside the house is toast.

[Tatipu]

I'm not exactly sure how to curve the instinct.  Just last week a bunch of huskies at the park (as well as other large/medium breed dogs but primarily huskies) some guy brought a ~5 lb chihuahua pup into the large dog park and no surprise, it was terrified and most of the dogs chased it and injured it badly. 

 

You might be able to minimize it with some dogs but it's in the personality of the dog.  Recall for me works wonders.  Basically learning how to control your dog even in the most intense situations (Given as huskies are stubborn this is pretty tasking and exhausting)  Mine didn't chase the chihuahua because as soon as the chihuahua started running I ran the other way and told Jelly to recall.  So I hardly gave her the chance to see what all the fuss and screaming was. Maybe training recall and teaching your dog to focus on you even when all hell breaks loose would be the best way to resolve the situation. Or at least make it slightly better.

 

^ Training a husky to listen to you in the first place is difficult already but.. yeah :<. Again, depends on the personality of the dog.   Most huskies have selective hearing so it's a huge drag :\.

[Jay]

From my experience it isn't going to get better, but worse.  I know I would NEVER trust mine with a cat, especially since my older husky Kodiak caught and killed a cat while sledding. I see the way they react when they see a cat or rabbit or squirrel outside and I know they have a really high prey drive.  That is just their instinct.  While I know people who have had cats and huskies, I personally would never take the risk.  I have heard people whos huskies were fine and one day they came home and found the cat dead.  

[sjwrx]

Panda is on a raw diet but he is good with cats and in fact my 6lb yorkie puts him in his place.

 

I will say that it is in their instinct to chase, as with most dogs. If a smaller dog or for that fact even a larger dog most dogs will usually chase. Most small dog owners do not socialize their smaller dogs with larger dogs because they are fearful. Not saying all big dogs are good with smaller dogs however there is less of a chance if a bigger dog bothering a small dog if it is confident. 

 

My yorkie is always with me at the dog park, when all the german shepherds/huskies etc bother the little poodles and chases them all around I've never had that problem with Mason.

[mydiamond]

Just because her parents are docile, doesn't mean they don't have prey drive. Keeping a husky with a small animal in one same house is always a gamble. No matter how sweet your dog is, instinct is instinct. I'm afraid there is no answer to your question. Prey drive is not something you can train out. 

[BIGBY]

I own a cat and Malamute and the only time my dog gets ... "growly" is when my Cat is being fed and he wants the food. They're generally fine with eachother (Cat hates the dog, Dog wants to play) but I'd never ever leave them alone together. 


 

[Jase]

Hi Zahra

 

I don't think you can reduce the prey drive per se, but you can work at controlling it. As strange as it sounds I think that you could work on actually increasing 'drive' but using 'switches' for out or stop. There is a chap in NSW Steve Cortney from K9 Pro, he does phone consults and he should be able to give the far better advice than any of us can do over the net. He specialises in this kind of thing and is probably the best in the business.

 

Please keep us posted.

 

PS, I don't want to sound flippant, but that photo of Mishka and the rabbit is pretty awesome. 

[Elyse]

That's horrible. On Easter, too.

The first time mine killed an animal (a robin with a broken wing), I was heartbroken. Yet, I understood that its part of his nature/instinct and its not his fault.

 

I agree with what jmscott said. Mine has a very high prey drive as well, and as far as I know it is impossible to control or train it out of them. I guess you could put your pup on a strong tether outside, so they can only run so far (to limit the dead animal count). As far as your cat goes though...I have no  advice other than to say good luck!

Nevertheless, a year or so after I got Suka, we've noticed a drastic reduction in the amount of animals that we see in the backyard. There's hardly any squirrels, rabbits, raccoons, etc...he has chased them all away.

[sammybeans]

Champ has a pretty high prey drive and I did a lot of research on ways to redirect that drive but none of the suggested ways I was comfortable with or could afford, instead I just put him into heel on our walks and hold him there when we pass squirrels, cats, etc.  As far as a cat in the house...I'm allergic and Champ has a special distaste for cats so we can't really get any experience with such things, I know some owners keep the two separate or make sure that the cat always has an escape route such as shelves above where the husky can reach and such.  That's really all I have for you is to make sure that the cat can go up out of reach of your pup if it can't flee fast enough.

[Fr Carmen OFM]

Genetics, family lines, the fact that some canine breeds are more prone to prey drive than others, put it all together and you have some idea 

of what's causing the issue of prey fascination. Although Huskies are pure Canis domesticus/familiaris the domesticated dog, and not at all wolves, 

there are some breeds that on the Evolutionary tree are closer in behavior to the original Canis Lupus than others. The Husky is one of them along with 

most of the northern breeds this is one of the reasons why wolf packs will allow Huskies into their packs should the Husky get loose and return to the wild. 

German Shepherds are another again pure dog, but behaviorally have kept some "customs" of their ancestors. What seems "horrific" to us is natural to them.

We humans are the visitors into their realm; it's up to us to adapt/adopt into their world in which they very graciously invite us. That being said, I do not condone the 

random killing of prey animals by my husky, That's why I kept them in a fenced in run and when out they were always on short leash or harnessed to a sled or cart so their 

energy could be channeled positively. I found that most of my issues occurred when my kids were off-leash; I learned early on if they're out and about, they're on leash or in 

the enclosure for their safety and the safety of the lesser critters that they would consider "food/snacky-time" treats. I don't know of any other way of keeping Huskies from snacking on 

Mother Natures "tid-bits". I defer to the wisdom of those more experienced than I in this regard but this is my experience and I had good results in curbing my kids prey drive with this method. Thanks.

 

Carmen OFM

[mishkabear]

Thanks for the replies everyone, very insightful. I guess I'll just keep managing (:

[samajula]

i have budgies and it's a pain with my new dog Freya. she will chase them around the aviary. i dont let her outside on her own atm and im trying to train her to look but not touch. over the last couple of days she has gotten better.

 

my other fluff Kassy is perfectly fine with the birds. she used to chase them and jump up but ive trained her out of it over the years that ive owned her. there have been some slip ups but for the most part she is ok.