Prey-catching behaviour in dogs - between hunting instinct, play instinct and training

What is prey-catching behaviour?

Prey-catching behaviour describes a natural chain of behaviour that is genetically anchored in every dog - to a greater or lesser extent depending on the breed. This chain of behaviour includes locating, fixing, stalking, chasing, grabbing, killing and eating prey. In modern dog ownership, we do not live out these instincts - but they are still there. And they look for ways.

We - Lui & Paulina - don't see prey-catching behaviour as a problem, but as an opportunity. Because what the dog likes to do, we can sensibly redirect and steer it in an organised way. It is not a question of whether a dog is motivated to hunt - but how strongly and how consciously we deal with it.

Why is prey capture behaviour important to understand?

Many problematic behaviours - such as leash aggression, ball addiction or game rushing - are based on misguided prey-catching behaviour. What was intended as a hunting sequence becomes a substitute for exercise, frustration relief or stress management. A dog that drives itself up to run, chase or fixate does not need admonishment - it needs a better channel.

Without understanding the prey-catching behaviour, we often train on the symptom, not the cause. That's why we always look at Vitomalia first: Which parts of the hunting sequence does the dog show? In which situations? And what does this mean for our training?

How does prey-catching behaviour manifest itself in everyday life?

• Stare or fixate on birds, cats, joggers

• Sudden stimulus jump during movement (e.g. cyclist)

• Chasing cars, balls, wild animals

• Intense tugging in the game

• High excitation with moving objects

Many of these behaviours look like "play" to us - but they are elements of hunting. If you understand this, you can recognise the motivation behind it and redirect it in a targeted manner.

Our approach at Vitomalia

We do not work against prey-catching behaviour, but with it. In other words:

• Recognising impulses before they escalate

• Build up alternatives, e.g. controlled retrieving, dummy work, nose work

• Regulate the arousal curve instead of constantly pushing it

• Learning to control impulses through impulse control exercises

• Relationship before stimulus - training focussing on cooperation instead of competition with the environment

A dog with strong prey-catching behaviour needs clarity, structure, forward-looking leadership - and a lot of understanding.

Our conclusion

Prey-catching behaviour is not a fault - it is a strength if we channel it sensibly. A dog that is allowed to give space to its instincts without getting out of control is more balanced, happier and more responsive.

The trick is not to suppress the hunting instinct, but to redirect it in such a way that both dog and human benefit from it. And that is precisely our goal at Vitomalia.