Why does my dog want to chase squirrels?

Dogs all have a built in prey drive, the levels vary considerably but they all have it because they all used to have to hunt for their food.

High drives are being progressively bred out of dogs as domestication continues, these are being replaced with more and higher levels of frustration behaviour caused by the style of human interctions but that is a topic for another blog.

Certain breeds may also have a higher prey drive than others, herders in particular have theor entire meaning built on prey drive, it has been modified and controlled through selective breeding but it is still a strong desire.

Retrievers and Spaniels also have a strong prey drive and again they have been contitioned over the years to perform structured tasks again built on the prey drive.

One of the most common causes of chasing behaviours is actually a taught one, often with the best of intentions.

Playing, more specifically the throwing and retrieving of a ball is the most commo way prey drives are activated, honed, developed and reinforced until the dog is interested in anything that moves and this is where the behaviours can be transferred to buses, lorries, cyclists, joggers, cars, cats and, of course squirrels.

By throwing a ball and getting your dog to bring it back, you are teaching your dog it must react to things that move, chase them and bring them back to you for attention, and this is reinforced with very regular repetition.

Why does no one I have ever met teach their dog to recall before it gets the ball?

Have a think about that.

That takes some effort, concentration and training but will be the difference between a dog you can recall and a dog you can’t.

You see what I mean about the behaviour being taught?

As with all learned behaviours, they can be undone and a new set of behaviours can be taught, but that takes time and patience which is why so many perfectly good dogs end up in rescues. They have been taught every behaviour the owner doesn’t want and rather than spend the time and omeny getting help and being prepared to change their own behaviour, it is easier to simply discard the dog, even though it is no fault of the dogs, the dog is merely doing what he has been taught.

I love working with people who do want to change so their dog can, who are prepared to put their dogs needs ahead of their own wants, this is what can really turn the dog around. Everyone makes mistakes, everyone gets things wrong, not everyone is prepared to put things right.

I spend my life helping people put it right, changing their behaviours so their dog can make different and better, and calmer choices which lead to better and calmer behaviour.

If you would like help with your dog and are prepared to change your behaviour, I would love to have a chat with you.