How to Live with a Dog with a High Prey Drive
Before you take in a dog with a high prey drive, consider whether you have enough space and time to devote to caring for the dog. Also keep in mind that a high prey drive dog may not do well with children or other pets. If you decide to bring the dog home, make sure it is spayed or neutered to prevent hormonal aggression. Additionally, get your dog microchipped in case it runs away or gets lost. Dogs with high prey drives need lots of training, so crate-train your dog and teach it basic recall commands so it's easier to manage.
Decide whether a dog with a high prey drive is right for you. Before you bring a dog with a high prey drive into your home, carefully consider whether you will be able to provide an appropriate home environment for the dog, and what impact the dog will have on you and your family. Things to consider include: Do you have enough space? Dogs with high prey drive do best in areas where they can get plenty of exercise, and are not likely to have run-ins with other neighborhood pets or children. For example, a home with a large, fenced-in yard is a good environment for a high prey drive dog. Are you able to commit a lot of time to training and exercising your dog? Do you have small pets or young children who might be at risk from a high prey drive dog? Keep in mind that some aggressive high prey drive dogs are incompatible with smaller animals or very young children, as they may severely injure or kill them. Do some research on high prey drive dogs. Before you adopt or purchase your dog, learn what types of breeds have high prey drive and what kinds of behaviors you can expect from the type of dog you plan to bring home. While there are many types of dogs with high prey drive (e.g., whippets, terriers, malamutes, and hounds), prey drive can manifest itself in different ways – or cause different potential problems for you and your household – depending on the breed, size, and individual temperament of the dog. Spay or neuter your dog. While hunting drives are largely based on genetics, spaying or neutering your dog can help deter instinctive hunting behavior. Spayed and neutered dogs are generally calmer, less dominant or aggressive, and less territorial. Be aware that since hunting drives are deeply instinctive, spaying and neutering will not eliminate these behaviors entirely. Get your dog microchipped. Ask your vet to microchip and register your dog. This will make it easier for you to relocate your dog in the event that the dog runs away or gets lost. Microchipping is a quick and relatively painless process with a low risk of complications. Once you have your dog chipped, make sure to keep the registration information up to date. Teach your dog to recall reliably. It's essential to teach your dog the command word “come.” Reliably recalling your dog, or telling it to come, can prevent unruly or dangerous behavior, especially if you ever let it off its leash outside. Use reward-based training. Start at a modest distance and say, “Come!” Wait for it to come to you or physically show it want you want it to do. Wave a toy if necessary. When it comes to you, make a big deal out of it. Give it praise and a small food treat. Repeat 20 times per training session to condition the dog to associate reliably recalling with a reward. It could take weeks or even months to ensure the association is solidified, so be patient and persistent. Crate train your dog. If you have a cat, smaller dog, or other pet, crate training can give you peace of mind when you leave the house. Dogs are den animals that find security in enclosed spaces, so the crate can be both calming and great for other pets' safety. It's essential not to punish your dog wit the crate. If it misbehaves and you immediately yell and throw it in the crate, it will not associate the crate with security. Be sure to put toys and familiar scent articles in the crate with the dog to keep it entertained and calm. Consider using puzzle or dispenser toys to keep it busy. Observe your dog's individual and breed tendencies. In order to best manage your dog, you should get to know both its individual personality and the dispositions of its breed or mix of breeds. Find out if its breed was selected for hunting, and if so, whether it was meant for ground game or for birds. Prey drive has to do with genetics and is generally unrelated to a dog's upbringing, so knowing breed traits is important. For example, dogs bred to flush birds, such as retriever breeds, might chase, but are unlikely to bite or attack. In addition to knowing breed traits, observing your dog's playtime habits will help you know how much activity you'll need to give it in order to manage its prey drive. Go on extended walks. The easiest way to wear out an active dog is to go on a long walk. Depending on its size, take it out for an hour or more once a day or as often as possible. Be sure to monitor your dog's endurance level and avoid wearing it out, especially if it's smaller. Try to identify how long it can go before panting hard and appearing overexerted. Do your best to factor in the walk back home. Try varying where you walk it so it's exposed to more sights and smells. This will give it mental stimulation in addition to physical exercise. Play lots of games. Whether your dog has a high chase drive or prey drive, playing fetch, catch, hide and seek, and other active games will help keep it busy. Games like these will engage its drives, keep it physically active, and give it mental stimulation. Keep in mind that a dog that doesn't get enough exercise or is bored is more likely to engage in destructive behavior, like chewing your possessions or going after other animals. Take your dog to obedience classes. It's wise to make sure everyone in your household is comfortable handling your dog, especially if you have children. Find a local training class and have everyone attend together to learn how to control your dog when it chases or tries to break away. Call your local breed club or breed rescue group and ask them to recommend a trainer who's good with your dog's breed. You can also try asking your dog's vet for a referral, or check with local kennels, community groups (like 4-H or Scout troops), or major pet stores in your area. Find a trainer with an agility course. If it's affordable and if one is locally available, try enrolling your dog in an agility or sport class. Some trainers that specialize in specific breeds or groups have equipment and obstacle courses specially designed for dogs that chase, stalk, and track. These specialized activities are effective ways of releasing your dog's pent-up energy and instinctive drives. Again, you can find out information about locally available options from a nearby breed club or by asking your vet. Avoid leaving your dog alone with other animals. If your dog is prone to chasing or biting, never leave it alone with any other animal. If you have a cat or other pet, keep your dog away from it until you're absolutely sure it won't attack or play rough. Take precautions when you introduce your dog to other animals. Keep it leashed and try to introduce other animals by scent first if you have the opportunity. Muzzle the dog during the meeting if you are at all concerned about an aggressive response. Reward calm behavior with lots of positive encouragement and small food treats. Keep your dog leashed and fenced. If your dog has a high prey drive, keep it leashed whenever it's outdoors, especially if other animals or children are around. Unleash it outside only in an enclosed space with a high fence. Avoid shock collars with electronic fences, as these are less likely to prevent a dog with a high prey drive from going after a target. Your dog might run despite the electric charge, or an animal might wander into your yard. Learn the differences between chase drive and prey drive. To understand the threat your dog poses to other animals, you have to understand what your dog was bred to do. Since some breeds were designed to chase or stalk while others were designed to kill, it's valuable to distinguish between chase and prey drives. Groups like terriers were bred to chase and kill small animals, so they have a high prey and kill drive, even if most breeds are small or medium sized. Sighthounds like Greyhounds are strong chasers, but don't typically bite or kill. Breeds like Labrador Retrievers and Weimaraners were selected for stalking, flushing, and retrieving, so their kill drive is typically low. Some owners allow their dogs to chase down small animals, for instance in an enclosed space like a large, fenced backyard. They know their dogs will only chase and pin, instead of bite and kill. However, be aware that chase and pin behavior can also lead to the serious injury or death of a cat or other small animal. 
Decide whether a dog with a high prey drive is right for you. Do some research on high prey drive dogs. Spay or neuter your dog. Get your dog microchipped. Teach your dog to recall reliably. Crate train your dog. Observe your dog's individual and breed tendencies. Go on extended walks. Play lots of games. Take your dog to obedience classes. Find a trainer with an agility course. Avoid leaving your dog alone with other animals. Keep your dog leashed and fenced. Learn the differences between chase drive and prey drive. 