Heidi's misadventures

[CherylHampton]

Its been a bit since I've been here. After losing my last dog I told myself I would not have another one. Yep, that didn't last of course. I decided(which cheryl I never expected to happen) that if another mixed breed like my beloved shiloh (German shepherd/lab) came along and needed a home...well I guess God decided for me. But I digress....Heidi came along and she's the light of my life. she loves people, especially children, alerts whenever anyone approaches the home, but is never aggressive all great traits. She does however think she's a squirrel dog, a Daniel Boone type with natural hunting skills which she practices daily to perfect. Her domain is mostly outside which is where she prefers to be. We have animals that roam and come onto our property and most of the time she promptly manages them away, other times not so much. Is there ANY way I can deter her from catching the critters (and yes sadly she dispatches them when she does). She's also been deskunked 3 times(although name didn't catch them thankfully . I realize she has a strong prey drive but I would prefer she didn't hone her skills further. She's very fast and could catch a deer if the forest didn't get in her way.  So have to keep that from happening! She trees a squirrel then waits patiently(after attempting to climb the tree) for it to come down. Is there any solution to this? Im all ears. Thanks for being patient with this extended description of my problem.Heidi really is an otherwise perfect dog😊❤❤❤❤❤❤

[Adrienne Farricelli]

Thank you for sharing Heidi’s story...she sounds like a wonderful dog with a great temperament and a very strong natural prey drive. 

Chasing and hunting are internally rewarding behaviors for many dogs. Even if she never “catches” something, the act of chasing provides a dopamine surge that reinforces the behavior. That means it can persist despite your best efforts unless we redirect it effectively.

Because prey drive is instinctive, the most reliable way to reduce Heidi’s opportunities is limiting access to wildlife.  Options include: using a long-line or leash, so she can explore but not chase. Secure fencing that doesn't allow wildlife or outdoor runs/enclosures, where she can be outside but not in pursuit mode.

Dogs with strong prey drive do best if they have safe, appropriate outlets for their instincts. Consider using a flirt pole or  long tug toys, these let her practice the chase/grab/shake sequence in a controlled way.  offer scent games, hiding food or toys for her to find so she can tap into the hunting instinct and be deeply satisfying. Give her foraging-type activity outdoors.

Work daily on recall in low-distraction settings, gradually increasing difficulty. Use very high-value rewards (fresh meat, cheese). The goal isn’t just “come when called” but “interrupt prey focus and turn to you.” Practive leave it and look at me first in  staged, low-distraction scenarios.

Beyond the impact on wildlife, a high-speed chase risks injury (getting lost, hit by a car, or injured in underbrush). This is where structured management (long lines, fencing) is most protective for Heidi.

Unfortunately, curiosity + prey drive make skunks frequent targets. Preventing unsupervised night roaming is the only reliable way to reduce those incidents. Motion sensor lights or fencing can sometimes help deter skunks themselves.

You won’t be able to eliminate Heidi’s prey drive, but you can manage her access to critters and give her safe, satisfying outlets that reduce her need to practice hunting behaviors. The most important changes are consistent management outdoors (especially preventing unsupervised free roaming), daily mental/physical enrichment that mimics “the hunt,” and strong recall/leave-it training.

Hope this helps!

Happy training!