Poodle Pulse – Prey Drive

Poodle Pulse – Prey Drive

Understanding Prey Drive in Dogs & How We Assess It in Puppies

What is Prey Drive?

Prey drive is a dog’s natural instinct to chase, capture, and sometimes kill moving objects. It’s an inherited trait that varies by breed and individual, influencing a dog’s suitability for different roles—whether as a working dog, sport competitor, or companion. While prey drive can be shaped through training, it is rooted in a dog’s genetics.

Prey drive is often broken down into several components:

• Orientation – Noticing and focusing on movement.
• Chase – Pursuing the moving object (e.g., a toy, ball, or small animal).
• Grab-Bite – Catching and gripping the object.
• Possessiveness – Holding onto the object and resisting release.

In working and sport dogs, prey drive is harnessed for jobs like detection work, herding, hunting, and protection sports. However, in service dogs or calm companion homes, an overly strong prey drive can be problematic, leading to distraction, impulse control issues, or difficulty maintaining focus on a handler.

How We Assess Prey Drive in Puppies (7.5-Week Temperament Testing)

At around 7.5 weeks, we conduct structured temperament testing to evaluate different aspects of a puppy’s personality, including their prey drive. This is done in a low-pressure environment to see their natural tendencies before extensive training influences their behavior.

Key Assessments for Prey Drive:

1. Object Interest & Chase Response – We use a soft toy or a small tug to gauge how quickly a puppy notices and chases it.
   • High Prey Drive: The puppy immediately locks onto movement and chases enthusiastically.
   • Moderate Prey Drive: The puppy shows interest but doesn’t pursue with intensity.
   • Low Prey Drive: The puppy may watch but does not engage much in the chase.
2. Toy Engagement & Possession – After catching the toy, we observe how the puppy interacts with it.
   • High: Puppy grabs firmly, shakes the toy, and resists letting go.
   • Moderate: Puppy engages briefly but releases easily.
   • Low: Puppy loses interest quickly or doesn’t pick up the toy.
3. Reaction to Sudden Movement – A fluttering rag or quick-moving object helps determine their response to unpredictable movement.
   • High: Immediate reaction, chasing and pouncing.
   • Moderate: Watches but is thoughtful before engaging.
   • Low: No reaction or avoids the movement.
4. Recovery & Focus After Excitement – We assess how quickly the puppy settles and redirects focus to the handler after play.
   • High Prey Drive, Low Impulse Control: Struggles to disengage from the toy or remains overly aroused.
   • Balanced: Excited but able to settle quickly.
   • Low Prey Drive: Shows mild interest and disengages easily.

How Predictive is Prey Drive at 7.5 Weeks?

Temperament testing provides a strong early indicator of prey drive tendencies, but it is not absolute. Several factors influence how prey drive manifests as the puppy matures:
✔ Genetics – A puppy from high-drive working lines is likely to retain and develop strong prey instincts.
✔ Environment & Training – Reinforcing prey behaviors (e.g., sports like lure coursing, barn hunt) can amplify drive, while structured impulse control training can help manage it.
✔ Maturity & Hormonal Changes – Some puppies exhibit more drive as they grow, especially between 6-18 months.

In most cases, a high prey drive puppy at 7.5 weeks will still have strong prey instincts as an adult, though training can refine their responses. However, some moderate-drive puppies may develop stronger drive through environmental influences, and some high-drive puppies may learn better control through structured training.

Puppy Matching

Understanding a puppy’s prey drive at 7.5 weeks helps us match them to the right home—whether as a future sport dog, working dog, or calm companion. While early testing gives us valuable insights, proper training, management, and outlet choices will ultimately determine how that drive is expressed in adulthood.

Exposure to prey-driven sports

Exposing a young dog to prey-driven sports like Barn Hunt, Nose Work/Scent Work, Dock Diving, Flyball, Disc Dog, and Lure Coursing can enhance their natural prey drive, especially if they already have a predisposition for it. These activities tap into their instinct to chase, hunt, and engage with moving targets, reinforcing the excitement and reward of the chase.

However, the degree to which prey drive is increased depends on several factors:

• Genetics: Some dogs have stronger natural prey drives than others.
• Reinforcement: The more success and fun they associate with the activity, the stronger their drive can become.
• Self-Control Training: If balanced with impulse control exercises (like obedience work or structured toy play), the dog can learn when to turn their prey drive “on” and “off.”

If your goal is to build drive, these sports are excellent. If you’re concerned about controlling it, pairing them with structured training will help maintain balance.

Training self-control (also called impulse control) from puppyhood to adulthood is crucial for a well-mannered and focused dog. The goal is to teach the dog to regulate their excitement and make good choices rather than acting on impulse. Below is a step-by-step guide, starting from puppyhood and progressing into adulthood.

Impulse control training is crucial for young dogs because it helps them develop self-regulation, patience, and the ability to think before reacting. This is especially important during their developmental stages when they are naturally more impulsive and curious.

Why It Matters for All Young Dogs:

1. Prevents Unwanted Behaviors – Helps reduce jumping, mouthing, barking, chasing, and destructive tendencies.
2. Builds a Thinking Dog – Teaches dogs to make good choices rather than reacting instinctively.
3. Improves Safety – A dog with impulse control is less likely to bolt, chase, or grab dangerous objects.
4. Strengthens Bond with the Handler – Encourages engagement and cooperation in training.
5. Sets a Foundation for Advanced Training – Helps with obedience, recall, and focus in distracting environments.

It’s Even More Critical for Service Dogs in Training:

Service dogs need an exceptional level of impulse control because they must remain calm and focused in all situations, regardless of distractions like food, people, animals, loud noises, or unexpected movements.

1. 1. 1. Public Access Manners – A service dog can’t react to food on the ground, other dogs, or people trying to interact.
      2. Task Reliability – They must perform their tasks under stress without getting distracted.
      3. Low Arousal State – Unlike sport dogs, who thrive on drive, service dogs need to stay neutral, not overly excited or reactive.
      4. Emotional Stability – Impulse control training helps prevent overexcitement or anxiety when working in high-stimulation environments.

Key Impulse Control Exercises for Service Dogs:

• • • “Leave It” & “Drop It” – Essential for ignoring food, objects, or distractions.
    • Settle on Cue – Teaching the dog to relax in any environment.
    • Wait at Doors & Thresholds – No rushing through doors, elevators, or cars.
    • Eye Contact & Focus Work – Maintaining engagement with the handler in busy settings.
    • Long Down-Stays & Place Training – Helps the dog remain still and calm for extended periods.

While all dogs benefit from impulse control, service dogs require an extreme level of it because their job depends on staying calm, focused, and predictable in all situations.

How to train impulse control

Puppy Stage (8 weeks – 4 months)

At this stage, training should be short, fun, and reinforced with rewards.

1. Name Recognition & Engagement
   • Say the puppy’s name in a happy tone.
   • When they look at you, reward with a treat or praise.
   • Repeat several times a day to teach them to focus on you.
2. Hand-Feed for Patience & Focus
   • Use some of their meals as training rewards.
   • Have the puppy sit before feeding a kibble.
   • If they jump or grab, close your hand.
   • Only release food when they wait calmly.
3. “Wait” for Food & Toys
   • Hold a treat in your hand and say “Wait.”
   • If they rush for it, close your hand.
   • When they pause, mark (“Yes!”) and reward.
   • Increase duration over time.
4. Introduce “Leave It”
   • Hold a treat in a closed hand.
   • Let the puppy sniff but do not open your hand.
   • When they stop trying to grab it, say “Yes!” and reward with a different treat.
   • Gradually increase difficulty (open hand, place treat on the floor, etc.).

Young Adolescent (4 – 9 months)

Adolescence can be a challenging time, so maintaining consistency is key.

1. “Wait” at Doors & Gates
   • Approach a door and ask the dog to “Wait.”
   • Slowly open it—if they try to rush through, close it.
   • When they stay back, release them with “Okay!”
   • Gradually extend waiting time.
2. “Leave It” with Higher Distractions
   • Use toys, food, or moving objects.
   • Start with a low-value item and increase difficulty.
   • Reward with a different item when they disengage.
3. Reward Calm Behavior
   • Ignore pushy/jumpy behavior.
   • Reward voluntary calm moments (sitting instead of jumping).
   • If the dog demands attention, wait for calmness before engaging.
4. Start “Stay” Training
   • Have the dog sit or lie down.
   • Say “Stay” and take a half-step back.
   • If they hold position, reward. If they break, reset.
   • Gradually increase distance and duration.

Older Puppy to Adult (9 months – 2 years+)

At this stage, dogs are more energetic and may test boundaries. Continue reinforcing self-control.

1. Advanced Stay with Movement & Distractions
   • Practice stay while walking around them.
   • Toss a toy or treat but ask them to hold position.
   • Release with a cue (“Okay!”) when they succeed.
2. Impulse Control Around Prey Drive Triggers
   • Start with a flirt pole or moving toy.
   • Ask for a “Sit” or “Down” before engaging.
   • Only let them chase when calm.
   • If they get too excited, pause play until they refocus.
3. Controlled Greetings with People & Dogs
   • Ask for a sit before greeting anyone.
   • If they jump or lunge, walk away and try again.
   • Only allow interaction when they remain calm.
4. Off-Leash Control & Recall (Crucial for Prey Drive Dogs)
   • Use a long line for safety.
   • Call them and reward heavily when they return.
   • Practice calling them away from distractions.
   • Reward coming back instead of chasing.

Ongoing Training for Life

1. Regular impulse control exercises prevent regression.
2. Continue rewarding calm behavior.
3. Reinforce control in new environments.
4. Adjust training to match energy and maturity levels.

By following these steps, you create a well-balanced dog that can handle high-energy activities while maintaining self-control.

What if the prey drive already exists or if you unknowingly developed it?

If your 2-year-old dog has developed an excessive prey drive, especially after being introduced to prey-based sports like lure coursing, FastCAT, or barn hunt, you can manage and redirect that drive rather than trying to suppress it entirely. Here are some steps to help:

1. Increase Impulse Control

• Work on Leave It, Drop It, and Stay in controlled settings and then with increasing distractions.
• Incorporate games like It’s Yer Choice (offered in Puppy Culture) to help the dog make thoughtful choices.
• Practice Premack Principle—reward the dog with access to something fun after they show control (e.g., a recall before being released to chase a toy).

2. Provide Safe, Controlled Outlets for Prey Drive

• Redirect prey drive into structured games like flirt pole sessions where you control the chase and when the game ends.
• Play tug-of-war and teach a solid release command to reinforce control over excitement.
• Train and compete in sports that require controlled drive, such as obedience, agility, or scent work.

3. Strengthen Your Recall & Engagement

• Use high-value rewards (real meat, favorite toy) when training recalls, especially in environments where prey might appear.
• Build a strong engagement foundation by rewarding eye contact and focus around distractions.

4. Reduce Unsupervised Opportunities to Chase

• Use a long line in open areas until you’re confident in their recall.
• Keep the dog leashed or fenced in prey-dense areas to prevent self-reinforcing bad habits.
• Minimize exposure to fast-moving animals unless in a training setting.

5. Consider a Structured Obedience Program

• A board-and-train or private lessons with an experienced trainer can help refine control.
• Protection sports trainers or hunting dog trainers often have techniques for controlling high drive.

6. Enrich Their Mind & Body

• Increase mental stimulation (puzzle toys, tracking games, scent work).
• Provide structured exercise that helps drain excess energy without fueling prey drive, like structured walks, treadmill training, or swimming.

If your dog’s prey drive has escalated to the point of being unsafe (e.g., chasing livestock or becoming aggressive toward small animals), a professional trainer specializing in behavior modification may be necessary. Otherwise, with patience and redirection, you can turn that drive into a fun, controlled advantage!