Tag Archives: prey drive

Working with a Dog with a High Prey Drive

One of the main obstacles to cats and dogs living together in harmony is the dog’s prey drive. Basically, that’s the instinctive urge to chase things. Especially moving things. After all, wild dogs need to be good hunters in order to survive. Our domesticated pups still have that instinct. Training will be your greatest asset if your dog(s) and cat(s) don’t get along. Basics you’ll want your dog to know are: Sit (sit down on command) Stay (stay in one place until you allow them to get up) Leave it/Release (give up the thing they’re after — be it a … Continue reading →

Fighting Like Cats and Dogs

So why do dogs and cats have this stereotypical relationship as enemies? We see it over and over in books, television, and film — think about Garfield and Odie, for example. Most dogs can learn to tolerate cats. It depends largely on the dog’s prey drive. Canines are predators. They chase and catch smaller animals for food; even thousands of years of domestic life can’t quite change that instinct to chase. Selective breeding has enhanced that trait in some dogs, and faded it in others. For instance, many terriers have high prey drives, as they were bred to be hunting … Continue reading →