What is prey drive in dogs?

Predation: What is it?

Predation in dogs is not aggression. It is a hunting instinct that comes directly from wolf evolution and follows a fairly structured sequence:

• Detection (spotting the prey)

• Orientation (staring/fixating)

• Chase (running after)

• Capture (jumping, grabbing)

• Kill (shaking, strong biting)

• Consumption

Depending on the breed and human selection, some steps of this sequence have been amplified or inhibited.

Example: Border Collies mostly retain the intense stare and chase, but rarely the kill.Terriers and sighthounds, on the other hand, were selected to chase all the way through to the kill.

Is it genetic?

Yes. The prey drive is strongly inherited genetically.

• It is part of the fixed motor patterns (automatic behaviors wired into the nervous system).

• However, there are individual variations: some puppies from the same litter will be more or less predatory.

So, it cannot be completely eliminated from a bloodline. What breeders can do is select individuals where this instinct is less pronounced or redirected (e.g., companion dogs vs. working dogs). But the genetic foundation never disappears.

Can this instinct be “suppressed”?

No, the prey drive cannot be “erased.”

What can be done:

• Channel it: through training, enrichment games (e.g., tug, balls, canicross), or specific work.

• Manage it: by avoiding situations where predation is triggered (free-roaming small animals).

• Redirect it: teaching the dog to replace chasing a cat with chasing a toy.

Can a puppy raised with cats still become predatory?

Yes, absolutely.

• Growing up with cats increases tolerance and habituation: the puppy will recognize them as part of its social group.

• But this learning is specific: the dog may respect “its” cats at home while still chasing cats or small animals outdoors.

• Also, depending on age (adolescence, hormone surges, stress), predation can resurface even toward familiar pets—especially if a cat suddenly runs.

In summary:

• Predation is innate and genetic, not simply a basic training issue.

• It cannot be “removed,” but it can be channeled and managed.

• A puppy raised with cats may get used to them, but this does not guarantee it won’t hunt other animals—or even those same cats in certain contexts.

• Breed, lineage, and individual traits all play a role in the intensity of this instinct.