Predatory Instincts in Dogs: Unveiling Nature's Sequence
Have you ever witnessed your dog's unstoppable urge to chase after squirrels, birds, or even leaves blowing in the wind? This behavior, often bewildering to dog owners, is part of a hidden sequence deeply ingrained in a dog's nature. Understanding this can significantly change the way you interact with your dog and lead to more effective training. We'll also introduce how Kindred Canine's methods can help you work with these instincts.
The Predatory Sequence Explained
The predatory sequence is a series of stages that many animals, including dogs, follow when on the hunt. These stages include:
Scan & Orient: Spotting something of interest in the environment.
Eye & Creep: Intense focus and slowly advancing towards the target.
Chase: Running after the target.
Grab & Bite: Catching the prey.
Kill, Dissect, & Consume: The final stages that domestic dogs don't usually complete.
Though our domestic dogs aren't typically hunting for food, these behaviors are hardwired and can pop up in daily life.
Natural Outlets for Predatory Urges
It's crucial to provide dogs with an outlet for these natural behaviors. Suppressing these instincts can lead to other behavioral problems. Engaging in games like tug (limited, low and they guide) or using a flirt pole strategically (serious benefits but also serious injury if done incorrectly) and providing toys your dog enjoys can satisfy these urges.
How to Recognize Early Signs of Predation
Recognizing the signs of each stage in the predatory sequence is vital for managing your dog's behavior effectively. This awareness enables you to predict and manage their actions better, using practical training techniques. for example, I have two dogs who have a very “activated” predatory sequence and so have them both in tracking. This has proven to be an excellent outlet and joy for all of us to see them excell.
Practical Training Techniques and Kindred Canine's Methodology
With Kindred Canine's emphasis on fun, games-based methods, and a holistic view of the connections between physical and emotional well-being, understanding and working with your dog's natural instincts becomes a joyful interaction. Some practical approaches include:
Understanding Your Dog's Threshold: Learn the distance or situation where your dog becomes too excited or anxious, and train below that threshold. We call this Arousal Up/Arousal Down and want to grow within our dog a “dimmer switch”.
Balancing Natural Urges with Safety: Permit your dog to engage in the early stages of the predatory sequence but prevent escalation to the chase stage. This looks like allowing your dog to express their natural urges so to prevent frustration, while growing arousal up/down skills, in addition to Thinking In Arousal, so chase is not so exciting your dog cannot hear you.
Using Natural Disengagement: Wait for natural disengagement from the sequence and reward with something enjoyable. For example, the Border Collie will do well with a “Whip It” game using a flirt pole as it activates stalk and chase sequences, and by playing this game as a skill, our dogs can learn to think in arousal (leading to amazing recall).
Bridging with Kindred Canine's Philosophy
Understanding predatory instincts in dogs isn't about suppressing or combating nature but working in harmony with it. Kindred Canine's approach emphasizes nurturing stronger bonds with dogs by incorporating play and joyful interactions, aligning perfectly with respecting and utilizing the predatory sequence in training.
By adopting Kindred Canine's approach and recognizing these natural instincts, dog owners can craft a training plan that not only builds stronger bonds but truly brings out the best in their dogs.
Misunderstanding Predatory Instinct for Aggression
A common misunderstanding many dog owners and even some trainers encounter is confusing predatory instinct with aggression. While both behaviors may appear similar, understanding the distinction between them is crucial for appropriate training and interaction with our canine friends.
What is Predatory Instinct?
Predatory instinct, as outlined earlier, is a natural, hardwired behavior sequence in dogs. It's an evolutionary trait that allows them to hunt and is characterized by the phases of scanning, orienting, creeping, chasing, grabbing, biting, killing, dissecting, and consuming. This sequence is not driven by anger or hostility but rather by survival.
How is Aggression Different?
Aggression, on the other hand, often manifests from fear, territoriality, or a reaction to a perceived threat. It's associated with growling, snarling, snapping, and other forms of intimidation or dominance. We consider aggression a verb, not a trait.
Why the Confusion?
The confusion between predatory instinct and aggression stems from the physical actions involved. Chasing, biting, and grabbing can be part of both predatory play and aggressive behavior. The context, body language, and triggers help differentiate between the two.
Applying Kindred Canine's Approach
We emphasize understanding the dog's intrinsic behaviors and instincts. By recognizing the signs of predatory behavior and distinguishing it from aggression, we can create a more targeted training strategy.
Play and Joyful Interactions: Incorporate games that satisfy predatory urges in a controlled environment. Letting dogs "hunt" toys, and food, or engage in structured play (like using a flirt pole) helps in channeling these instincts positively.
Comprehensive Understanding: Consider the whole dog, including their physical and emotional well-being. Mislabeling predatory instinct as aggression can lead to inappropriate training methods, potentially harming the relationship between dog and handler.
Embracing the Natural Behavior: Instead of suppressing or punishing the predatory behavior, embrace it as a natural part of the dog's biology. Teach the owner how to manage and direct these instincts appropriately.
Educate and Support: We want to continue to provide resources and training to dog owners to recognize the signs of predatory instinct versus aggression. Understanding your pet's behavior leads to more empathetic and effective handling.
Misunderstanding predatory instinct for aggression can lead to unnecessary struggles in dogs' lives. By embracing and understanding these natural instincts, Kindred Canine offers a fresh perspective that nurtures stronger bonds and healthier, happier dogs. Our games-based methods and compassionate approach allow owners to work with their dog's instincts, rather than against them, bridging the gap and unveiling their authentic selves.
References:
Mech, L. D. (2002). Alpha status, dominance, and division of labor in wolf packs. Canadian Journal of Zoology, 80(6), 941-952.
Bradshaw, J. W. S., Blackwell, E. J., & Casey, R. A. (2009). Dominance in domestic dogs—useful construct or bad habit? Journal of Veterinary Behavior, 4(3), 135-144.
Horowitz, A. (2009). Disambiguating the "guilty look": Salient prompts to a familiar dog behaviour. Behavioural Processes, 81(3), 447-452.
Are you ready to bridge the gap between misunderstanding and authentic connection with your canine companion? Join me at Kindred Canine and let's embark on a journey filled with fun, games, and compassionate understanding. Together, we'll nurture a strong bond between you and your dog, using methods that embrace natural instincts rather than combat them. Let's unveil your dog's true self and enhance the joy in your relationship. Contact me today, and let's make a positive difference in both your lives!