Managing High-Prey Drive Dogs Using Golden Retriever Training

A golden retriever running full tilt after a cat can mean two things: both animals are engaged in honest to goodness play, or on the other hand, the cat is literally running for its life from a high prey dog! A lack of understanding regarding high prey drive tendencies in dog breeds is the root of many frustrations for many dog owners. Who can miss the story of the neighbor Jack Russell terrier left to its own by the owner who thought the dog and the cat have a truce, only to be found as waiting for some time alone with the cat before executing the coup de grace?

It is likely also that other dogs do not seek a kill, but only seek amusement in harrassing the smaller animal to the point of exhaustion (or death).

So how does a dog owner prevent a goldie (or generally any dog for that matter) at home from tangling with the mostly friendly furries in the neighborhood? Be prepared to invest oceans of patience, time and effort to managing your dog’s high-prey drive, especially if it meets small animals often.

On the bright side with these kind of dogs, dogs with high prey drive are often very receptive of training. For them, awareness of the reward is the best trigger. But the downside is that what gets them all agog and agitated are found right in their environments: birds, cats, small children running, smaller furry animals, etc

Here are some golden retriever training tips for dealing with canine friends with high prey drives:

1) Stick to a daily routine that has less disruptions.

2) Use more body signals than voice, and if you do need to use your voice, use a lower voice pitch. Talk less and move more.

3) Some time also needs to be spent teaching the dog to pay attention.

4) Interactive play also needs to be increased so that the dog’s will have lesser time for thinking of amusing themselves.

5) Boost the amount of touch time spent in grooming.

Another response to this concern is developing a solid recall in your dog. Put the dog on a leash with a helper hanging on to the leash. Then approach the dog with the cat in your hands and the cat level to the dog. If the dog tries to reach for the dog, tell the helper to give a leash correction. Ensure that the dog understands that it is not suppose to pay attention to the cat. But if you think all this is out of your league, then get the assistance of a golden retriever training expert, or either an animal behaviorist or an obedience trainer.