Prey Drive

It's generally accepted that there are 5 levels to prey drive in dogs...

1. Stalk
2. Chase
3. Catch
4. Kill
5. Eat

Most dogs will have one or two of those in varying degrees, but very few will have all five. Some breeds are well known for having a full set, Border Terriers being one!

Dempsey will certainly chase, but is unlikely to catch & wouldn't know how to stalk to save his life! If he did catch something, though, he would definitely kill it, although I doubt he'd eat it.

How about your pooches?

Chance is most definitely a dog that has all 5, he has chased and caught a rabbit before, and very very quickly and easily killed it, the eating part he has no trouble with   

Harvey chased and killed a mouse before but didn't eat it, but has eaten mice before that the snake didn't fancy. But things like foxes and that he ignores completely.

Kuchar will stalk and chase, but has never caught anything (even the mouse the other day which was cowering at his feet) and I have my doubts that he would catch anything, I think it's the thrill of the chase.

My Dobies didn't stalk but they did chase, again for the thrill of it - they never caught anything and once when my first Dobie found a baby rat she immobilised it by pawing at it but just barked at it thereafter (I'm afraid I had to wait for my husband to get home to "put it out of its misery".)

My brother-in-law's English Springer is a definite murderer - she hares off over the Surrey heaths and comes back with blood around her mouth; whether she ate what she killed he doesn't know.

I disagree. Some dogs do have more drive ghan others but I think all dogs have the full set. We condition them and break it from puppies; starting with not destroying their toys, intervening when they chase a bird in the garden etc..
We break the cycle.
Anyone of my lot will go through with all 5.

I'm not so sure, Theresa. I think some breeds have had it bred right out of them.

I've never stopped Dempsey from 'stalking' things, I always find it quite cute so I've never tried - but he can't stalk to save his life!

Most terriers (count Dempsey out of that lot!  ) will give a good account of themselves, even the toy breeds. In fact a lot of the smaller breeds seem far more 'game' than the larger ones, I don't know if that's true.

I do think, though, that breeders over the years have deliberately bred out some of those drives as people tend to find them unpalatable (forgive the pun). They don't like to see their precious Booboo (or whatever) killing an animal.

Millie's not to bothered, she chased a squirrel once but it was really half hearted, more of a jog after it lol. She will try to chase any cats she sees outside though.
Bella will try to chase birds but I don't think she would know what to do if she caught one. Cats she absolutely hates. She chased and caught my cat at home and thankfully I was there. I don't know if she would eat anything she managed to catch.

Do they stalk, though, or just chase?

Also to consider is the difference between South African dogs and British dogs (to keep it simple). We like our dogs to be more awake, lively and aggressive as we mostly have them for 'protection'.
Our properties also tend to be larger and our dogs outside more due to better weather.
I think that also plays a role.
Mine stalk. Missy is the cutest: she is so focused and can stay frozen for quite a while.
Spike stalks like a Border Collie by going down on his belly.

Yes, you're right - different cultures produce different canine temperaments.

Certainly in the UK, I've seen many dogs chase, but very few either stalk or catch!

I've been watching mine closely. I think Xan is the only one that doesn't stalk but that definitely follows through with the rest. Mine even stalk each other during play.

I actually like watching dogs stalk!

It's cute.
Spike does it best as he runs slunk down and goes flat on his belly, runs forward and goes down again. He'll even crawl on his belly a bit.
Missy is cutest as she freezes and 'points', then goes slowly, slowly forward and flies off... usually after a bird. Birds are not allowed on the property LOL.

Anything bigger than Tommy ........ ALL 5

Now that's what i like about Tommy. To me, that's a real Stafford temperament. They don't set limits.

Oh he does lol

If its littler than him and not canine ........ all 5 apply
If its canine and smaller than him ..........it yer lucky day Rover

Caryll wrote:Do they stalk, though, or just chase?

they don't stalk. With both of them it's stop, stare a second, then chase.

Yes, that's Dempsey as well - if he can be bothered to actually get going!

Another thread I must have missed!

Been interesting, reading through it!

Caryll wrote:Yes, that's Dempsey as well - if he can be bothered to actually get going!

  

Tyson stalks, &waits for the opportune moment. He belly crawls in to watch & wait.
Jess just bolts in head first & goes for it.