Features
July 2010 Issue
Here’s a dog who was bred for hunting and who is showing very strong predatory behavior – the raised forepaw, stalking, intense concentration on the “prey.” The predatory behavior, however, has been completely channeled into a perfectly harmless activity: chasing tennis balls.
Understanding Highly Predatory Dogs
I remember a day when I was waiting in the vet's office for my dog's appointment. The man sitting next to us started telling me, with beaming pride, about how his little white Westie had caught seven barn rats in the past week. I couldn't help but admire this cute, fluffy dog's superior hunting skills. Predatory behavior in dogs is something I respect. From following a scent trail, to stalking a bird, chasing a ball, or herding sheep, I am intrigued with the many forms predatory behavior manifests in our dogs; it is part of what makes dogs so amazing! But, predatory behavior is not so admirable (and much less socially acceptable), when, instead of it being a country terrier ridding a barn of rats or an Aussie herding sheep, it is your city dog chasing a skateboarder or the neighbor's cat.
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