I have a 3 year old male GSD, one of 4 dogs. He's lovely, what an amazing dog (I'd normally say). But as I'm writing this, pretty much fuming!! He escaped our property for the first time today when he saw our cat (lives separately, could say feral) and ran until he reached the border and got through the stream and hedgerow. Onto the busy road where tractors come by at a heck of a speed. Saw him briefly in neighbours land, and called but to no avail! At this point I started to panic. A couple with their dogs pointed me in his direction, thank God he didn't get hit but also for their help! He came running from far up the road back down but not to me, rather the 2 dogs as he wanted to say hi. Grabbed him and got him back in. He totally ignored my recall, was in a real prey mode which I've never seen to that extent before. Sure, he's chased a few birds and squirrels like any dog. I don't know how I can teach him. He went to so many puppy classes and more as a young adult. I don't trust his recall, don't know how to teach him as he is more or less totally uninterested in training of any kind. Any suggestions? Will I need professional help or is this meaning I just can't let him off lead?
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Extreme Cat Prey Drive, German Shepherd
- Thread starter RolloGSD
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I don't think there are many (if any) dogs that will never blow a recall. Like most things, we manage the risk and do what we can.
I have a little terrier mutt who would also chase cats, it's hardwired into terriers' brains to hunt and kill. He has excellent recall but I wouldn't risk it if a cat was likely to be around. So he gets off lead a lot but in parks, on the beach, in the countryside, on paths where there's no traffic. I have successfully called him off chasing a rabbit, but that was in a safe place where if it had failed, he wouldn't have come to harm.
So I suppose what I'm saying is teach the strongest recall you and he are capable of, and if you think there is a risk he won't respond, that's when you keep him on lead.
There is a book that might have something helpful in it for you though, it's called Hunting Together by Simone Mueller. It's about working with your dog's prey drive rather than battling against it.
To increase his interest in training, and strengthen his recall, can I ask what you have tried to train and how you have approached that up to now?
I have a little terrier mutt who would also chase cats, it's hardwired into terriers' brains to hunt and kill. He has excellent recall but I wouldn't risk it if a cat was likely to be around. So he gets off lead a lot but in parks, on the beach, in the countryside, on paths where there's no traffic. I have successfully called him off chasing a rabbit, but that was in a safe place where if it had failed, he wouldn't have come to harm.
So I suppose what I'm saying is teach the strongest recall you and he are capable of, and if you think there is a risk he won't respond, that's when you keep him on lead.
There is a book that might have something helpful in it for you though, it's called Hunting Together by Simone Mueller. It's about working with your dog's prey drive rather than battling against it.
To increase his interest in training, and strengthen his recall, can I ask what you have tried to train and how you have approached that up to now?
Training is never 100% - management almost always is.
We have kept very high prey-driven dogs for umpteen years. What we do is have a high stout fence inside the garden boundary fence. This needs to be dug in at the bottom, and turned over inwards at the top, and the gate needs this as well. That is the dog area, and we have always ensured that nobody can come onto the inner fence of the property and leave a gate open.
We don't have dogs any more, but the fence is still there as it is a good security feature.
We have kept very high prey-driven dogs for umpteen years. What we do is have a high stout fence inside the garden boundary fence. This needs to be dug in at the bottom, and turned over inwards at the top, and the gate needs this as well. That is the dog area, and we have always ensured that nobody can come onto the inner fence of the property and leave a gate open.
We don't have dogs any more, but the fence is still there as it is a good security feature.
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You could try Total Recall by Pippa Mattison (book) but as others have said, it is unrealistic to expect a perfect100% recall. He doesn't have extreme prey drive' - it is just normal for most dogs.
The best approach is for you to manage the environment (good fences in the garden) and use his lead where he is likely to come across things to chase.
The best approach is for you to manage the environment (good fences in the garden) and use his lead where he is likely to come across things to chase.
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Feel your pain! My Robin is EXACTLY the same - makes me feel better just knowing I am not alone! ......Nigel Reed! Dog trainer - get his book if you are able, I've learned so much in such a short space of time! Already seeing improvements! Best of luck!
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I think that is the soundest advise! You can NEVER trust ANY animal implicitly. As you know my Robin is a wonderful dog but he is A DOG and will do his own thing spontaneously!
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Does anyone else find it a little bit annoying when we put our time and effort into replying, and the OP hasn't been back to see what we have said?
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How ungrateful and how rude, I see that the original person has not been back or been seen since original posting on the 28th Jan
I suppose there is a chance that they have looked without logging in !
I suppose there is a chance that they have looked without logging in !
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Yes - a thank you would be nice.
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It is, I agree. Sometimes I guess people just want to sound off their frustration, and maybe aren't particularly interested in solutions for which they actually have to make an effort!
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you get this on most forums,,I get this on the Ford Kuga forum as well,,it is annoying,,you go out of your way to help or give them advice,,but never hear from them again
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