Prey Drive

[Lisa S]

Join our free community today.

Connect with other like-minded dog lovers!

Login or Register

Hi, sorry if I am being a bit thick but do you think there such a thing as a whippet with a low\no prey drive? i.e. if you breed non working or showing only dogs does this lessen the prey drive or do you think they are born with it?

I would love another whippet but my boy's prey drive is pretty high and he loves to chase most things but squirrels in particular so i don't think I could cope with 2 of the sods flying off after anything that moves on a nice walk in the woods, too bloody stressful :sweating:

 

[FifeJillandIan]

Hi, sorry if I am being a bit thick but do you think there such a thing as a whippet with a low\no prey drive? i.e. if you breed non working or showing only dogs does this lessen the prey drive or do you think they are born with it?
I would love another whippet but my boy's prey drive is pretty high and he loves to chase most things but squirrels in particular so i don't think I could cope with 2 of the sods flying off after anything that moves on a nice walk in the woods, too bloody stressful :sweating:

I don't think so ... Blue is a show bred whippet and has a very high prey drive so I don't think you'd know at the puppy choosing stage. Maybe a slightly older or rescue whippet would be the way to go as, if you knew a bit of the history of the dog, you would have a general idea of how high or low the individual's prey drive is. Good luck anyway :luck:

 

[eve]

Hi, sorry if I am being a bit thick but do you think there such a thing as a whippet with a low\no prey drive? i.e. if you breed non working or showing only dogs does this lessen the prey drive or do you think they are born with it?
I would love another whippet but my boy's prey drive is pretty high and he loves to chase most things but squirrels in particular so i don't think I could cope with 2 of the sods flying off after anything that moves on a nice walk in the woods, too bloody stressful :sweating:

Interesting question :thumbsup:

I think a lot depends on upbringing.

4 of mine have very high prey drive. Toddy has become obsessed since Bella arrived (ex worker) and 'showed him the ropes' and he made his 1st kill. His adoration of Lurecoursing has probably enhanced the thrill of the chase.

Strangely enough, Daisy grew up in an enviornment where hunting and being taught hunting skills was not in her lifestyle being very much a pet living in town. She came to me aged 2 and quite ill. 6 months later, and in great health, she loves to chase the other dogs but has ZERO prey drive. She does however have the other whippet problem rolling in smellies :x

I do not think 'prey drive' down to breeding so much as upbringing and thereafter influence.

If you can find a rescue whippet of 3 years + that has grown up as a pet in town or has shown no inclination to chase, you stand a better chance of it not being influenced by your existing whippet's habits.

I do think if you took on a pup, there is every chance that it will learn from your present whippet.

Food for thought :wacko:

 

[JAX]

Ive 9 little b***gers , I mean whippets , 7 of which I bred nyself and not all have a high prey drive , India and Harvee really arnt to bothered,unless Harvee hears a goose that is . Buffee never has been bothered with anything , and Montees not overly fussed either. as for the others , anything that moves is fair game , And they are all related to India, Harvee and Montee

and they have all been brought up the same

 

[Dr B]

I think it is instinct. I have 2 whippets, one I've had from a pup, Ash and the other a rescue, Hector. Ash is less prey driven but loves a chase where as Hector is ridiculously alert when we are out. It has to be said that squirrels are the bane of my life because they both chase them and there is even a little fluffy pomeranian that Hector seems to think is fair game. :angry:

As much as we can try to discourage the prey drive, I think it is always going to be there to some degree. :b

 

[meddling]

Bluebell has very little prey drive!

But as Eve says I think it depends on how you bring them up, and the more they have the more they egg each other on!

When out walking I have always kept Blue away from bunny trouble spots as they are mainly along the railway line, I always keep my girls within an area where they are still under my control, even Molly who has obviously been worked hard in a previous home has decided that playing with Blue and other friends is more fun than bunnying!

 

[Lisa S]

Thanks for the replies everyone but JAX my god I would be a nervous wreck if I had to walk 9 of them :sweating: how on earth do you cope?

I think it may just be instinct and the luck of the draw as my boy has never been encouraged to chase but the sod will chase most things but throw a ball for him to chase and it's a different story, like "why on earth do you expect me to run after that!"

I would like a young whippy girl of not more than 6 months really so if anyone comes across a whippy girl with no interest in chasing squirrels then please let me know but it may be a long shot (w00t)

 

[haycroft]

Thanks for the replies everyone but JAX my god I would be a nervous wreck if I had to walk 9 of them :sweating: how on earth do you cope?
I think it may just be instinct and the luck of the draw as my boy has never been encouraged to chase but the sod will chase most things but throw a ball for him to chase and it's a different story, like "why on earth do you expect me to run after that!"

I would like a young whippy girl of not more than 6 months really so if anyone comes across a whippy girl with no interest in chasing squirrels then please let me know but it may be a long shot (w00t)

have you considered another breed

thers no guarentee that a whippy pup will not chase

like alot have said depends on the up bringing/lines etc

Bow my eldest whippy is very highly prey driven,Lucy is learning quick from her

when i had peggy even when i had her on her own (before we got Bow) she had a high prey drive

we walk in woods etc where there are all these nice smells and furry things things to chase some are more than others..they are sighounds after all

 

[JAX]

Thanks for the replies everyone but JAX my god I would be a nervous wreck if I had to walk 9 of them :sweating: how on earth do you cope?
I think it may just be instinct and the luck of the draw as my boy has never been encouraged to chase but the sod will chase most things but throw a ball for him to chase and it's a different story, like "why on earth do you expect me to run after that!"

I would like a young whippy girl of not more than 6 months really so if anyone comes across a whippy girl with no interest in chasing squirrels then please let me know but it may be a long shot (w00t)

I dont take them all out together , just 5 at a time Im lucky in the fact I have a horse race course to take them on. they love running together , esp Montee ( 10 yrs ) who runs with a squeeky toy in his mouth ( till Meloody steals it )

 

[peppermint lady]

Bluebell has very little prey drive!
But as Eve says I think it depends on how you bring them up, and the more they have the more they egg each other on!

When out walking I have always kept Blue away from bunny trouble spots as they are mainly along the railway line, I always keep my girls within an area where they are still under my control, even Molly who has obviously been worked hard in a previous home has decided that playing with Blue and other friends is more fun than bunnying!

i actually believe upbringing makes no difference at all, all my dogs are brought up the same and some will run till the end of the earth once they have locked onto something, where as others either wont go to chase it or i can easily call them off, all mine are race bred where you want them to chase, i think all dogs are different and its a bit of a lottery :thumbsup:

 

[hawky]

mine are the same they will pretty much chase anything that moves then again i do race them so its to be exspected i suppose lol but i did have a whippet dog years ago from a pure show home that had never been allowed off a lead he was 2 when i got him and wouldnt chase for love nor money even tried running a lure under his legs lol but he ignored it and looked at me silly so there are exeptions i guess