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How to Manage Prey Drive in Your Dog (and Turn Instincts into Fun Games)

Mon, 06 Oct 2025 14:56:17 GMT

Learn how to manage your dog’s prey drive using positive reinforcement and instinct-based games from Paws & Play Gundogs.

Understanding Your Dog’s Natural Instincts

You call your dog’s name, but they don’t hear you — their eyes are locked on a squirrel darting across the field. In a flash, they’re gone, muscles tight with excitement and every instinct alive. It’s both awe-inspiring and a little terrifying. If this sounds familiar, you’re not alone.

Many owners mistake this behaviour for stubbornness or lack of training, when in reality, it’s something far more natural — prey drive . Every dog, from the family pet to the seasoned working gundog, carries this ancient instinct within them. The good news? You don’t need to fight it. You can learn to work with it.

In this blog, we’ll explore what prey drive really is, how to understand the predation sequence , and most importantly, how to redirect those powerful instincts through positive reinforcement and fun, instinct-based games.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we believe in helping owners turn instinct into opportunity — whether your dog’s role is by the fireside or out in the field. And if you’d like to take your training further, our brand-new Gundog Hub online subscription gives you all the tools, games, and guidance to harness your dog’s natural drive safely and effectively.

What Is Prey Drive (and Why Does It Matter?)

At its core, prey drive is your dog’s natural instinct to chase, catch, and sometimes hold onto moving objects — a behaviour deeply rooted in their ancestry. Long before dogs became our companions, their survival depended on these very instincts. Even today, whether you own a lively spaniel, a clever collie, or a relaxed Labrador, that same inbuilt drive still exists beneath the surface.

Prey drive isn’t a sign of disobedience or misbehaviour — it’s biology. When a dog sees movement, it triggers an automatic sequence of reactions in the brain. For some breeds, this response is finely tuned through generations of selective breeding. Working dogs like retrievers or pointers, for example, have been bred to control and channel their prey drive, using it to locate and retrieve rather than to chase and catch.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we often see owners struggle when these natural behaviours clash with modern life. A chase after a squirrel or a fixation on a moving toy isn’t your dog “being naughty”; it’s instinct taking over. The key lies not in suppressing these behaviours, but in understanding them — and learning how to direct that energy into something more constructive.

By recognising prey drive for what it truly is — a healthy, natural part of who your dog is — you can begin to strengthen your bond and create more balanced, cooperative training sessions. When we work with our dogs’ instincts instead of against them, training becomes not only more effective but far more enjoyable for both of you.

The Predation Sequence Explained

To truly understand prey drive, it helps to look at the predation sequence — the natural chain of behaviours that make up a dog’s hunting instinct. This sequence is deeply ingrained in all canines, though different breeds emphasise different parts depending on what they were originally bred to do.

The predation sequence typically follows these stages:

Orient – The dog notices movement or a sound in the environment.
Eye – The dog locks onto the target, focusing intensely.
Stalk – The dog moves silently, preparing to chase.
Chase – The dog runs after the moving object.
Grab-bite – The dog catches or grabs the object with their mouth.
Kill-bite – The dog delivers a bite intended to stop movement.
Dissect – The dog tears or shakes the prey.
Consume – The dog eats or plays with what’s left.

Of course, most pet dogs never complete all these stages — and nor should they! Instead, selective breeding has refined different points in the sequence for various purposes.

Herding dogs like Border Collies have strong eye and stalk drives, but rarely progress to biting.
Retrievers and spaniels love the chase and retrieve stages, making them perfect partners in the field.
Terriers are often bred for strong grab-bite instincts, which made them effective pest controllers.

Understanding which parts of the sequence your dog is most motivated by helps you predict their triggers and build training that satisfies those needs in a safe, structured way.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we use this knowledge to design games that mimic the rewarding parts of the sequence — giving dogs a healthy outlet for their instincts while strengthening their focus and responsiveness. When you learn to read your dog’s individual prey pattern, you can start to transform moments of chaos into opportunities for connection.

Redirecting Instincts Through Games and Positive Reinforcement

Once you understand your dog’s prey drive, the next step is learning how to redirect it . Rather than suppressing those powerful instincts, we can harness them through structured games and positive reinforcement — turning drive into focus and cooperation.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we believe that every dog, whether a pet or working gundog, benefits from training that satisfies their natural drives. Our game-based training approach mirrors the stages of the predation sequence — from stalking and chasing to retrieving — but in a safe, controlled, and rewarding way.

Here are a few of our favourite gundog-inspired games that channel your dog’s instincts productively:

Marked retrieves: Throw a dummy or ball into cover and ask your dog to watch it land before waiting for your cue to retrieve. This builds patience and control over the chase stage of the sequence.
Memory retrieves: Place a dummy or toy while your dog watches, then walk them away before sending them back to collect it. This develops focus, recall, and trust in your direction.
Hunting games: Scatter several small dummies or tennis balls in long grass and encourage your dog to use their nose to find them. This taps into their search and orienting instincts while promoting teamwork.
Steady-to-game drills: Practise rewarding calm behaviour when wildlife or distractions appear. Start with a thrown toy, rewarding your dog for waiting calmly before releasing them for the retrieve.
Tug-and-release control: For dogs with strong grab-bite instincts, use a soft dummy or tug toy to satisfy the grip, but reinforce a polite “thank you” or “drop” cue before continuing play.

Each of these exercises gives your dog an outlet for their natural drives in a structured, cooperative way. The goal isn’t to remove prey drive — it’s to channel it with purpose .

When you reward calmness, focus, and responsiveness through play, your dog learns that control brings opportunity. This is the foundation of successful gundog training — and it’s just as effective for pet dogs as it is for those working in the field.

By using positive reinforcement , we replace frustration and instinctive reactions with understanding and teamwork. Your dog learns that working with you is far more rewarding than chasing the real thing — and you both enjoy the process along the way.

From Prey Drive to Partnership: Training with Purpose

When you start to work with your dog’s instincts instead of against them, something remarkable happens — training stops feeling like control, and starts feeling like connection .

Prey drive, when guided correctly, becomes a bridge between you and your dog. Every game, every retrieve, every moment of focus builds trust and understanding. Your dog learns that their natural energy has a purpose, and you become the partner who helps them express it safely and successfully.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we’ve seen countless owners transform their dogs simply by changing perspective. One of our clients, for example, struggled with her spaniel bolting at the sight of birds. By introducing structured hunting games and rewarding steady behaviour before the retrieve, that same energy was redirected into controlled enthusiasm. Within weeks, what once caused chaos became a sign of progress — her spaniel’s eyes bright with focus, waiting for her cue instead of chasing on impulse.

That’s the beauty of instinct-based, positive training. It doesn’t try to erase who your dog is; it celebrates it . You’re teaching your dog to think before they act, to find reward in cooperation, and to take pride in the job they’re doing — whether that’s in the field or your local park.

And if you’d like structured guidance and fresh ideas for building this kind of partnership, our Gundog Hub online subscription offers a library of video tutorials, games, and expert advice designed to help you harness your dog’s instincts safely and confidently.

Because when you understand your dog’s natural drive, you stop battling against it — and start building the kind of partnership every owner dreams of.

Harness the Drive, Strengthen the Bond

Your dog’s prey drive isn’t something to fear or fix — it’s a powerful, instinctive part of who they are. When you learn to recognise it, understand it, and channel it through play and purpose, you transform that energy into something truly special: partnership .

By working with your dog’s natural instincts instead of against them, you’re not just improving obedience — you’re deepening trust, building focus, and nurturing a confident, content companion. Every retrieve, every “stay,” every moment of calm in the face of excitement becomes a reflection of teamwork.

At Paws & Play Gundogs, we believe that all dogs — from working gundogs to beloved pets — deserve training that fulfils their instincts and strengthens their bond with their human. Through positive reinforcement and instinct-based games , you can create a dog who listens because they want to, not because they have to.

If you’re ready to take this journey further, join our Gundog Hub online subscription . Inside, you’ll find expert-led tutorials, guided training plans, and engaging games designed to help you harness your dog’s prey drive with confidence and joy.

Because when instinct meets understanding, the result isn’t chaos — it’s connection.

Resource Guarding in Gundogs

Tue, 16 Sep 2025 05:54:52 GMT

Building trust, not tension, with your gundog.

Resource guarding is one of those things that tends to catch people by surprise… especially in working gundogs, and even more so with Cockers and Springers. These busy, clever dogs are often incredibly motivated by food and objects. That combination makes them brilliant dogs to train – but it can also mean they’re more likely to guard things they see as valuable.

The thing is, resource guarding doesn’t just appear out of nowhere. More often than not, it starts because of how we handle our pups in the early days.

How It Often Begins

A lot of advice that is still floating around is based on “dominance theory”… the old idea that you have to prove you’re the boss. People are told to:

Take their pup’s food bowl away halfway through a meal
Snatch toys or chews out of their mouth without offering an exchange
Take shoes or socks from them suddenly, to stop them “getting away with it”
Even get into their bed or crate to “prove it’s not theirs” (yes, that’s really a thing… and it’s as ridiculous as it sounds)

But what does that teach the dog?
It teaches them that humans approaching their stuff = things being taken away.

They quickly learn that if they want to keep hold of something, they need to protect it. Growling, snapping or running off with the item is their way of saying “please don’t take this from me.”

With gundogs – especially Cockers, who are often very high-energy and driven – this behaviour can set in fast. What started as a mild freeze or stiffening over a food bowl can quickly escalate to a full-on snap if the pattern keeps repeating.

You can check out the Ladder of Aggression to see the early communication signals dogs show before things get to that point.

Why Some Dogs Are More Prone

Not all dogs will guard resources, but some are more likely to develop it than others. Gundogs – and especially Cockers – can be more prone because:

They’re highly motivated by food and objects. Many gundogs are bred to pick things up, carry them and hold onto them.
They’re clever and quick learners. They quickly spot patterns – if people keep taking things away, they work out how to stop it happening.
They’re naturally intense. That drive and focus we love in training can also mean they feel strongly about keeping hold of something they value.
Early experiences matter. Puppies who have lots of competition over food or toys, or have their things taken often, are more likely to guard later.
Genetics can play a role. Some dogs may be more naturally predisposed to guarding simply because of their breeding and temperament – but how we handle and train them makes the biggest difference in whether it actually shows up.

Trust Over Conflict

Instead of trying to “be the boss”, the goal should be to build trust. Your dog needs to believe that when you approach, good things happen – not that their precious resource disappears.

That means:

Never punish a growl – it’s communication. Listen to it.
Don’t take food or chews away mid-eating unless you’ve trained towards it carefully. And if you do, trade for a bit of kibble or something else like a toy.
Teach them that you bring better things, not that you steal.

Over time, your dog learns that your presence near their food, toys, or found “treasures” is actually a positive sign.

Teaching Useful Cues: Drop & Leave It

Two of the most valuable tools for managing guarding (and gundog mischief in general) are a solid Drop and a reliable Leave It.

Drop : Start with a boring toy in their mouth, then present something they love (like chicken). Say “Drop”, wait for them to release, reward, and give the toy back. Over repetitions, they learn dropping = reward + they don’t always lose their prize forever.

Leave It: Teach them that ignoring something earns something better. Begin with food in a closed hand, mark/reward when they stop pestering, and gradually build up to leaving items on the floor.

Both cues are about choice, not force. They give your dog control and confidence, rather than feeling like they need to guard.

Final Thought

Gundogs are fantastic companions with bags of drive and personality. But that very intensity makes it all the more important to build trust early on. Avoid those old dominance tactics… they only plant the seed of guarding. Instead, teach your dog that your presence brings safety, not loss.

Trust, communication and fair training will get you a dog who’s happy to share – and that’s worth far more than proving you’re “the boss.”

So Glad We Got Here

Wed, 03 Jul 2024 11:57:14 GMT

The journey of Harley the Working Cocker and her Owner Lauren as the trust has become stronger than ever and the bond they have unbreakable.

He’s not a proper gundog

Thu, 23 May 2024 12:40:27 GMT

A phrase I have heard numerous times from various dissenting voices directed at our dog, Waffle. Waffle isn’t KC registered, he isn’t purebred, he isn’t a FTCH, he isn’t a dog with a 14-syllable name. He is simply Waffle, our pet dog.

Amazingly, we have been surrounded by likeminded owners, who were hoping to train their pooches to be pets first and foremost but to harness their natural abilities and breed specific traits. I love it. I love being part of a group, of being with people who wanted to achieve with their dog, who wanted to provide them with the most enriched life they could. Who weren’t necessarily from the ‘gundog world’ either.

Most weeks it’s more like therapy than training. I’m hooked. Saying that, I quickly noticed that the other dogs around us were pedigrees, often bred from bloodlines going back to the time of King Arthur (I jest but not far off), with at least one FTCH in their lineage. They were Cocker, Spaniels, Springers, Labradors, GSPs, Vizslas – although to be fair there were a couple of Sprockers too! These dogs had been bred to be gundogs, whether their owners were intending to work them or not. They seemed to pick things up so much faster than us, things came naturally to them whereas for Waff and I, it felt uphill all the time.

Obviously, everyone has different battles and different flaws, but I often glanced around at the others doing their exercises and felt deflated. Waff is a smart boy, too smart sometimes, who is high energy and has drive – most of the time. With a full Spaniel their nose may go down and their ears switch off, but you can target their natural willingness to work and use that to develop your bond. As Waff is only half Spaniel, and an independent Clumber spaniel at that, we often miss that natural willingness to work with you. It is tangled with his Poodle side; the Poodle in him makes him incredibly intelligent, super affectionate and also guess what? Poodles have an independent streak too. So, two breeds who have intelligence and independence: great combo for self-employment, not great for working as a team. I found when I was trying to teach him things, he would do a couple of reps and then wander off, lose interest and reward himself with the environment. He didn’t need me to work, he could do it on his own, if he wanted to do it at all. I found the training hard work and sometimes at sessions I would wonder if it was worth it; we didn’t have to do this, we had chosen to.

Why were we punishing ourselves? I would look down at my little fluffball. Could we do this? Was this the right place for us? Would we fit in in the gundog world? Was this the right thing for Waffle? Were we having fun?

On the flip side though, we have had people look down on us. We have had people be horrible and belittling. The gundog world can still be very traditional and patriarchal; I would argue it sometimes struggles to innovate and adapt, to move with the times. For as welcoming and warm as the vast majority of people have been to us, shout out to Girls With Gundogs and Gundog Creators here, there have been a few who have

sneered at our doodle. “He isn’t a proper gundog”, “You’re diluting the breed”, “He won’t be able to go on a shoot”, “He’ll never have the drive or stamina for a worker”; I’ve heard all these. I’ve rolled my eyes at many more. We have even been turned away from competing in tests because he “isn’t a gundog or gundog cross” – let’s not get in to here how both Poodles and Clumber Spaniels are gundogs (despite what the KC may

categorise them as, Poodles were originally bred as hunting dogs) – that is a rant for another day! I think we have been proving these people wrong, day in and day out, with our level of training and dedication and the way Waff has taken to this as he’s grown and matured. My dream is to attend a full shoot season alongside these sleek KC beauties and work my floofy doodle alongside them, which is looking increasingly like we can do achieve that this year!

And shout out to our INCREDIBLE trainer Lindsay. We would be nowhere without her patience, guidance and endless answers to the stupidest of questions. She is a fantastic person and a genuine pleasure to know, it is our privilege to be able to work with her and we are forever indebted to her for taking on a doodle when many other trainers would have laughed at us. She is a true gem.

So there we are, at the end but really just the beginning of our story. I will finish it with this – we are proof that a doodle, a mutt, a mongrel can be a “proper gundog”. Whatever “proper gundog” means.

A Totally Unexpected Journey

Wed, 10 Apr 2024 16:55:39 GMT

A Story of Baxter the Working Cocker and his Owner Gary's journey as they become hooked on Gundog Training and the joys it brings.

As lifelong hobby of springer spaniels, shooting & beating was nothing more than strong leads, loud voices and a dog whistle that did nothing more than annoy everybody in the beating line, Gundog training wasn't heard of back then.

After the passing of our sixteen year old springer Meg a vacancy became available for another dog and after a freak moment of madness we became the bewildered owners of a Cocker..! (Yes a COCKER) what the hell have we done..?

We had no idea that this irritating bungle of joy was about to take over our life and take us on an unexpected journey.

The moments of mental madness, the late night trip to the emergency vets after eating a whole fruit cake, table surfing someone’s pub lunch, numerous dog beds shredded as we worked through his separation anxiety and many many more cocker traits, finally realising I would never again wear a pair of matching socks:- I need help with this thing..!

I would and have many times recommend Lindsay for Gundog Training, it’s seldom you come across someone as devoted, dedicated and passionate about what she does, she has the uncanny ability to read a dog and assess a handler and adjust the training requirements accordingly, a special talent.

Working through the gundog graded training there comes a point you realise you are on this amazing journey with this once annoying fur ball that now is your best friend, how far can we take this..?

We opted to test ourselves with the graded assessments to see if this partnership could still work

Under the pressure of being judged and also the added pressure of not letting Lindsay down, there have been a few white knuckle moments but we have managed the scrape through to Grade four to-date.

What’s next..? Always looking for the next challenge, Baxter was two years old by now and with the start of the shooting season looming this is what the breed is for this is what we have been training for this would be his first season in the field.

All he has learnt can be put to good use..!

“I always remember one of the first questioned Lindsay asked me, what do you want to achieve from this training” which my reply was I wanted a gundog to sit and stay at the peg while I was shooting, something I’ve never been able to achieve in the past”

As the shooting season starts we get the opportunity to test our ability further with the chance of a “Working Gundog certificate” (WGC) this assessment is to provide credible proof that a handler and dog are a competent partnership, now this sounds a bit serious but we wanted to push the boundaries a little so let’s give it a go, the (WGC) is run over two assessment days a month apart the first days assessment went very well it was organised by a lovely team at Vale and West Gundogs, Baxter was in his element he was on fire new ground new scents, I was a nervous reck but he was loving it and all went well we got through to the final assessment day.

The final day and we opted to be assessed on both Hunting and Retrieving, are we pushing our luck..? Again the day was brilliant and Baxter was on fire although a bit too exited at times but by the end of the day we had done it we had achieved the (WGC) what an amazing feeling.

We’re loving our training days and working towards grade five and going to try our hand at Gundog working tests over the summer period.

So what next..? Am I holding this dog back..? Sometimes I feel his capabilities are far beyond mine as a handler but then I have a reality check, No..! he’s our family pet lets not push it, we are here to enjoy this journey and so grateful of our progress so far, yes we go shooting and love to work Baxter and enjoy the training element of that.

The fun is to be continued...