Can you really stop a dog from chasing deer or anything else without an e-collar? Yes, and I’m sharing how. There’s an ongoing commentary that it's impossible to train certain dogs, especially those with high prey drive, to come when called using only reinforcement-based methods. Now, those of us who are reinforcement-based trainers know that it's absolutely possible. The secret lies in understanding the Canine Predatory Motor Sequence. Rather than trying to stop dogs at the end of the sequence when it's way too late, we focus on the early stages and what we want our dogs to do.
In this episode, you’ll hear:
- Why some say reinforcement-based training alone can’t stop high prey drive dogs.
- How the canine predatory motor sequence works and why it matters for your dog’s behavior
- Why suppressing behavior isn’t training, and what I do instead.
- The three common ways people deal with behavior problems and which one really works.
- How I use predatory redirection to interrupt chase drive.
- A real-life example of Prophet ignoring deer just 15 feet away.
- How we changed Tater Salad’s behavior using relationship-building games.
- Special opportunity to join my Home School the Dog program.
- Why head halters can act like emergency brakes when you need them.
- How I redirect Kim’s rescue dog Waffles from distractions to focus back to me and what you can take away from it.
Join Home School the Dog:
To join Home School the Dog at a special discount, write to us at wag@dogsthat.com with the subject line: Prey Drive
Learn To Play ItsYerChoice:
Play The Hand Target Game:
Get the Hand Target Game free with the New Start Bundle and get your Lesson Plan and Stickers Template to build connection, clarity, and confidence with your dog. Check out https://dogsthat.com/sbd-new-start-bundle/ to get started.
Resources:
- Podcast Episode 232: Canine Predatory Motor Sequence: Understand Your Dog’s Prey Drive To Enrich Your Life Together
- Podcast Episode 304: Let’s Talk About E-Collars: Why Dog Trainers Are So Divided
- Podcast Episode 7: You, Your Dog, Maslow and Lizard Brain
- Podcast Episode 234: How To Stop Puppy Biting: Avoid Mistakes With Susan Garrett’s Backup Plan
- Podcast Episode 293: MRI: A Simple 3 Part Dog Training Formula To Fix Problems Like Counter Surfing, Reactivity And More
- Blog Post: A GAME to Preserve Your Dog’s Recall Cue
- Podcast Episode 276: What No One Tells You About The Best Place To Train Your Puppy Or Rescue Dog
- Podcast Episode 89: Why Dogs Should Not Tug: The Truth Revealed
- Podcast Episode 68: 3 Easy Tricks Every Dog Should Know
- Podcast Episode 155: 10 Ways To Teach A Sit WITHOUT A Food Lure! Unreal Results For Puppies And Dogs Of All Ages
- YouTube Video: Understanding Your Dog’s Reinforcement Zone (RZ) with Susan Garrett
- Podcast Episode 40: Using A Head Halter On A Dog, Why My Approach Is So Different
- Podcast Episode 145: 10 Ways To Teach A Dog To Lay Down And How To Shape It Without Luring
- Watch this Episode of Shaped by Dog on YouTube
My Dog made me so proud of her a few weeks ago when she chose to come to me after already started the process of chasing a cat. If I was not a Susan Garrett student that would never have happened. Of all my dogs this particular one is Very HIGH Prey Drive so it was a great thing she did.