Insane Prey Drive

[BullMastiffMama]

Capone's got it. I'm curious to know whether anyone here's ever dealt with it, with desensitization, impulse control, anything really.

We're working on our recall and making great progress, but he's nowhere near me being able to call him off a fleeing cat/squirrel/rabbit/mole/whatever.

I'm up for any advice I can get; I feel that I'm kind of stuck.

I'd like to reiterate: we're talking MANIC prey drive. Claw-your-nails-down-to-stubs on trees, plow through ANYTHING, feel-no-pain, I don't want your food, screw-you-I-want-a-cat prey drive.

I've thought of working on desensitization starting with him on leash, kitty in carrier in another room, muzzling if I have to - but where the hell do I get bait? I don't know anyone with cats. Not to mention that even though I'm not a cat person, it seems sort of terrible to put a cat through the stress of being bait.

I know at some point I've got to be more interesting than a kitty. So, short of growing a flippin' TAIL - how the hell??!?

Pardon my frustration. Please.

[JoeLacy]

How about taking him to Petsmart, there are usually cats there. I use "leave it" on all mine and they do just fine in most case but not all.

My Border wanted to chase joggers and bikes when I first got him. We sat nearly all day near the bike path after a progression of getting close. At then end of the day, he knew "leave it" and I can use leave it for a lot of different things.

Another technique is in a book I have on order. Control unleashed. You use the Look at That Game. You basically encourage the dog to look at the cat/squirrel or whatever and use a clicker and treat to reward when the dog does "look" but does not react. The concept is really nothing more than look at that then look back at me for a treat.

I had someone tell me once, if I didn't want my dog to chase a squirrel, I have to be more fun/tasty and interesting than the squirrel. That's basically what the LAT game is all about.

My Aussie is fixated on some things too. Capone has a high prey drive, Peyton has a high play drive. I can have Peyton walk right by a squirrel and leave it, but get her in sight of another dog and NOTHING works so far. I feel ya' and yes, it's frustrating at the extreme end of unwanted behaviors.

[BullMastiffMama]

We started out with the kitties behind glass and have worked our way up to the 'open' kitty area on adoption day. He shows no interest in the kitties behind glass. Interestingly, he's interested in the 'open' kitty adoption areas, but not reactive. Unfortunately, the pet stores around here don't have an open adoption area. I'll look into the Look At That method for use with the cats behind glass. They'll be safe, and that way he's not past threshold, and we can go from there.

On another note: Leave It with Capone seems to apply to everything but prey. I use it like this: he spots prey, I give him a firm 'leave it.' The reaction seems to depend on how enticing the stimulus is. Sometimes I can get as much as a 90 degree head turn, but his gaze returns to wherever he saw said prey, with or without leash corrections, food, etc. Is it possible I've ruined the command by using it when he's been past threshold? Should I start from scratch with a different command?


Thanks so much for the ideas. He is a magnificent dog overall, but true to his breed he's one stubborn mother. Also, it's nice to know he's not the only psycho out there.

[JoeLacy]

Originally Posted by BullMastiffMama

Is it possible I've ruined the command by using it when he's been past threshold? Should I start from scratch with a different command?

Other people will come and help you with far more experience than I have, but I don't think you have ruined leave it, although using it when the dog is overT, is setting up the dog to fail, and probably frustrates you and the dog even more. You've already seen that doesn't' work so maybe try something else.

The best thing you can do for now, is back the dog off until he's not OT. Let the dog look, then say leave it, and when the dog turns around to look at you/click/treat. Even that might not work in a few seconds after OT because in that frenzy state of mind. Sometimes it takes mine a couple minutes for her to even know her name.

You might also think about training/controlling prey drive with a flirt pole. YouTube - Flirt Pole