Understanding and Managing Prey Drive
Prey drive refers to an animal’s natural desire to chase and kill prey animals for food.
This exists in many animals and all breeds of dogs but in dogs is more evident in sight hounds (including greyhounds). It is also referred to as ‘predatory behaviour’ or ‘predation’, and mostly occurs when the dog is relaxed and in a positive mental state.
Prey drive is a very different behaviour to aggression which is usually anxiety or fear-based; where the dog is in a negative mental state. In the cases the aggression is a protective mechanism.
Many greyhounds have excellent skills when interacting with other greyhounds but may have limited or no experience with dogs of other breeds. As a result, some greyhounds become highly excited when they first meet dogs that don’t look, smell and act like greyhounds. Occasionally, a greyhound displays misdirected predatory behaviour towards other dogs, particularly small dogs or dogs with long coats; this behaviour is both socially inappropriate and unsafe.
It is important to understand that your greyhound may be well behaved with your other pets that it knows well and has a bond with; but can show predatory behaviour towards other unfamiliar small animals in different environments, such as at the park.
All GAP greyhounds are temperament tested and assessed for predatory behaviour towards small dogs. While this is the case, this assessment is done at a point in time and it is possible that prey-drive could present at a later date. As such, it is important that greyhound owners understand how to recognise signs of prey-drive.
Common predatory behaviours towards a small animal include:
- fixation and staring while at a distance;
- stalking or tracking while approaching or following the small animal;
- nose bunting, pawing, lunging, chasing, grabbing, hovering above or over the shoulder and neck area of the small animal; and
- signs of high arousal including upright and tense posture, teeth chattering and drooling, quickening of movement, and an upright stiff tail that is wagging quickly.
If you observe your greyhound displaying any of these behaviours, you should contact GAP on (03) 5799 0166 for advice.
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Meet our dogs ready for adoption
All greyhounds adopted from GAP are de-sexed, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and health checked.
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Harris
Talk about a big softie! This lovely boy is such a sweetheart, he leans into you pats and looks up to you with his big eyes. He can be a little shy in new environments but soon bounces back to his joyful self! We think he may suit many households as long as there is a nice yard for him to relax and explore in.
Bobby
Bobby is a lovely young man, just look at his beautiful light-coloured eyes, they seem to stare into your soul. Bobby is a social, friendly and affectionate boy who is keen to move into his furever home. He may suit living with or without a canine pal of similar size and children aged 10years and older.
Bertha
Boston
Willow ARP
Diesel
Shiny
Meet Shiny, the sparkling gem of a greyhound who's sure to brighten up your life! This quiet and gentle soul is a sweet and affectionate girl who loves people and adores treats. Shiny's a laid-back companion who'll fit right into your daily routine, bringing joy and calm to your home. Shiny may be suited to a household with kids aged 5+ and for a home with either no other dogs or a male canine companion that gets along with her gentle nature. She also might be a great fit for elderly owners or apartment living,as she's low-maintenance and doesn't require a lot of space. And, surprisingly, Shiny might even live harmoniously with a cat! If you're ready for a loving and gentle companion, Shiny might be the perfect fit for your family.
Trixie
Trixie is full of tricks! Well not yet but we know she is a smart cookie that will pick up on things very quickly, maybe even get up to some mischief if she catches you napping on the job of Greyhound Servant! We think this beautiful, affectionate and sweet little girl may be ok for families with children 10 and over and another male canine companion of any size, she may even suit living with a feline friend! Go Trixie!
Ravioli
This delicious girl has her eyeliner on and is ready to hit the streets and show off her glamourous looks! Maybe even stopping for a bite to eat at your favourite Italian spot! Miss Ravioli is not only beautiful, she is sweet, kind and affectionate. She can be a little reserved at first but soon warms up and leans in for a cuddle. We think she may suit living with children10 and over and maybe even another medium or larger male canine for company. We also think she would be best off in a home that has a yard as she is still only young and can take her time to adjust to new environments.
Shell
This sweet little girl is Shell, and she is one that will need to come out of her “shell” a little when she goes into her forever home. But she will blossom as a sweet, puppyish girl that is excitable and bubbly when she is comfortable. We think she may suit living as an only dog or with another medium to large male canine companion and somewhere