Predation and prey drive behaviour in dogs

Audio link: 8 minutes 20 seconds https://youtu.be/DphYB55XIwI?si=d9c7HsbtfpCm6tf7
In this blog we will be exploring predation and prey drive behaviour in dogs. Many guardians struggle with their dogs chasing cats, squirrels, livestock, other dogs and other species such as deers, birds and smaller wild animals.

Many guardians believe that this behaviour is due to the dog's genetics and they aren't wrong. This will be a blog series.
It is really important that we understand breed, genetic and phenotyping before exploring prey drive behaviour in dogs so that we have a full understanding of how to help our individual dog.

Dogs became an important part of life during the 19th century, artificial selection began and extensive records of dogs lineage were recorded. Breed standards were introduced, stud books were produced and the purpose of the breeding for the dog such as herding was also documented. (1)

During this time dogs entered into another transition of being selectively bred for working roles to being artificially selected for fashion reasons.

The dogs that we have today in the modern world face even more challenges within a modern household and society setting. Due to the possible frustration of not being able to express breed related behaviours, they can also become frustrated due to the isolation, non stimulating environments and frustration of inactivity.

Due to this the dog is evolving all of the time, with dog's being artificially selected to fit in with the ever changing demands of what people desire from a dog within a modern world. The companion dog today can still be viewed or acknowledged as an evolutionary work in progress. (2)

The way in which dogs have been artificially selected the genome for dogs is able to be studied clearly, scientists have found small and large variations between the genomes of breeds. (3)

From the learning and the research behind the genetics and the genomic maps of dogs, researchers spend a lot of time investing into the learning of breed specific behavioural traits.

Researchers have also found mapping genes frustrating due to the complexity of the mapping. Researchers are now looking at phenotyping to see if this can be more successful in fully understanding the genes of dogs. (4) (5)

Phenotyping comes from the Greek phainen, which means to show and tupos which means type. This word means the characteristics of an organism and the observable traits, resulting from the genotype interactions with the environment. So phenotypes best reflect nature and nurture. (6)

Due to the complexity of dog behaviour we cannot rely on genetics and breed traits alone. Epigenetics also play a role within an individual dog's behaviour.

Epigenetics are the addition of changes to gene expression. Epigenetics take place before the puppies are born, whilst they are growing inside their mother. Epigenetics can also be added due to the mothers nutrition during her pregnancy and if she has any fearful experiences during pregnancy such as fireworks, separation anxiety or a traumatic event. Epigenetics change all the time through different periods of growth, they can be removed or added to through the environment, behaviours, the environment and poor health such as infections and cancer. (7)

Epigenetics and genes can and do change all of the time. So even though good breeders will select a mother and father for desired traits, such as behaviour, coat type, health and development, the puppy is being influenced all of the time from gestation to birth and throughout all of their life.

It may seem odd that I am writing about predatory behaviour, however in order to understand your individual dog and their behaviour we have to understand your dog as a species and how their behaviour can be influenced by their breed type, genes, phenotype, life experiences and poor health episodes.

Many people stereotypically think of a dog breed such as a border collie and automatically make the association of herding. Because this is what they were bred to do. Many dogs have been purpose bred for working and we all make typical associations of the breed and what we expect them to do based on that breed, another example Labrador retriever, retrieving.

Guardians can become frustrated with intense genetic behaviours, such as herding, retrieving, aloof behaviour and more. Guardians can also become frustrated if their dog does not seem to concede to the behaviour of their breed and the expected behaviour of the breed. For example a German Shepherd that doesn't alert bark or a livestock guardian dog breed who doesn't want to guard.

It is really important that we understand breed, genetic and phenotyping before exploring prey drive behaviour in dogs so that we have a full understanding of how to help our individual dog. So in coming back to the introduction we need to help them to feel safe and secure in our relationship, communications and learning.

References
McGreevy PD, Bennett P: Challenges and paradoxes in the companion animal niche. Anim Welf 2010,19(S):11–16.
McGreevy PD, Bennett P: Challenges and paradoxes in the companion animal niche. Anim Welf 2010,19(S):11–16.
Lindblad-Toh K, Wade CM, Mikkelsen TS, Karlsson EK, Jaffe DB, Kamal M, Clamp M, Chang JL, Kulbokas EJ 3rd, Zody MC, Mauceli E, Xie X, Breen M, Wayne RK, Ostrander EA, Ponting CP, Galibert F, Smith DR, DeJong PJ, Kirkness E, Alvarez P, Biagi T, Brockman W, Butler J, Chin CW, Cook A, Cuff J, Daly MJ, DeCaprio D, Gnerre S, et al.: Genome sequence, comparative analysis and haplotype structure of the domestic dog. Nature 2005,438(7069):803–819. 10.1038/nature04338
Hall NJ, Wynne CD: The canid genome: behavioral geneticists’ best friend?Genes Brain Behav 2012, 11: 889–902.
Hall NJ, Wynne CD: The canid genome: behavioral geneticists’ best friend?Genes Brain Behav 2012, 11: 889–902.
Wanscher 1975; Mayr 1982; Henig 2001, Jewell 2001
Heijmans B, Tobi E, Stein A, et al., Persistent epigenetic differences associated with prenatal exposure to famine in humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2008; 105: 17046-17049.
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Image description: A three window comic panel which is grey. The title reads: prey drive and livestock force and fear free solutions.
The first window is of a Wolfdog chasing sheep on a country hillside. With a blue and yellow sky. The text box reads: You don't need an e collar to stop this behaviour, but a little bit of common sense and a responsibility.
The second window is of a wolfdog running in a secure dog field. With a blue sky background. There is a fence and tufts of grass growing by the fence.
The text box reads: utilise enclosed dog fields, long lines and check fields for livestock. Avoid fields with livestock.
The third bottom window is of a Wheelchair user with blonde, pink, purple ombre hair sat in a Wheelchair with a Wolfdog either side engaging with a backdrop of a sheep herd on fields with a blue sky in the distance. The text box reads: working on predation substitute training and work on stimuli which triggers a prey chase behaviour.
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