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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Bellatrix
Xinji ARP
Xinji (pronounced Shin-jee) is a lovely young girl who has a world of love to give you. She can be a bit of a worrier and can be shy when she first meets you, but with a little bit of time and patience, we know she will blossom into a wonderful companion. She walks well on the lead and will be looking for a quiet household to settle into. She may be happy living with or without another canine companion of any size, though she would prefer having access to a backyard. She may also suit full time workers and living with children aged in their teens.
Hermione
Jett
Coco ARP
Meet the lovely big boy, Coco. Even though he is big, he is a very polite, gentle, sensible boy who is affectionate and loves a pat and wants to please his person. If you love taking long drives in your car, well Coco will be your sidekick for the ride, as he loves to travel in the car and would spend all day in there if you’d let him. Coco may suit living with or without a medium or large canine pal and children aged 10 years and older.
Sally ARP
Sweet, happy, affectionate and super friendly are all things that make up Sally! She is a happy-go-lucky pup that just LOVES people. She has experience in a home and loves her treats. We think she may suit living with or without another male dog of any size and children 5 and over.
Rose ARP
Meet Rose, a 5-year-old lady with a heart of gold. Formerly known as Lady Rosina Hook on the racetrack, she's traded in her racing shoes for a life of leisure and love. This sweet and friendly girl is a people person, thriving on attention and interaction. Though she can be cautious and anxious at times, Rose is always willing to try, making her a lovable companion. With her personable nature, she'll charm her way into your heart. And with her great social skills, Rose gets along swimmingly with dogs of all sizes - she's a true lady! She may do best in a home with older children aged 10 years+.
Freddie ARP
Meet Freddie, a sleek black 4 year old boy. His race name is "Transponder" but let's call him "Signal Strong" because he's always transmitting love and affection to those around him. This friendly and outgoing guy is always on the same wavelength as his humans, craving attention and connection. With a puppyish playfulness and a dash of submissiveness, Freddie is a team player who'll fit right in with any pack. Tune in to Freddie's frequency and discover a loyal companion who'll be by your side through thick and thin! Freddie may suit living with or without a canine companion of similar size and children aged as young as 5 years old.
Stumpy ARP
Meet Stumpy, the adorable 21-month-old greyhound who's as sweet as can be! This little gem was born without a tail, making her one-of-a-kind. With her youthful energy and puppy-like charm, Stumpy is a bundle of joy. Despite being tiny in size, her personality is larger than life - friendly, personable, and always eager to please. Stumpy can get a bit anxious, but she's always willing to try, making her a lovable companion. Get ready for a lifetime of snuggles and smiles with this pretty little greyhound! Stumpy may suit living with or without a canine friend of any size and children aged 10 years and older.