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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Judge George
Suzie ARP
Looking for a social butterfly that loves attention, always happy and favourite thing in the whole world is bum scratches? Then Suzie is your girl! This fun, adorable lady is looking for her forever home and we can’t wait for her to find it. We think she may sui living with children 5 and over and with or without another male canine companion of any size. She may even suit living with full-timeworkers!
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.
If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.
Yogi ARP
Yogi is a friendly, outgoing greyhound with a happy wagging tail and a love for people. Confident, affectionate and full of enthusiasm, he's always ready to make new friends and be part of the action. Yogi may be suitable to live as an only dog or with a medium to large canine companion. He may also be suitable to live with children aged 10 years and over.
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Throughthis program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to findtheir perfect forever home. If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'llarrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete theadoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on yourinterest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhoundthey'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process,you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team willshare lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they'rethe perfect match for your family.
Blobby
Sweet Potato
Oreo ARP
Everyone loves a sweet treat, and this sweet treat is one you will love more and more everyday. Oreo is an extremely polite, gentle and easy girl to have around and she is lovely to walk on lead. We think she may suit living with or without another medium or larger canine friend and children 5 and over. She may also suit full time workers.
This greyhound is part of our Assisted Rehoming Program (ARP). Through this program, greyhounds stay with their current owners while they wait to find their perfect forever home.
If you're interested in adopting this dog, we'll arrange for them to come into GAP specifically for you to meet and complete the adoption process. Since the dog is being brought into the program based on your interest, we ask that applicants be reasonably confident this is the greyhound they'd like to welcome into their family. Unlike our standard adoption process, you won't be able to meet multiple dogs at the same time however our team will share lots of information about this greyhound to help you determine if they're the perfect match for your family.
Cecil
Larry
Diva
Jock Ee
