We had similar issues with out dog when she was younger, huge prey drive and reactive to anything and anyone. I have to repeat what the others have said. Letting your dog go after any other animal is a terrible idea and will backfire on you at some point. With us, it was a skunk that reinforced our need to keep our dog under control at all times. Or, it could be another dog and one or both dogs could be seriously hurt. If you want to let him have fun and run off steam, do it with toys and exercise. Use those critters as training opportunities to work on your "leave it" command and other forms of obedience. Everytime we see another animial, while on a walk or even in the yard, it's a chance to work her obedience under distraction. You end up with a much more disciplined dog. JMHO.

 Quote: Robert Bingel

 Quote: Bob Scott

Dogs running deer in my state will get them shot on the spot.
My granpa shot my great uncle Edgar's dog when chasing deer on his (granpa's) farm.

The conversation between the to men was
Granpa - "To bad! Judd was a nice coon dog".
Great uncle Edgar - "Yep"! "Sure was".

In VA it is legal to hunt deer, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, bear with dogs. That's not the issue.

I want to say, so that other people reading this thread don't get a false impression, that just because it is legal to hunt with dogs in a state doesn't mean that you can do it any time you wish.

For starters, Bob's post says nothing about it being illegal to run dogs. It said that a po'ed landowner shot the dog.

If you let a dog run game, even if if it's legal in your state, you must restrict it to legal hunting seasons and times. You must also have a valid hunting permit for the species in question on your person. If you are on a government or private reserve or lease, there may be further restrictions to or outright prohibition of hunting dogs.

I also beg that you consider the environmental impact. A dog on a tear through the woods upheaves the fauna and crushes the flora. Small wildlife are chased from their dens and young. A dog can destroy the nest of a gamebird (most of which are ground dwellers) in two heartbeats if you are not close enough to the dog and verbally able to stop it. Heck, a dog just running through a nest will destroy it. That's a whole season of work for a mated pair of birds. Consider the possibility that your dog may separate doe and fawn, with the doe potentially injured and unable to locate or care for her offspring.

Hey, Robert, welcome to the board! That's a nice-looking dog you've got.

I can't add anything to the excellent advice you've gotten so far in this thread. It seems you have made so much progress in addressing this dog's issues in the year or so you have had him. I have to agree it would be unwise to allow your dog to chase animals, for all of the reasons already stated. There are much better ways to channel his prey-drive, ways that will improve his bond with you and lessen his need to look elsewhere for satisfaction.

You mentioned having a lot of other questions. I hope you'll be around for a long time and continue to ask questions and update us on your dog's progress.

 Quote: Robert Bingel

 Quote: Duane Hull

Speaking only for myself, I thought from your OP that you needed some constructive outlets for him. IMHO, if your time to spend with him is limited, the time chasing game would be more productive spent on a constructive outlet for his prey drive. Time spent crittering is non-productive, whereas a game of ball with some random OB thrown in would be useful in desensitizing to distractions.

Please don't misunderstand me, when I say letting him chase something in the woods. When we go to the woods I bring his tug. We play fetch and catch, work on recall, heeling, etc., he gets to go wade in the creek and sometimes he'll see a few deer or rabbits and squirrels. I was just wondering if letting him go was good or bad. We don't go just for chasing game in the woods, it fun time off lead for him and me too.

Wwait people, doesnt this say he means not chasing animals but instead balls and tugs and such?

As for me, this is where I got that idea, Brianah;

"Now my question. Because he still has a high prey drive and loves nothing more than chasing squirrels, rabbits and deer. Is it okay once in awhile to take him to secluded woods and let him have fun doing what he loves...CHASING?"

"What is the adverse effect of him chasing game as long as he's good otherwise? Is it just confusing to him that he can do it sometimes but not others?"

"In VA it is legal to hunt deer, squirrel, rabbit, turkey, bear with dogs. That's not the issue."

 Quote: Brianah Maloney

... Wwait people, doesnt this say he means not chasing animals but instead balls and tugs and such?

Quote:

"Because he still has a high prey drive and loves nothing more than chasing squirrels, rabbits and deer. Is it okay once in awhile to take him to secluded woods and let him have fun doing what he loves...CHASING?"

"We play fetch and catch, work on recall, heeling, etc., he gets to go wade in the creek and sometimes he'll see a few deer or rabbits and squirrels. I was just wondering if letting him go was good or bad. We don't go just for chasing game in the woods"

"What is the adverse effect of him chasing game ... "



And excellent replies were made.

 Quote: Cheri Grissom

Hey, Robert, welcome to the board! That's a nice-looking dog you've got.

I can't add anything to the excellent advice you've gotten so far in this thread. It seems you have made so much progress in addressing this dog's issues in the year or so you have had him. I have to agree it would be unwise to allow your dog to chase animals, for all of the reasons already stated. There are much better ways to channel his prey-drive, ways that will improve his bond with you and lessen his need to look elsewhere for satisfaction.

You mentioned having a lot of other questions. I hope you'll be around for a long time and continue to ask questions and update us on your dog's progress.

Ditto!

+1^

Sorry, Robert! Sometimes when we start off with a challenging question, I forget to take a moment to just say "Howdy!".

Welcome to the group!

My dogs all enjoy a good romp through the woods. The catch? They are not allowed to chase critters. They also wear e-collars as back up.

 Quote: Melissa Hoyer

My dogs all enjoy a good romp through the woods. The catch? They are not allowed to chase critters. They also wear e-collars as back up.

DITTO