Lack of Prey Drive

[redpat1 225]

Hi Guys, My GH/DH X Whip is now coming up for 20 weeks old and is coming on well with her training but I am worried about her lack of prey drive. I took her for a mooch a couple of days ago and she flushed a pigeon from the undergrowth, she put her tail between her legs and ran back to me at speed and hid behind my legs! Then this morning out in the middle if nowhere a cat ( no idea where it came from) was sitting out in front at around 50 yards away, she pricked her ears half sat down and then barked at it. When the cat turned tail she did start to chase but stopped when she got to where he had been sitting to have a good sniff! Both of her parents are working and take all game so is it just a case of being a pup or is she a big girls blouse? anys ideas or advice would be appreciated.

 

Pat

[x38 179]

it still a pup mate ....give it time.....

[blackpack 70]

as said bud, its a pup dont worry, let it be a pup, enjoy that time together

[ianh 83]

its real young still mate, dont worry at all. just work on building up her confidence.

[brambles 3,192]

Is this the first lurcher pup you've had mate?

[kevin from bristol 95]

heres your answer 20 weeks old ,dont worry very early days yet atb

[redpat1 225]

Is this the first lurcher pup you've had mate?

 

Yes mate, had dogs all of life but only recently discovered lurchers, will only ever keep these from now on.

Thanks for all your replies lads, thought it was probably nothing to worry about. I will try and find a way to build her confidence, any ideas?

 

Pat

[Casso 1,261]

Hi Guys, My GH/DH X Whip is now coming up for 20 weeks old and is coming on well with her training but I am worried about her lack of prey drive. I took her for a mooch a couple of days ago and she flushed a pigeon from the undergrowth, she put her tail between her legs and ran back to me at speed and hid behind my legs! Then this morning out in the middle if nowhere a cat ( no idea where it came from) was sitting out in front at around 50 yards away, she pricked her ears half sat down and then barked at it. When the cat turned tail she did start to chase but stopped when she got to where he had been sitting to have a good sniff! Both of her parents are working and take all game so is it just a case of being a pup or is she a big girls blouse? anys ideas or advice would be appreciated.

 

Pat

 

the pups lack of adventure in these cases are just expressing what she feels inside, as the man said shes still a pup , but the only thing that will change between now and maturity,is that her drive kicks in ,which forces her to overcome the negative way shes looking at things,,but she may still have a slight nervous tint to her, you are the biggest influence in her life , you can build her confidence through simple positive interaction

,,her experiences with you shape the way she looks at life,same way our experiences with our parents effect us,,,lots of physical contact no matter what form it takes, play and more play , become her best buddy,,it builds them up tug toys provide a great interaction between the two of you,but you must let the pup win ,a really shy pup wont play tug with its owner,because its all just too much emotional contact,but that can be built up and in doing so the confidence gets lifted

,,when your out for a mooch bring a ball or someway of interacting with the pup ,it'll lift her spirit and gradually bring her personality out , or when she get a fright play with her that way it turns the negative experience into a positive and wont have such a long lasting effect on her mind,,hope some of that helps i would work on building her confidence up ,makes a huge difference to the way the pup relates to the world round her, best of luck,,

[obi2 239]

Mate years ago I had a lurcher with a bit of deerhound in it, she was just a pup around the same age maybe older when I took her round my mates garden where there was a rabbit in a hutch. She went up and had a sniff, the rabbits back leg started scratching it's ear quickly and the lurcher shit herself and bolted straight out the garden and off! I eventually got a hold of her again and I rightly took some stick for it (I'd do the same) and still do occasionally. When I thought she was mature enough I took her out lamping and she caught her fair share of rabbits but there wasn't much of a drive with. Sometimes it felt like it was just chasing for the sake of it. The dog didn't have the type of prey drive I wanted. That's just my experience mate but if I was you I would definatly give it more time

[brambles 3,192]

That's it mate stick with the confidence building on yours and the dogs part,basic obedience training and recall should be the priority at the moment, prey drive will come with confidence and age, atb Brambles

[davey 310]

Just chill out mate my 1cross was same let it be a pup !! Once my lad had been out with lamp it changed .now as soon as I get lamp off shelf he is up on his toes jumping around like a nutter

[redpat1 225]

Thanks again, some really constructive and sensible advice and experiences, just what I need to hear. I was told to start her off around end of November/December time on the lamp when she will be 8-9 months, does this sound about right? as if not I am in no hurry and would rather take my time and give her the chance to develop properly.

 

Pat

[obi2 239]

By the sounds of it I would wait a bit mate, iv not got a great experience with deerhounds and I hear there slow at coming on. If you have the patience then hold her off but still get her out watching other dogs on the lamp, you never know it might just click after watching a couple of chases and catches. I hope it comes good for you bud.

[obi2 239]

By the sounds of it I would wait a bit mate, iv not got a great experience with deerhounds and I hear there slow at coming on. If you have the patience then hold her off but still get her out watching other dogs on the lamp, you never know it might just click after watching a couple of chases and catches. I hope it comes good for you bud.

[davey 310]

Make sure growth plates have settled and try her at around 11 months to year don't rush her just few runs here and there then bit more at end of season you should be aiming for fit and ready for next season then try her on everything