{"id":1855,"date":"2010-01-11T21:06:35","date_gmt":"2010-01-12T05:06:35","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.shibashake.com\/dog\/?p=1855"},"modified":"2010-01-11T21:06:35","modified_gmt":"2010-01-12T05:06:35","slug":"the-squirrel-instinct-can-it-be-retrained","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/shibashake.com\/dog\/the-squirrel-instinct-can-it-be-retrained\/","title":{"rendered":"The Squirrel Instinct – Can it be Retrained?"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Squirrel Instinct is present in all dogs.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

Dogs are predators, and all of them have some amount of prey drive. <\/p>\n

Prey drive can differ significantly based on breed, upbringing, environment, and other factors. <\/p>\n

\n\"The\n
The Squirrel Instinct - Can it be Retrained?<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n\"Both\n
Both my Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky have strong prey drive.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div><\/p>\n

\n\"When\n
When in the throes of Squirrel Instinct, a dog will usually have no interest in food.<\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n

The Squirrel Instinct<\/em><\/strong> often gets a lot of attention because a bushy tail dashing amongst branches on a tree can suddenly turn our normally placid dog into a Cujo<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n

Both my Shiba Inu and Siberian Husky<\/a> have strong prey drive. My Sibe is a three legged dog<\/a> and she is usually very good about looking before she leaps. However, when a squirrel is involved, all thoughts of safety fly from her head.<\/p>\n

When in the throes of Squirrel Instinct<\/em>, a dog will usually have no interest in food, listening to their owner’s verbal monologue, or even in their own well-being. Indeed they will have little interest in anything except their quarry. <\/p>\n

For many years, natural selection<\/em> has favored wolves and dogs with a strong Squirrel Instinct, so facing this particular challenge will not be easy<\/strong>. <\/p>\n

\n\"For\n
For many years, natural selection has favored wolves and dogs with a strong Squirrel Instinct, so facing this particular challenge will not be easy. <\/div><\/div> <\/div><\/div>\n

Can the Squirrel Instinct be re-trained? re-directed? fixed in any way?<\/strong><\/p>\n

\n<\/a>\n
<\/div>\n
<\/div>\n\n