Why do dogs chase squirrels? It’s instinctive for dogs to chase squirrels, but what are the reasons behind it?
Some may say that the dog is just trying to catch it, while others consider it a recreational activity. However, there isn’t one definitive answer – canines pursue these rodents for various reasons.
In this blog post, we will explore the reasons for the behavior and how to stop your dog from chasing a squirrel.
Causes of the Behavior That Dogs Chase Squirrels
While it may appear to be enjoyable for dog owners and onlookers to watch their dogs chase after squirrels, this behavior is far from amusing.
In truth, it can actually be dangerous – both for the dog as well as the small animal they are attempting to capture.
Dogs might assume chasing after squirrels is a game, but that simply isn’t true. There have been too many instances of dogs attacking or even killing these creatures due to territoriality or aggressive tendencies.
But why does chasing occur in the first place? The answer is that squirrels are easy to catch compared with other animals – thus making them an easy target when dogs attempt to pursue prey.
What Do Dogs Think When Chasing Squirrels?
Dogs are intelligent creatures, and they get immense joy out of chasing squirrels.
Whenever they spot a squirrel, their instinct is to satisfy their curiosity and discover what the mysterious animal is up to.
Despite it being an exciting experience, dogs are aware that the delicate balancing act between predator and prey must be maintained for the continued survival of both species.
This knowledge likely influences their style of play when pursuing squirrels, allowing them to quench their curiosity in a safe, controlled way that does not threaten or injure small critters.
Why Do Dogs Chase Squirrels?
There are several reasons why dogs may chase squirrels.
To show their dominance over the squirrel
First, dogs may be displaying their dominance to the squirrel – an occurrence known as predatory drift.
Predatory drift is a common phenomenon where domestic dogs start exhibiting behaviors akin to their wild counterparts.
This could mean your dog is trying to prove its strength by running after and chasing the squirrels away.
To play with the squirrel
Your dog might be chasing after a furry squirrel for one simple reason – to have some fun.
It may come as a surprise, but even dogs can enjoy playing with their ‘prey’, like small animals such as squirrels.
In truth, certain breeds, such as terriers, were purposely bred to hunt and capture rodents and rabbits.
So if your dog is displaying this behavior, don’t worry; it could just mean they’re looking for someone new to play with.
To protect their owner or family
For one more reason as to why your pup might be chasing squirrels – they may simply be trying to protect you or their family from any potential risks.
Dogs possess an instinct to safeguard those close by when sensing something that could potentially harm them (such as wild animals).
Consequently, they will take action and chase after the intruder in an effort to remove it from what they consider their territory.
All in all, there are many reasons why dogs may choose to chase squirrels — whether it be out of playfulness or protection — but one thing’s for sure: It’s always entertaining (for us humans) watching our four-legged friends having so much fun.
Why Do Dogs Hate Squirrels?
It is believed that both animals compete for resources, meaning they must fight to survive.
Dogs hate squirrels because they are annoying, destructive pests that threaten the health of any dog that comes within their vicinity.
Dogs were originally bred as hunters of small game like rabbits and squirrels, leading to generations of instinctive aggression over potential prey.
Furthermore, many breeds were also bred to become guard dogs, especially those trained to alert their owners if a squirrel or other small animal was spotted near the property.
Regardless of the cause, it’s clear that some tension exists between these two species and will likely continue for centuries to come.
Dog Breeds That Chase Squirrels The Most
When it comes to chasing small animals like squirrels, there are certain breeds of dogs that stand out.
These are the ones that have been bred specifically for this purpose and have a naturally high prey drive.
The most notorious and successful breeds when it comes to pursuing squirrels include:
- Jack Russell Terrier
- Siberian Husky
- Dachshund
- German Shepherd
- Australian Shepherd
Overall, if you’re searching for a dog breed that is capable of chasing after lively little critters like squirrels, then any one of these five breeds should surely make an excellent choice.
Do Dogs Kill Squirrels?
Yes, dogs can kill squirrels.
There are isolated cases of dogs attacking and killing squirrels, although these incidents rarely occur. Reports of such events can easily be found on the Internet.
However, most meetings between canines and rodents do not end tragically. When a dog encounters a squirrel in its path, it is usually harmless for both animals involved.
How To Stop Dogs Chasing Squirrels?
The best way to stop your dog from chasing squirrels is to manage the behavior through obedience training, exercise, and creating boundaries.
Startle Training
Startle training is a proven method to stop your dog from chasing squirrels.
It involves making an abrupt noise when they start chasing to draw them away from their goal and onto something else like you.
Get started by having your pup on a leash, then create sharp sounds such as clapping or shouting “ah ah!” once they begin running after the animal; this will cause them to pause and look towards the source of the sound, providing you with time to refocus their attention elsewhere.
When done correctly, it can be incredibly effective in deterring future chases.
Desensitization Training
Tame your dog’s hostility towards squirrels by desensitizing them to their presence.
Start off by taking them to a location with many of the critters, but at a distance out of reach from them.
Be sure to reward and praise your pup for calmly observing without reacting in any way.
As they become more comfortable in the environment, move closer until you can observe the animals up close without seeing negative reactions from your pet.
Redirect Attention
To protect your pup from the dangers of chasing after squirrels, you can use toys or treats as positive reinforcements to guide their attention toward something else.
Additionally, introducing activities such as fetch or tug-of-war will help distract them and refocus their energy on other activities.
With these solutions at hand, you are sure to have a calm and relaxed pooch.
Exercise
Providing your pup with plenty of exercise has been shown to reduce unwanted behaviors such as chasing after small animals in general.
Going for long walks, running around outside, playing fetch – all of these activities can help tire out your pup so that they have less energy left over for things like chasing after squirrels which may be distracting their attention away from you or other members of the family when outdoors.
Create Boundaries
Making sure your pet is safe is a priority. To ensure their safety, teach clear commands such as “Leave It” or “Come” so that they recognize which areas are off-limits when outdoors and away from hazards like wild animals.
With these guidelines in place, you can be confident that even if something unexpected arises, your beloved companion will know to stay close by and come back home right away.
Such measures will keep everyone safe and sound.
What to Do if Your Dog Catches a Squirrel
It is important to remove your dog and the squirrel from each other immediately, but do not attempt to pry them apart by force.
This can be incredibly dangerous for both animals involved, as pulling at either of them could result in injury or death.
If possible, distract your pup with a toy or food instead—avoid using anything that may cause harm, such as sticks or brooms/
You don’t want an injured pet and a dead squirrel in your yard – so keep everyone safe and avoid hitting him out of fear.
What Not to Do if Your Dog Catches a Squirrel?
If your dog happens to capture a squirrel, it’s best if you do not allow them to eat it. You may notice that they are eager and will try to devour the small animal; however, this would be an unfavorable decision for both of you.
If your pup happens to catch a squirrel, it’s important not to let them play with the prey. When dogs become overly enthusiastic and begin throwing their prey around, they could unintentionally harm or even fatally injure the creature.
Lastly, do not reward your pup by giving them a treat if they catch any animal. Doing so will only encourage your dog to chase after other animals down the line.
Can Squirrels Hurt Dogs?
Although squirrels may not look as intimidating compared to other animals, squirrels can still cause plenty of harm to your furry friend.
When feeling threatened, these critters will bite and scratch at dogs in an attempt to protect themselves. Furthermore, if a dog comes into contact with one that is suffering from diseases such as rabies or distemper, the pup could potentially fall ill – oftentimes resulting in serious injuries.
Conclusion
Have you ever questioned why dogs are so attracted to pursuing squirrels?
It is because of their innate fascination and instinctive drive that motivates them.
Even when chases end with minor scratches, there may be times when things don’t go as expected resulting in a more serious injury.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do squirrels bother dogs?
Squirrels can be a nuisance for your dog, as they are notorious for climbing up trees and barking at dogs or – even worse – provoking them by running around their feet. Furthermore, these critters have been known to snatch food from dogs and dig through their belongings to hunt for something delicious.
Is it okay to train my dog to hunt and kill small creatures like squirrels?
No, it is not okay to train your dog to hunt and kill small creatures like squirrels. From an ethical perspective, hunting and killing wildlife can be very controversial. Dogs have the potential to cause massive destruction, both physically and psychologically, for their prey – in this case, small creatures such as squirrels.
Is it okay for me to feed my dog meat when he’s trying not to chase squirrels?
Yes, feeding your dog meat can be an effective tool for positive reinforcement when trying to train him not to chase after squirrels. While some dogs have the instinct to chase small animals, providing them with rewards for good behavior is a great way to encourage the desired action.
