What Dogs Think When Chasing Squirrels
It all starts with the scent! Dog’s noses are thousands of times more sensitive than ours. Even though you may have no idea that a squirrel is nearby, your dog will know it’s there and will be watching for it.
Then comes the movement. The squirrel breaks cover and your dog is off. This is because a dog’s eyesight is not that great in many ways (they cannot see details like we can) but is highly sensitive when it comes to movement.
Once your dog is chasing something they are highly distracted and is not listening to you. They will carry on chasing a scent long after the squirrel has disappeared up a tree. This lack of focus and engagement with their human can get dogs into some very dangerous situations.
At the same time, your dog is having the time of its life! This is called self-rewarding behavior and is a bad thing for obedience training. Your dog is learning that ignoring you is great fun. Every time your dog chases a squirrel and ignores your commands to stop, they are making it harder and harder for you to train them not to do this. Why would they bother obeying you when it is such fun to be disobedient?
How to Stop Dogs Chasing Squirrels
This is very challenging and you need to be realistic about what you can achieve and how long it is going to take. The focus of your training should be impulse control.
Dogs chasing squirrels go through a ‘search, stalk, chase, grab’ sequence. If you can intervene at the start, you may be able to stop it. Once the chase is happening it is much harder. Learn to spot when your dog has sniffed out a squirrel and then attract their attention by shaking a can full of coins or a loud whistle.
Teach your dog to focus on you when you are out and about by having treats and toys with you at all times. Fetch toys are a favorite of the sporting dogs and may help them to ignore squirrels.
Once you have taught your dog the “leave it” or “watch me” commands, you can use these to control them when they spot a squirrel.
If your dog is not yet trained to control its urge to chase critters, there are some other things that you can do.
Use a short leash when you are in areas where there are likely to be squirrels. Extendable leashes can be problematic in this situation. They allow the dog to build up momentum and then they come to a sudden stop when they run out of leash. This can be dangerous for them and you.
Regular collars, slip leads and halter collars are great for teaching a dog to walk on a lead but are potentially dangerous if your dog lunges quickly. A harness would be a better option.
You may not be able to stop critters from entering your yard or garden but you can stop your dog from getting out and possibly injuring themselves as they give chase. Think about installing a dog-proof fence that dogs cannot get over. Maintain the fences and walls that you do have so that there are no gaps that your dog could squeeze through.
If your dog does bolt after a squirrel, give them a quick check over when they come back in case they have been scratched or bitten.
You may want to consider fitting a dog tracker to your dog’s harness so that you can locate them if they go missing. Also, make sure that your dog has an identity tag and is chipped.
Look out for environments that are potentially dangerous for your dog. For example, city parks are a problem because they have critters and are located close to busy roads so chasing a critter is a dangerous thing to do. The same is true for clifftop paths – there is the combination of seabirds that dogs love to chase and sheer drops that are dangerous.
Most dogs are a lot bigger than squirrels and will not get hurt. However, there have been cases where a particularly ferocious squirrel has fought back. This can cause nasty wounds and infections. It may be worth investing in a dog first aid kit to take with you on country walks.
Squirrels do not carry fleas but they can carry ticks which can transmit Lyme Disease. There are plenty of effective tick treatments for dogs. If you spend a lot of time walking in long grass and forestry with your dog it is worth giving them this treatment.
Having caught the squirrel, sadly some dogs will then eat it. This can be very distressing to watch and is not one of the highlights of owning a dog, for sure. However, at least you can be reassured that eating a freshly caught squirrel is unlikely to cause your dog any harm.
Why some people think it’s ok to let their dog chase squirrels
There are a number of reasons why some people think it’s ok to let their dog chase squirrels. Firstly, they may believe that it is natural for dogs to chase small animals, and that it is therefore harmless. Secondly, they may think that it is a good way for their dog to get exercise. Finally, they may simply enjoy watching their dog chase squirrels!
However, there are also a number of reasons why people may not think it’s ok to let their dog chase squirrels. For one thing, it can be dangerous for both the dog and the squirrels involved. Dogs may injure themselves while chasing squirrels, and squirrels may be injured or killed if they are caught by a dog. Additionally, chasing squirrels can be disruptive and may lead to complaints from neighbours.
So, what is the right answer? Unfortunately, there is no one-size-fits-all answer to this question. It depends on a number of factors, including the individual dog’s personality and behaviour, the squirrel population in the area, and the owner’s personal preferences.
Get Your Dog to Stop Chasing Squirrels
Most dog breeds have an innate desire to chase and hunt other animals. Scolding or punishing them for something that comes naturally to a dog or any animal is just wrong.
Keep in mind that patience and repetition are the keys to success. To make sure your dog doesn’t chase animals outside, you need first to train him inside the house. You can use a verbal command like stay or leave it to cue your dog to stop.
Obviously, your dog needs to be trained in basic commands like no and sit before this step.
As soon as your dogs see a moving squirrel their prey drive kicks in, and it’s your job to act before that. Call your dog’s name and make him look at you over and over again.
You can reinforce this behavior with treats. It will ensure that when you are on your walks, your dog will stop eyeing the squirrel and look at you. While the dog looks at you and gets his treat, hopefully, the squirrel will have enough time to escape.
You can also throw the treat in a different direction, so the dog chases the treat instead of the squirrel. You can practice this by placing something desirable around your dog.
Right after the dog notices it, you can say leave it firmly and give a treat when he does.
Next time when you go for a walk using this command as soon as you see your dog straying. Once again it requires a lot of practice
Make sure that before going for a walk your dog has had a filling meal and does not feel the need to find sustenance in other living creatures. You can also schedule your walks at a more suitable time.
Usually, the birds and squirrels are more active during early mornings and around the time sun sets. Try to walk your dog during the early afternoon.
Most dogs have a lot of energy and being cooped up inside the house doesn’t provide many chances of using it. It only makes sense that your dog gets overexcited every time you go out. Engage in games and come up with activities for your dog.
Make sure that he has had enough play time for the day and hunting just won’t have its appeal anymore.
Hunting and running come naturally to a dog, you can’t control it, but you can redirect it. You can help your dogs to control it themselves with proper K9 training. This training requires lots of repetition even after your dog understands what you mean.
So, don’t forget to have daily revision sessions so that your dog doesn’t get out of the habit. Even five minutes a day can be enough. Love and affection are the only ways you can truly train your dog.
Research has proven that most dogs prefer affection over treats. Therefore, shower your best friend with lots of love every time they behave and then bring in the treats as their reward.