When the Dog Has a Lifelong Passion for Hunting

Keeping Dogs on a Leash in Spring

Many dog owners are now being challenged by their dog's hunting behavior.

VIER PFOTEN therefore advises keeping dogs on a leash during the months of March to July wherever wildlife lives. In some cantons, there is also a general leash requirement, or at least in and around forests during the period from April to July, such as in the canton of Zurich.

Hunting is a completely natural behavior for dogs. Their wild relative, the wolf, must hunt to survive. In the domesticated dog, this behaviour is deeply embedded in the genes. It cannot be suppressed, even if the dog's survival no longer depends on it. Depending on the breed and the individual dog, hunting behaviour is more or less pronounced and places corresponding demands on the dog's owner.

A scent can arouse a dog's interest in hunting

A dog's interest in hunting is aroused as soon as it perceives something that promises prey: a rustling in the bushes, a movement in the thicket, a scent. The dog immediately focuses its attention on the potential prey. It sets off without hesitation and is unresponsive to the calls and whistles of its owner.

Once the prey is in sight, there is no stopping it: the prey animal is pursued, cornered, and sometimes injured or killed. The dog is satisfied. Hunting is a self-rewarding behavior for it.

What owners can do

If your own dog turns out to be a hunter, immediate action is necessary. Yasmine Wenk, Campaign Coordinator for Pets at VIER PFOTEN Switzerland advises: “A simple measure is to keep the dog on a leash where wildlife is to be expected — for example in fields and forests.”

Training helps

With targeted training measures, a dog can learn not to stray too far from its owner and to respond immediately to a recall command. In addition, people can learn to redirect and better control their dog's hunting behavior through targeted, dog-friendly anti-hunting training at a dog school.

Wenk adds: «Despite everything, it remains a dog. As an owner, you must always reckon with the possibility that it may bolt at some point. It helps to be able to ‘read’ your animal. The sooner you recognize the typical changes in its behavior, the better you can counteract a hunting outburst and interrupt the hunting behavior. Once the dog has bolted, it is often already too late.»

When in doubt, keep your dog on a leash

Hobby hunters are permitted to shoot dogs if they catch them poaching. In some cantons, a general leash requirement applies — for example in Ticino, or at least in and around forests during the period from April to July. This measure is intended to protect wildlife. These leash requirements must be observed, even if one’s own dog is reliably responsive to recall. Anyone in areas without a leash requirement who is unsure whether they have sufficient control over their dog to call it back should forgo allowing the dog to roam freely and instead use a long line or tracking leash. This provides safety while still giving the dog considerable freedom.

Consideration for wildlife

The breeding and birthing season is underway: birds are building their nests, wild boars are giving birth to their piglets, and badgers are already busily raising their young. The stress caused by dogs and humans can have devastating consequences for the mother and her young. For even if the mother animal escapes the dog, it burns valuable energy that it actually needs for milk production. If the mother is too weakened, this can, in the worst case, mean the death of the young.

To protect native wildlife, the global animal welfare organization VIER PFOTEN appeals to all dog owners to keep their four-legged companions on a leash at all times from March to July, and to all other visitors to forests not to walk, jog, or cycle off the official paths.

Further guides on dogs, cats and more from VIER PFOTEN can be found here.