Ava Williams
If the hunting instinct is awakened in the dog, there is often no stopping it. In many cases, calls back and whistles from masters or mistresses have no effect. After all, the hunting instinct in some dog breeds is stronger than any training. And that can be fatal to wild animals. Since deer, rabbits, and the like often give birth in spring, animal rights activists ask dog owners to be particularly careful during these months. During this time, your darlings should not be allowed to walk freely in the forest, but only on a long leash.
Dogs in the hunt
Dogs with hunting fever can also endanger their people or themselves, for example, if they run uncontrolled across the street. Also, in most cases, hunters are allowed to kill dogs that are hunting or found poaching under state wildlife protection hunting laws. Only trained hunting dogs, guide dogs, police dogs, shepherd dogs or other service dogs may not be killed if they are recognizable as such.
For the dog, hunting is a natural and self-rewarding behavior. It’s a dog’s primal drive that’s deeply rooted in the genes. Depending on the breed, this is expressed to different degrees and is awakened as soon as the dog perceives something that promises prey: rustling, movements, or smells. The dog immediately concentrates completely on the upcoming hunt and is unresponsive to calls from the owner. The prey is pursued and, in the worst case, caught.
Some dog owners also underestimate the hunting instinct of their four-legged companion. Even small dogs that master different everyday situations in the city with confidence, and behave in an exemplary manner when shopping, on the subway, or in a restaurant, can forget all obedience in the forest. Hunting is in the blood of popular, smaller family dogs such as the Beagle, the Jack Russel Terrier, or, of course, the Dachshund.
In the forest on a long leash
Owners should take their dog on a drag or leash where the game is to be expected and especially in spring when many young animals are born. This can save you and your animal a lot of inconveniences. A lot also don’t know that hunters are allowed to shoot hunting dogs in most cases to protect wild animals.
In addition, training can be useful in that the dog learns to stay close to the owner and to react to his calls. Rewarding is important here: a specific word, gesture, or treat can trigger the sense of reward and make the owner more interesting than the deer or rabbit.