Hello Everyone!

It's been a long time since i've started a new thread, but i couldn't find anything that was specific to what i am about to ask.

Over the holidays, we were dogsitting for our friend's pug. Our husky, Gus, has never really guarded toys. He used to waaaay back when he was younger, but I have not seen him guard a toy in over a year now. Gus and the pug have always played well together with toys around. They play tug with each other, and even take turns with chewy toys. We gave him a new toy during Christmas, and this one squeaked. I noticed that the squeaking sound kind of makes him crazy. He almost goes into this mode where he can't snap out of it. This toy, he did guard from the pug. I took it away from them right away, along with all other toys. I'm also quite certain that the reason he guarded it was because it was a squeaky toy, and not because it was a new toy (although i'm sure that had something to do with it too).

I read that the squeaky sound is supposed to mimic the sound of a dying animal. So i would think that this has to do with his prey drive. Thankfully, most people do not bring squeaky toys into the dog park. But i was wondering what people's opinions are about trying to train this out of him. Sort of like desensitizing him to the sound of a squeaky toy so that he doesn't react this way. I thought about just never buying him squeaky toys, but i don't think that's really addressing the issue.

Has anyone else ever dealt with something like this? Is it just a normal behaviour that i should expect because he is so prey driven? Am i just overreacting? haha

Any thoughts you might have on this would be greatly appreciated Thank you.
--maggie

You are absolutely right in that a squeaky toy will induce the prey drive.  

The only time I have ever seen Link get snappy at a dog park is when he physically overpowers a smaller dog, steals that dog's squeaky toy, and then gets really nasty when that dog approaches Link to get the toy back.  

It kinda makes him nuts.  

We have never purchased him a squeaky toy, but really because we find them incredibly annoying.  He has received one here and there for Christmas, and then he gets to go to town with it, but they only last a minute or two before they are destroyed.  

I don't think you are over reacting, but I also don't think you can train the drive for a squeaky toy out of him.  That's not a learned drive, it is a natural drive.  

It is possible to desensitize them to certain situations or items that provoke them to "hunt."  I've done it recently with success.  But I used tug toys, and rather than training the drive away, I channeled it onto myself.  Sorta highjacked his prey drive for myself by becoming the object of his attraction.   Tug toys work great for this.  

With play dates with other dogs, it might just be best to avoid the situation all together. There are so many other ways to have a successful play date. You could work on desensitizing and the resource aggression, but that might be a battle best left unattended if you can--pick your battles wisely.

I think with dog park scenarios, it is probably best to just avoid those situations when there is a squeaky toy available.  Unless you have your dog on an e collar when he's off leash in a dog park, you are not going to have success on tackling prey drive issues.   That's just a recipe for failure.   More and more it seems people are bringing high value toys into dog parks.

I am using dog parks less and less these days, but when I do, I usually just leave when I hear a squeaky toy.  I don't want the situation to cause me to get frustrated, Link to get riled up, or for a potential fight or tussle to break out.  

Just my thoughts.

Thanks for your input Jeff! I agree with everything you said.

I do think i'll try and desensitive him to it if i can. I also follow the "Using the prey drive to train" thread, and I started doing this with my walks whenever he pulls me. I do find that his focus is more on me now. Still needs some work though

We live in the city so we really only have the dog parks as our main form of exercise. Most people do not bring squeaky toys into the park. And like you, when i hear one, i leash Gus up and leave right away. It bothers me even when people brings balls into the park. What good can come when 8 dogs are chasing the same ball?!? I've started to run away from Gus while making very excited noises, and he'll come chasing me instead!

Thanks again for your input! i'll see how successful i am with redirecting his focus from the squeaky toy to me instead.

If you can get a tight heel and get synchronized a half hour walk is WAY better exercise than an hour in a dog park.

Haha i do feel like i'm stuck in a vicious cycle right now. Gus has a lot of energy to burn off. I bring him to the beach where he gets to run like a wild dog for an hour. But because he's used to this type of unfocused freedom, he doesn't like to focus on me so much when we do go for a leashed walk. So when we do go for a leashed walk, he gets frustrated with me because i'm not letting him go wild. And we get home, and he's not tired, and just frustrated. And the cycle repeats.

But you are absolutely correct. A controlled, focused leashed walk does wonders for the bond that you create with your husky.