MSLondon

Thanks for your replies. Just to clarify on my original post... I’m not expecting her to be trained out of her prey drive; I’m looking for advice on the correct (i.e. safest) way to respond when there is ‘prey’ in our path on a walk and she goes into hunting mode.

I adopted a 5 year old retired racer from Battersea Dogs Home 3 weeks ago. I’m looking for advice on how to manage her seemingly very high prey drive when out walking. She’s always muzzled and wears a collar and a harness, a lead on each. She walks beautifully on a loose-lead when not distracted. However, on almost every street in my neighbourhood of London we encounter something she considers prey: foxes, cats, squirrels, birds. On seeing her prey she becomes totally oblivious to me and either freezes and refuses to move, trembling and staring at the animal, or lunges and pulls towards it with alarming power and speed. My question is: how do I respond in these moments when she is so desperate to chase? Particularly when it’s an animal like a fox or a cat who will just stand there a few feet away, staring her out. I am only just barely able to physically hold her back when she is straining towards an animal. Should I just continue walking in the animal’s direction and hope it will move in time? I’ve been trying to change direction, offering ‘high value treats’ (though she is completely uninterested in food at these times) and even trying to physically turn her round by lifting her legs and pointing her in another direction (sometimes works, sometimes not). The rescue centre have advised against this, suggesting she may become aggressive to us if handled in this way (it doesn’t feel right either). They’ve suggested teaching ‘leave it’ and ‘watch me’ at home but she is nowhere near being able to respond to these commands when out and distracted. I feel unsafe walking her at the moment especially when I have my young child with me. She has pulled towards roads and it feels scary to have such a powerful dog not fully under control. Before adopting her, Battersea advised keeping her muzzled as the way of managing prey drive - but is there anything else I can do? Please share you thoughts on how I can achieve safer, less stressful walking!