Whether you just got a new dog and you are trying to figure out the safest way to introduce him to the household cat, or you need to help your dog get along with a new bunny, some training and introductions are definitely in order! It does not matter what species of animal you are trying to help your dog become accustomed to, be it a hamster, ferret or pet iguana, knowing your dog is the very first step. If it is a new dog, you both will be in for a learning curve, as the dog’s prey drive and his previous socialization are truly being put to the test!
Prey Drive
Prey drive is the instinctual urge to chase, kill and eat a prey animal. All carnivores have prey drive, as it helped them survive through being adequate hunters. We see this in cats who play with toys and in wild wolves who hunt down rabbits. We even see this in dogs, though it often transfers itself into ball drive. Ball drive is virtually the same thing as prey drive, but the animal feels compelled to chase and catch a ball instead of a small animal.