What term refers to the dog's natural tendency to chase, bite, and carry an item the dog perceives as prey?

What term refers to the dog's natural tendency to chase, bite, and carry an item the dog perceives as prey?

• A. Prey drive
• B. Aggression
• C. Olfaction
• D. Audition

Answer: (A)

Prey drive describes the dog's natural instinct to chase, seize, and carry objects it perceives as prey. This built-in predatory sequence is what motivates a dog to engage with moving targets, bite, and often carry the item. In training, harnessing prey drive helps elicit focused, motivated behavior through bite work or tug routines, with appropriate control and safety measures. The other terms refer to different things: aggression is about the intent to harm others, not specifically chasing or carrying prey items; olfaction is the sense of smell; audition is the sense of hearing. So the term that best fits the description is prey drive.

Prey drive describes the dog's natural instinct to chase, seize, and carry objects it perceives as prey. This built-in predatory sequence is what motivates a dog to engage with moving targets, bite, and often carry the item. In training, harnessing prey drive helps elicit focused, motivated behavior through bite work or tug routines, with appropriate control and safety measures. The other terms refer to different things: aggression is about the intent to harm others, not specifically chasing or carrying prey items; olfaction is the sense of smell; audition is the sense of hearing. So the term that best fits the description is prey drive.