Training Dogs Who Love to Chase: Turning Triggers into Cues with Alexis Davison
Predatory chase is a natural, ingrained canine behavior. However, when directed toward wildlife, livestock, cyclists, or vehicles, chasing becomes a significant safety hazard and a major source of stress for dog guardians.
Many handlers find themselves in a constant state of hypervigilance on walks, dreading the sudden appearance of a trigger/cue and feeling unsure of how to safely manage their dog.
To explore effective, force-free ways to address this behavior, we spoke with Alexis Davison, an Australian behavior consultant and the creator of the Un-Chase!® program. Since 2012, Alexis has focused on helping trainers and guardians address chase behaviors safely, ethically, and sustainably.
During an ATA members-only webinar with Alexis, she shared how the skills she teaches in her pro trainer course are usually familiar to trainers; however, the contexts [for example, when chasing things like wildlife] for using these skills might be unfamiliar.
The Un-Chase!® program uses;
- A combination of management & training new skills
- Meeting the dog’s needs to effect behaviour change in those situations; where the chase behaviour was proving problematic.
- An end result of a dog taking its cues from the environment, making life easier and helping to provide clarity for all [humans and dogs].
“Ultimately, what we are doing in Un-Chase!® is taking the triggers for chasing and turning them into cues for other behaviors. The practical benefit is that we aren’t required to cue the dog constantly—the dog learns to respond directly to the environment.
This allows people to enjoy a walk where they can relax without being hypervigilant for every potential trigger. It also means the dog can respond appropriately whether the handler spots the trigger immediately or not.” – Alexis Davison
Resources for Further Learning
Addressing chase behavior requires patience, consistent mechanics, and a clear training progression. If you are interested in exploring the Un-Chase!® framework further, consider the following resources:
Listen to the Free Podcast: Hear Alexis Davison share practical insights on how to build confidence with a dog that chases in this episode of the Animal Training Academy podcast [here (https://atamember.com/2023/02/27/alexis-davison-2/)].
Watch the Full Webinar: Members of the Animal Training Academy can access the complete replay of Alexis’s webinar on working with chase behaviors within the community library [here (insert membership link)].
Browse the Free Archive: Explore over 230 free podcast episodes featuring behavior consultants, veterinarians, and animal trainers from around the world [here (insert podcast library link)].