dog going loopy over pigeons

[koalalou]

Hi there, I have a 20 week old Jug (jack russell/pug cross). Took her to a playground at the weekend where there were quite few birds and she kept lunging at them - really hard. She became quite hard to control and wound up barking at dogs too - which is not like her as she is usually such a friendly pup. She occasionally does this when out walking too but not often/always.

Any tips on how to get her to stop doing this?

Never tried to stop it but birds are the one thing that really ignites my terriers prey drive. A JRT is a working breed so the instinct is going to be there.

My Patterdale has caught pigeons in our garden ,its definitely a terrier thing . I've never tried to train it out of him ,its taken me 3 yrs to stop him trying to eat our rabbit so the pigeons can look after themselves !

Can I ask do you let your dogs off lead at all? I am worried that she will bolt if she sees a bird... Not a problem yet as I'm no where near ready to let her off lead. Yes, I think the birds can get away so not too worried about them...

Yes but only in carefully assessed situations. And it has nothing to do with birds!

He is dog and people obsessed so I only let him off for the early morning park session where the local friendly dog folk meet for a chat or if no living creature he can place his filthy paws on is in the horizon. He's the classic nuisance 'he just wants to say hello' dog so I have to manage the situation. Birds can look after themselves!

I found it way easier to walk off lead under 5 months than now at 1. Young pups want security, young dogs want an adventure!

My lurcher has virtually no prey drive, but pigeons drive him batty. But as they flap off quickly he doesn't chase after them when off lead.

Mine goes off lead but he is ball obsessed and pigeons are of no interest when there is a ball . I can't let him off near any ponds that have ducks/ geese as he chases them and also any horses, sheep ,cows etc. I am very selective about where he goes off lead but that is more about me than him IYSWIM. I agree with fan that its best to let them off as young as you can , a beach is good if you are near enough .

my JRT cross is another bird lover she has caught a few too> i cannot trust her off lead becasue i cannot get her back if she spots a bird! otherwise i have total control. To be honest i have given up trying now, its her instinct and its quite strong in her.