Key guides in this section
Living with cats and small pets (spaniel compatibility)
- Can Springer Spaniels get along with cats?
- Do Cocker spaniels like cats?
- Are Cavalier King Charles spaniels good with cats?
- Can Cocker spaniels live with rabbits?
- Dog Breeds That Get Along Well With Rabbits including Cavaliers
Chasing habits and predatory behaviour
Related behaviour hubs
Related training hubs
Chasing is one of the most common (and most frustrating) spaniel behaviours. Many spaniels are naturally driven to chase moving things — birds, rabbits, squirrels, cats, livestock, even joggers or bicycles. This doesn’t mean your spaniel is “bad” or aggressive — it means they’re doing what they were bred to do.
The aim isn’t to remove prey drive completely. The goal is to build reliable control, improve safety, and teach your spaniel that choosing you is more rewarding than chasing.
This hub explains why spaniels chase, how to reduce the behaviour safely, and how to build the training foundations that make off-lead life possible.
Why spaniels chase (and why it’s so hard to stop)
Chasing is driven by instinct. Spaniels often have:
- strong interest in scent and movement
- fast arousal response (“I must go!”)
- high reward from the chase itself
- habit patterns from practising it repeatedly
A chase is often more rewarding than food or toys — especially outdoors.
This is why shouting, bribing, or punishing often fails. You need a structured plan.
What prey drive looks like in everyday life
Chasing doesn’t always look the same. You might see:
- intense sniffing and “locking onto” scent trails
- sudden sprinting into hedges or long grass
- bolting after birds or squirrels
- stalking behaviour (still body, slow creeping)
- chasing cats or running children
- darting towards moving bikes/scooters
- ignoring recall once the chase begins
If your dog is already chasing regularly, the first goal is preventing rehearsals while you retrain.
Is prey drive the same as aggression?
No. Prey drive is about chasing and grabbing movement — not hostility.
However, prey drive can still be dangerous, especially around:
- cats and small pets
- livestock
- wildlife
- roads
- joggers/bikes
Even if your dog “means no harm”, the risk comes from the speed and intensity.
Start here: the safest plan (step-by-step)
Step 1: Prevent chasing while you train
If your spaniel practises chasing daily, training progress will be slow.
Use:
- a long line (10–15m) for freedom with safety
- quieter environments at first
- avoid wildlife-heavy areas temporarily
- reduce off-lead time until recall improves
This is not forever — it’s a short-term reset.
Step 2: Build recall before distractions
Recall training must start in low distraction environments.
Practise:
- indoors
- garden
- quiet paths
- then gradually increase challenge
Step 3: Add impulse control (the missing piece)
Prey drive is an impulse problem — not a knowledge problem.
Impulse control builds:
- pause
- hesitation
- choice
- ability to disengage
➡️ /spaniel-training/impulse-control/
Step 4: Train “disengagement” from movement
The key skill is:
See the trigger → choose to look away → return to you
Start small:
- practise with mild movement (toy dragged, person walking)
- mark and reward for looking away
- build up to real-life scenarios over time
Step 5: Improve off-lead reliability gradually
Off-lead control is earned. It comes from:
- hundreds of successful reps
- calm decision-making
- not rushing stages
➡️ /spaniel-training/off-lead/
Living with cats and small pets
Many owners want to know if spaniels can live with cats, rabbits, or small pets. Some can — but it depends on:
- the individual dog
- early exposure and training
- management (gates, safe areas)
- strong recall and impulse control
- never allowing chasing “for fun”
If your dog has already chased or grabbed at a pet, you need a strict safety plan and slower introductions.
What NOT to do
Avoid these approaches because they usually make things worse:
- letting your dog “run it out” (chasing becomes stronger)
- relying on shouting and repeated recall cues
- punishing after the chase (the reward already happened)
- using off-lead freedom as training (too hard too soon)
- allowing “just one chase” occasionally
Chasing is rehearsed behaviour — consistency matters.
Common mistakes that keep prey drive strong
- poor recall foundations (training only outdoors)
- too much freedom too early
- no long line stage
- turning recall into “end of fun”
- no alternative outlet for hunting/working instinct
Spaniels often benefit hugely from appropriate “work” outlets (gundog-style games, scentwork, structured retrieves).