208. What is Predation Substitution Training (And When It Actually Works)

If you've ever thought that giving your dog a flirt pole or a tug toy would stop them chasing squirrels, this one's going to shift something. Predation substitution training sounds like the answer, give them an outlet for all that chase drive. But as Claire Deyer walks Jo through in this episode, it's not that simple. Here's what actually works, why outlets alone fail high-drive dogs, and when PST becomes part of a real strategy instead of a band-aid. Claire's spent a decade rehabilitating dogs that chase on command and won't stop, and what she's learned will reshape how you think about drive, boundaries, and what your dog actually needs from you.

In This Episode

• What predatory drive actually is and why it's normal (not a flaw) in working dogs
• Why chasing a toy will never replicate catching a real rabbit, the limitations of outlet training
• How dogs behave completely differently when you're not watching (and why this matters for prey drive issues)
• The skills you need alongside PST: reliable recall, stop whistle, steadiness, and self-control
• How gun dog training fits into predation substitution training
• Why diagnosing the root cause matters more than picking a training method

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