What is predation substitute training? Why your dog chases and what you can do about it!
- Sarah at Barkshire Dog Training
- May 15, 2025
- 4 min read
Updated: 3 days ago
Struggling with a dog who’s wild around wildlife? Does a single squirrel sighting turn your woodland stroll into a tug-of-war? You’re not alone.
Predation Substitute Training (PST) is a kind, science-led approach that helps transform those tense, chaotic moments into connected, enriching experiences. It’s not about control it’s about understanding and working with your dog’s natural instincts.
Let me share how PST transformed my walks with Poppy from stress to partnership.
What is Predation Substitute Training (PST)?
Predation Substitute Training is a compassionate, force-free way to support dogs with high prey drive, those dogs who love to chase! Instead of suppressing their instincts to chase, scavenge or stalk, PST offers a structured, satisfying alternative, so your dog gets to express their natural behaviours safely and cooperatively, with you as part of the experience.
It’s not about stopping your dog from being who they are. It’s about becoming the person they want to be with.
Why do dogs behave this way?
Dogs are natural-born predators. The behaviour chain they follow—Scent, Scan, Search → Stalk → Chase → Grab-Bite → Possess → Dissect → Consume—is deeply hardwired and highly rewarding. It activates their SEEKING system: the part of the brain responsible for motivation, excitement, and joy.
This is why avoidance, punishment or shouting simply don’t work. You can’t punish away instinct—but you can work with it.
The four pillars of PST
As one of a few Predation Substitute Instructors in the UK, trained by Simone Mueller herself, the creator of PST—I'm proud to teach these protocols based on four key pillars:
Management & Prevention - Set your dog up for success before they go into full chase mode.
Predation Substitute Tools - Build emotional control through techniques like the Stalking Game, watching prey together instead of chasing.
Predation Substitute Games - Fun, structured activities like Sausage Tree safely mimic parts of the hunting sequence.
Safety Net Cues - Develop reliable emergency cues—super recall, trained without fear, force, or frustration.
Sound familiar? If your dog lights up around wildlife and your walks feel more stressful than enjoyable, I offer a free discovery call to talk through what's going on.
My story: Poppy and I, my understanding of her need to chase!
Before PST, walks with Poppy were tense. The moment we entered Sulham Woods or passed by the Thames Lido at King’s Meadow, she knew there were squirrels nearby sometimes even deer. As soon as she caught the scent, she was off, eyes locked, nose to the ground, body thrumming with excitement.
It wasn’t that she didn’t love me—it’s that she was driven. I felt frustrated and disconnected, even guilty, wondering what I was missing.
Then I read Simone Mueller’s Hunting Together and everything shifted. I realised Poppy wasn’t misbehaving. She was doing what her body and brain were designed to do.
Now? We play together. We pause and watch wildlife side-by-side. I’ve learned her body language; she’s learned that I’m worth sticking close to. We’re more connected than ever.
My key learning: It wasn’t “bad behaviour” it was biology
When your dog ignores recall, it’s not defiance,it’s dopamine. PST gives them:
Mental and physical enrichment
Safer outdoor freedom
Fewer behaviour challenges
A stronger, more joyful bond with you
Understanding this changes everything. You stop fighting your dog’s instincts—and start teaming up with them.
Frequently Asked Questions About Predation Substitute Training
Can you train prey drive out of a dog?
No — and you wouldn't want to. Prey drive is hardwired into your dog's brain and deeply connected to their emotional wellbeing. Trying to suppress it through punishment or avoidance often makes behaviour worse. Predation Substitute Training works with the drive, giving dogs a safe and satisfying way to express it.
What dogs is PST suitable for?
PST is particularly helpful for dogs who chase wildlife, have a strong stalking or scenting instinct, struggle with recall around animals, or become frustrated and reactive outdoors. Breeds like spaniels, terriers, huskies, lurchers and collies often benefit but any dog with a high drive can respond brilliantly to PST.
How is PST different from other recall training?
Standard recall training teaches your dog to come back to you. PST goes deeper it changes how your dog feels about being with you in high-distraction environments. Rather than competing with rabbits or squirrels, you become part of the hunting experience. That's a fundamentally different relationship.
How long does PST take to work?
Every dog is different, but most owners notice a shift in connection and focus within the first few sessions. PST is a lifestyle approach, not a quick fix the more you practise together, the stronger your bond becomes and fun you have.
Am I a qualified to teach PST? Yes. I am one of a small number of Predation Substitute Training Instructors in the UK, trained directly by Simone Mueller, the creator of PST and author of Hunting Together. I work with dogs across Henley, Oxon & Reading,Berkshire and the surrounding area.
Final thoughts
If your dog lights up at the scent of a deer or the rustle of leaves, PST might be the missing piece. No gadgets or harsh corrections just time, curiosity, and connection.
Let’s help your dog do what they love… with you.
📩 Want to learn how PST could help your dog thrive? Send me a message at hello@barkshiredogtraining.com so we can arrange a chat about the challenges you're facing and how I can help.
At Barkshire Dog Training in Reading, Berkshire, I believe in Patience, Connection, Fun, and Kindness. PST embodies all four—and it’s one of the most empowering paths you can take with your dog.
Here’s to walks that bring you closer, games that spark joy, and a bond built not on control, but on trust, understanding, and shared adventure. With patience, connection, fun, and kindness anything is possible.🐾
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