Best Brain Games for Dogs With a Strong Prey Drive
I used to think that nothing could distract my dog when her prey drive kicked in. The moment she spotted a squirrel, rabbit, or even a blowing leaf — her focus was gone. The solution wasn’t more corrections or tighter leashes. What finally worked? Adding the right brain games that helped her channel that prey drive in a positive way.
In this post, I’ll share the best brain games for dogs with a strong prey drive — and how they can transform your dog’s focus and behavior. If you want the full brain training program that helped us so much, here’s my personal link:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
Table of Contents
Why Brain Games Help Prey-Driven Dogs
Dogs with a strong prey drive:
- Need healthy outlets for that instinct
- Crave mental and sensory stimulation
- Respond well to problem-solving games
- Build better focus and impulse control through brain work
- Become calmer when their mental needs are met
Without this type of enrichment, prey-driven dogs often become over-aroused, reactive, and hard to manage on walks.
The Changes I Saw
When I started adding brain games designed for her prey instincts:
- My dog’s reactivity decreased
- She stayed more connected to me on walks
- Her ability to recover from triggers improved
- She became calmer and more focused in general
- Our bond and trust grew stronger
This is the exact program that taught me how to do it step-by-step:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Best Brain Games for Prey-Driven Dogs
1. Scent Work
Engages their nose and natural tracking instincts.
2. Flirt Pole Play
Lets them chase in a structured way that builds impulse control.
3. Puzzle Toys
Encourages problem-solving and gives a mental outlet.
4. Hide and Seek
Builds focus and engages their seeking drive.
5. Directional Games
Teach your dog to follow cues left, right, close, or away — great for building control.
Final Thoughts
If you have a dog with a strong prey drive, adding the right brain games can give them the healthy outlet they need — and transform their behavior.
For us, this was the program that made all the difference:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
You’ll be amazed how quickly your dog’s focus, calmness, and responsiveness will improve — when you start adding these fun, positive brain games to your routine!
Before I really understood how to manage my dog’s prey drive, I felt like walks were a constant battle. No amount of physical exercise seemed to satisfy her — but adding the right mental games changed everything.
One of the first things I noticed? After a session of brain games that tapped into her natural instincts, she was calmer, more relaxed, and much more focused when we went out.
If you want a full plan that teaches you exactly how to work with your dog’s prey drive the right way, this is the program that worked so well for us:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
Another huge benefit? Impulse control. The more we practiced, the better my dog got at listening to me even when something exciting — like a squirrel or bird — crossed her path.
And instead of feeling constantly frustrated by her instincts, I finally had tools that helped her channel those natural drives in a positive, structured way.
Even short sessions — just 5–10 minutes of the right kind of mental work — made a huge difference in her ability to stay calm and responsive.
For dogs with a strong prey drive, these games can help reduce reactivity and build focus far more effectively than just trying to “tire them out” physically.
And because brain games give your dog a job to do, they also improve confidence — which helps them handle new or distracting situations more gracefully.
This is the exact program that taught me how to use brain training to manage prey drive step-by-step:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
I also noticed that the more we worked her brain, the more connected my dog became to me — she looked to me for guidance instead of just reacting instinctively.
And the better our connection, the easier it was to redirect her when needed — which gave me so much more confidence on walks and in public.
Now, instead of fighting her prey drive, I work with it — giving her structured outlets through games that both satisfy and balance her.
For anyone living with a dog who loves to chase, stalk, or hunt, adding this kind of mental enrichment could be the missing piece you’ve been looking for.
And this program will guide you through exactly how to do it — even if your dog is super excitable or reactive right now:
Brain Training for Dogs — Click here to check it out
You’ll be amazed how quickly your dog’s calmness, focus, and ability to manage their natural prey drive will improve — when you start adding the right brain games to their life!
One of the best parts? I no longer felt like I had to constantly say “no” to my dog’s natural instincts. With the right brain games, I could say “yes” — giving her a way to safely and positively satisfy her prey drive.
If you want to create that same kind of balance and connection with your dog, this is the exact program that helped us get there:
Brain Training for Dogs — Full Program Here
And the more we practiced, the more my dog started looking to me for fun — instead of obsessing over every moving thing outside.
It’s such a relief to finally have tools that work — and you’ll love seeing how much more focused, calm, and happy your dog becomes with the right brain games added to their routine!