5 Dog Breeds That Like to Be Chased (With Pictures)
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Dogs are high-energy pets that need a certain amount of exercise daily to stay happy, physically healthy, and mentally stimulated. Exactly how much exercise your pup needs will depend on several factors, including his age, breed, and size. One way to meet your dog’s daily physical activity requirements is to play a rousing game of chase.
Though some experts don’t recommend playing chase games with your dog (more about this later), certain breeds are more likely to enjoy getting chased than doing the chasing. Herding breeds and sighthounds were bred to chase, and the vast majority also love being chased themselves. Read on to learn more about five dog breeds that enjoy being pursued.
The 5 Dog Breeds That Like to Be Chased
1. Whippets
Whippets, sometimes called the poor man’s Greyhound, are elegant and powerful dogs. This British sighthound is closely related to the Greyhound in both temperament and appearance. Whippets are exceptionally fast dogs that were bred to hunt by sight. These active pups need up to two hours of exercise daily to meet their physical and mental stimulation requirements.
2. Australian Koolie
The Koolie is an Australian working and herding dog. They were bred for stamina and endurance and are often found today doing service work such as disability and emotional support and engaging in various dog sports like agility and obedience. Koolies require a fair amount of daily exercise to keep them physically fit and mentally stimulated.
3. Coonhounds
Coonhounds are American scent hounds, bred to be raccoon hunters (hence their name), though they’re also historically used to hunt other game like cougars and bears. There are six different breeds of coonhounds, including Black and Tan Coonhounds and the English Coonhound. Dogs falling into any of these breeds need about an hour of exercise daily to stay well-behaved and healthy.
4. Border Collies
Border Collies are British herding dogs known for their sheep herding skills, so they enjoy a good chase regardless of whether they’re doing the chasing or the one getting chased. This is the most intelligent dog breed and one of the most challenging to keep as a pet. Their high intelligence means training a Border Collie is easy, but their high energy and exercise requirement makes them not ideal as pets for first-time or inexperienced dog owners. They need at least two hours of exercise daily, though the more you give them, the better.
5. Smooth Collies
Smooth Collies are a Scottish herding breed and the short-coated version of the Rough Collie (AKA Lassie). Smooth Collies are agile and active dogs requiring a minimum of one hour of exercise daily, though your dog may need more. They have a high prey drive, so this breed, like its Border Collie relative, may enjoy a good game of chase regardless of which side they’re on..
Why Do Dogs Like to Be Chased?
We can’t know for sure exactly why some dogs love being chased, but we can postulate. Some pups may enjoy a good game of chase because it’s an instinctual game they play during puppyhood. Chasing is embedded in your dog’s DNA as one of its natural behaviors, and a fun game of chase is a great way for dogs to burn off excess energy.
Is Playing Chase Bad?
Playing chase with your pup may not be the best way to ensure he gets his exercise. If your dog were to get loose, he might think you’re playing the chase game. He’ll keep running instead of coming to you when called, which can cause him to accidentally run away, get lost, or get into trouble in traffic or with the local animal control officers.
Additionally, playing chase too often can make it difficult to teach your dog to recall. Most experts would advise against chasing your dog unless he is so well-trained that he knows when the game is over and can successfully be recalled at any time.
Other Games to Play Instead of Chase
If your dog loves being chased, you’ll probably feel like a monster taking away his favorite game from him in the name of safety. However, you can play with your pup in many ways that will be just as fulfilling to him as a good game of chase.
Flip the Script
When you chase your dog, it teaches him that he should run away from you. We don’t want you to encourage this behavior, so flip the script the next time you play with your pup. Instead of chasing him, encourage him to pursue you instead.
Play Other Games
Dogs sometimes like to play chases as it’s a quick way to expend all their energy in one go. Tug-of-war or fetch are great games to help your pup get rid of some pent-up energy, as they are fast-paced and don’t encourage bad habits like running away from you.
Enroll Him in Dog Sports
Dog sports are a great way for your chase-loving dog to burn off excess energy healthily and productively. Lure coursing is a sport that encourages your pup to run off steam as it involves chasing a mechanically operated lure.
Final Thoughts
The breeds we looked at today aren’t the only dogs that like to be chased. In fact, one visit to the dog park and you’ll see that most dogs like to play chase with one another. It’s fun to socialize with other dogs and simultaneously boost their daily physical activity.
However, as fun as chase can be, we don’t recommend encouraging such behavior. It teaches your dog that he needs to run away from you when you move toward him.
Featured Image Credit: 825545, Pixabay
