Breed specific outlets are often the missing piece when it comes to solving behavioural issues in dogs. Many owners try to fix frustration, reactivity, or hyperactivity in dogs by increasing walks and exercise. But most dogs already get enough physical exerciseâwhat theyâre lacking is an appropriate way to express their drives. Without a proper outlet, they remain frustrated, restless, and difficult to manage.
In this post, Iâll go through why breed specific outlets are the key to reducing frustration, how the predatory motor pattern influences behaviour, and how the right outlet can help your dog. Plus, Iâll break down the best outlets for different breeds so you can find ones that work for your dogâs needs.
Why Walks Arenât Essential for a Happy Dog
The Power of Outlets: Why Theyâre More Than Just Exercise
How Outlets Reduce Obsession and Frustration
How Breed Specific Outlets Can Transform Behaviour
How My Detox Helps Break the Cycle
Choosing the Right Outlet for Your Dog
Finding the Right Outlet for Your Dogâs Breed
Terrier Breeds (Jack Russell, Westie, Staffordshire Bull Terrier)
Sighthounds (Greyhound, Whippet, Saluki)
Scenthounds (Beagle, Bloodhound, Basset Hound)
Retriever Breeds (Labrador, Golden Retriever, Chesapeake Bay Retriever)
Herding Breeds (Border Collie, Australian Shepherd, German Shepherd)
Guardian Breeds (Rottweiler, Great Pyrenees, German Shepherd)
Daily walks have become the default exercise for dogs, but the truth is, they arenât a necessary component for a happy and fulfilled dog. While going outdoors is still important, walking just to walkâespecially as a way to burn energyâoften isn't adequate. Many owners unknowingly get trapped in the cycle of longer and longer walks, hoping it will fix their dogâs behaviour, only to find that their dog remains frustrated, reactive, or overly aroused.
For many dogs, walks are actually a source of stress, not relaxation. The outside world is filled with triggers (like dogs and people if you have a reactive dog), overwhelming scents, and stimulation that many dogs struggle to regulate.
[You can read more about taking breaks from walks in my blog post here].
If a dog is already overstimulated, anxious, or reactive, daily walks without a clear âpurposeâ can make them worse, not better. Instead of helping a dog reset, these walks often build more frustration, reinforce bad habits, and leave the dog in a constant state of arousal.
This is why I recommend prioritising a breed specific outlet daily, over going on walks. Dogs donât need to walk every day for the sake of itâthey need purposeful activities that help them feel fulfilled and mentally satisfied.
Youâve probably heard the phrase âgive a dog a jobââand thatâs exactly what an outlet is. Without a structured outlet, dogs will find their own way to satisfy their instincts, often in ways we donât like and at times we don't want. A dog that wasnât given a proper outlet for their chase drive may fixate on joggers and cyclists. A scent-driven dog with no structured outlet for sniffing might pull obsessively on walks, nose glued to the ground dragging you along with them. The more frustrated they become, the harder it is to manage them in your everyday life.
Many dogs become obsessed with certain behaviours out in public because they donât have a structured release for them elsewhere. This is why so many dogs fixate on chasing, sniffing, or even herding children and other dogsâbecause theyâre desperate to engage in their natural instincts.
â ď¸ Example: A scent hound that pulls like crazy on walks to sniff every patch of grass may be far more manageable if they get structured scent as an outlet. Instead of feeling the need to sniff everything, everywhere, they learn when and where to engage with that need.
Your dog will still want to do these things, but the obsession and frustration will decrease, making them more engaged and easier to redirect in everyday situations.
You can learn more in my blog post about my strategies on how to deal with a frustrated dog.
A dog that only gets physical exercise without a mental or instinctual outlet is more likely to become:
Many owners unknowingly increase their dogâs frustration by over-relying on exercise that actually feeds arousal rather than relieves it. Endless games of fetch, for example, can teach a dog to need constant stimulation.
This cycle of overstimulation â poor sleep â constant frustration is what keeps many dogs stuck in behaviour struggles.
A dog with strong chase instincts but no structured outlet may:
A dog with strong grab-bite and kill-bite instincts but no outlet may:
A dog with strong scent work instincts but no structured sniffing outlet may:
This is why outlets tailored to a dogâs specific instincts are so important. When dogs have a way to express their natural drives in a controlled way, they become less obsessive and less frustrated.
For dogs that are already stuck in a state of over-arousal, structured outlets combined with a detox from overstimulation can be a game-changer. My detox helps:
By prioritising the right outlet for your dogâs instincts, youâre not just preventing problem behavioursâyouâre giving them the tools to regulate themselves.
The Predatory Motor Pattern: Understanding A Dog's Natural Drive
The predatory motor pattern, also known as prey drive, is a hardwired sequence of instinctual behaviours that dogs use to hunt, capture, and sometimes even kill prey. While our dogs are domesticated, this instinct is still very much alive and even though dogs no longer need to hunt for survival, their drives to track, chase, and grab are deeply ingrained in their DNA.
The predatory motor pattern is made up of several key stages, with different breeds thriving in different areas:
1ď¸âŁ Finding (Orient) â Scanning the environment, locking onto movement.
2ď¸âŁ Eye â Fixating on a target.
3ď¸âŁ Stalk â Slow, controlled movement toward the target.
4ď¸âŁ Chase â Rapid pursuit of the target.
5ď¸âŁ Grab-bite â Using the mouth to capture or control.
6ď¸âŁ Kill-bite â Delivering a stronger, controlled bite.
7ď¸âŁ Dissect â Ripping and tearing prey.
Each stage in this sequence is inherently rewarding. Dogs donât chase just for the sake of runningâthey chase because it satisfies a deep instinctual need. This is why you might find it hard to recall your dog off a chaseâthey are fulfilling a drive that brings them mental satisfaction and relief.
Without an appropriate outlet for these instincts, dogs always find their own ways to satisfy themâoften in ways we see as unwanted behaviours. This is why we see dogs fixating on movement, lunging at triggers, chewing destructively, digging constantly or struggling to settle down.
By understanding where your dog falls within the predatory motor pattern, you can create a structured, fulfilling outlet that matches their natural drives.
Every dog has natural instincts, and certain breeds excel at specific parts of the predatory motor pattern sequence because they were originally bred to use those skills. By selecting outlets that align with your dogâs breed-specific instincts, youâre more likely to meet their needs fully.
However, itâs important to remember that not every dog fits neatly into its breedâs typical preferences. Some may enjoy outlets outside their breedâs norm, and thatâs perfectly okay. My dog Jasper has an obsession with anything scent related so I make sure we add plenty of scent based outlets into his routine!
The key is to experiment and observe what excites your dog the most while ensuring that their outlets provide a structured way to express their instincts rather than reinforcing chaos or overstimulation.
For example, terriers, like Jasper, bred for hunting and pest control, often thrive on outlets like flirt poles or destructive enrichment. These activities allow them to chase, grab, âkill,â and dissect, tapping into the parts of the predatory motor pattern they love most!
Itâs essential to provide opportunities for your dog to engage in these instinctive behaviours within a controlled environment. When dogs arenât given a structured way to express themselves, theyâll find their own outlets.
Below I've listen some breeds and their outlets outlets based on their natural instincts and predatory motor pattern:
How to Build the Perfect Outlet Routine
Whether itâs scent work, flirt pole, swimming, weight pull, or structured fetch, having a selection of activities ensures that your dog stays engaged, fulfilled, and happy.
Discover more on utilising both mental stimulation and exercise in my blog post mental stimulastion vs physical.
How the Detox Can Help Reset Your Dog
If your dog struggles with frustration, obsession, or constant overstimulation, finding the right outlet is just one part of the solution. Many dogs are stuck in a cycle of over-arousal, where their nervous system is always on high alertâmaking it difficult for them to switch off, settle, or handle frustration.
This is where my detox program comes in. It helps:
Instead of relying on more walks, more exercise, or random stimulation, the detox helps reset your dogâs system, giving them the clarity and structure they need to fully benefit from proper outlets.
Every dog has natural instincts, and if we donât provide an appropriate outlet, theyâll find one on their ownâoften in ways we donât like. The key to a calmer, and more balanced dog isnât just more physical exercise; itâs about giving them a purpose, meeting their instinctual needs, and providing structure.
By understanding your dogâs predatory motor pattern, choosing the right outlets, and resetting their nervous system through the detox, youâre giving them the tools to be more balanced, less frustrated, and easier to live with.
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