Why Do Dogs Chase? A Closer Look at Breed, Personality & Play

Have you ever watched your dog bolt after a squirrel, a jogger, or even a leaf caught in the wind? Chasing is a natural behavior in dogs—sometimes it is playful, sometimes instinctual, and sometimes a sign of stress or overstimulation. But what really drives this behavior? Is it related to certain breeds of dogs, or something else?

A recent study set out to explore just that, diving into how breed, personality traits, and environment shape the way dogs chase. The goal? To help dog owners better understand their pups and develop more thoughtful, personalized training strategies.

Researchers surveyed over 900 dog owners across 113 different breeds, asking questions about the human and dog demographics, what their dog chased (cats, vehicles, other dogs etc.) and aspects of their dog’s personality such as impulsivity and sensitivity towards rewards and punishment.

The researchers hypothesized that while breed does play a role, personality traits might be just as important—or even more so—in explaining chasing behavior.

Turns out, chasing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different factors influenced different types of chasing:

  • Chasing Cats: Influenced by both breed and personality.
  • Chasing Other Dogs: Strongly linked to impulsivity.
  • Chasing Horses: Mostly breed-related.
  • Chasing Livestock: Surprisingly, not breed-dependent.
  • Chasing Vehicles: Driven (pardon the pun!) by both breed and impulsivity.
  • Chasing Joggers: Largely breed-related.
  • Chasing Wind-blown Objects: Tied to past play experiences.

So, what does this mean for you? This study reminds us that dogs are individuals, not just breed stereotypes. While breed gives us clues, it’s a dog’s unique personality—and their lived experiences—that often shape behavior most. These results may help dog owners and trainers use optimal training methods that do not only rely on breed-specific expectations and assumptions, but also carefully consider the specific personality traits of their dog.

Reference: Emily Cooper, Helen Zulch * , Daniel.S. Mills,  The role of breed versus personality and other demographic factors in predicting chasing behaviour in dogs Applied Animal Behaviour Science 282 (2025) 106463 

#dogbehavior #dogbreed

Naomi Soffa is a certified Veterinary Assistant as well as a University of Washington-certified Animal Behaviorist.  She is a longtime volunteer at several animal shelters and rescue organizations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Naomi is also the proud mom of a rescue pet and avid animal lover.

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Have you ever watched your dog bolt after a squirrel, a jogger, or even a leaf caught in the wind? Chasing is a natural behavior in dogs—sometimes it is playful, sometimes instinctual, and sometimes a sign of stress or overstimulation. But what really drives this behavior? Is it related to certain breeds of dogs, or something else?

A recent study set out to explore just that, diving into how breed, personality traits, and environment shape the way dogs chase. The goal? To help dog owners better understand their pups and develop more thoughtful, personalized training strategies.

Researchers surveyed over 900 dog owners across 113 different breeds, asking questions about the human and dog demographics, what their dog chased (cats, vehicles, other dogs etc.) and aspects of their dog’s personality such as impulsivity and sensitivity towards rewards and punishment.

The researchers hypothesized that while breed does play a role, personality traits might be just as important—or even more so—in explaining chasing behavior.

Turns out, chasing isn’t one-size-fits-all. Different factors influenced different types of chasing:

  • Chasing Cats: Influenced by both breed and personality.
  • Chasing Other Dogs: Strongly linked to impulsivity.
  • Chasing Horses: Mostly breed-related.
  • Chasing Livestock: Surprisingly, not breed-dependent.
  • Chasing Vehicles: Driven (pardon the pun!) by both breed and impulsivity.
  • Chasing Joggers: Largely breed-related.
  • Chasing Wind-blown Objects: Tied to past play experiences.

So, what does this mean for you? This study reminds us that dogs are individuals, not just breed stereotypes. While breed gives us clues, it’s a dog’s unique personality—and their lived experiences—that often shape behavior most. These results may help dog owners and trainers use optimal training methods that do not only rely on breed-specific expectations and assumptions, but also carefully consider the specific personality traits of their dog.

Reference: Emily Cooper, Helen Zulch * , Daniel.S. Mills,  The role of breed versus personality and other demographic factors in predicting chasing behaviour in dogs Applied Animal Behaviour Science 282 (2025) 106463 

#dogbehavior #dogbreed

Naomi Soffa is a certified Veterinary Assistant as well as a University of Washington-certified Animal Behaviorist.  She is a longtime volunteer at several animal shelters and rescue organizations around the San Francisco Bay Area. Naomi is also the proud mom of a rescue pet and avid animal lover.

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