The Neurobiological Foundations of Hunting Behavior

Once off-leash, dogs exhibit very different forms of hunting behavior. Some slowly sniff their way off, others chase as soon as they see game, some rummage wildly in the field, and some live to catch prey. Then there are dogs that not only hunt game but also react to other movement stimuli like cars, joggers, or balls. Hunting dogs can be a challenge in training and in everyday life. On the other hand, hunters still work with hunting dogs today and rely on the dog to reliably perform its tasks.
However, the hunting dog is only the outer image – in reality, its brain is hunting!
This webinar examines the hunting behavior of dogs from a neurobiological perspective, starting with the question of how the hunting stimulus even reaches the dog's brain and how it is processed there. We will then discuss motivation and appetence and look at the relevant neural circuits. Next, we will move on to the parts of the brain where the behavioral programs, the actual hunting behavior, are stored. In this context, we will also talk about innate behavioral chains and breed-specific hypertrophies.
Next, we will focus on learning behavior. We will discuss the intended or unintended promotion of hunting behavior, developmental phases, and the acquisition of social skills that are important for working with humans and other dogs, and for self-control. Within this framework, we will also address the topics of reward, punishment, and operant conditioning.
Against this background, participants can gain a more complete picture of their dog's hunting behavior and the possibilities of influencing it. This allows them to critically question existing training approaches in this area and, if necessary, develop their own solution ideas for individual problems.
The webinar is aimed at dog owners and dog trainers who are interested in the neurobiological foundations of hunting behavior. The focus is on imparting theoretical knowledge, which will be illustrated with examples. Unfortunately, specific cases from participants cannot be analyzed in this context.

Learn in this webinar:
•    how the hunting stimulus enters the brain and how it is processed there,
•    what motivation and appetence mean in hunting behavior,
•    innate behavioral chains and breed-specific hypertrophies in this context,
•    how hunting-motivated behavior can be promoted unintentionally and intentionally,
•    understand the learning behavior of dogs and how it relates to hunting behavior, and 
•    everything about the topics of reward, punishment, and operant conditioning related to dog hunting behavior.

Our Expert:
Robert Mehl is a psychologist (Dipl.-Psych.) and criminologist (M.A.) with additional therapeutic training as a "Systemic Counselor and Family Therapist" (DGSF) and for "Professional Use of Dogs in Therapy" (dogument). Since 2016, he has been working freelance as a speaker, systemic counselor, and coach. He is currently undergoing further training to become a psychological psychotherapist (specializing in behavioral therapy). He is the author of the book "Die Psyche des Hundes" (KOSMOS-Verlag). 
More about the expert: http://www.seminare-robertmehl.de/
Accreditation as further education
The webinar is recognized by the Schleswig-Holstein Chamber of Veterinarians for 2.5 hours as further education; our certificate of attendance must be submitted for this. Feedback from Lower Saxony is still pending.
https://www.kosmos.de/teilnahmebestaetigung

Photo credit: Anna Auerbach/Kosmos