A Dog with the Strong Prey Drive

My dog is a friendly Cairn Terrier called Barry the Brave. He is smart, handsome, and an absolutely nuclear prey-driven dog, like many other terriers. The moment he spots a rabbit, deer, or livestock, the switch flips, and he’s run off - completely ignoring me shouting for him to come back.

We live in the UK countryside, so temptation is literally everywhere. Once he realised that hunting is a thing in itself, and I don’t fully support his habit, he went self-employed. At first, he’d disappear for a couple of minutes and come back like nothing had happened. Then he would disappear for longer, so it became 30 minutes, then an hour… eventually two or three hours in the forest at night, pouring rain, while I ran through the woods, shouting his name.

What We Tried

By that point, he was wearing a GPS tracker, so at least I knew which direction he was in. I’d eventually find him, exhausted and completely out of his mind, and get him back home – until the next walk. I got to the point where I would not know whether we would come back home together or not.

Then came the day when we walked in Witley Common, the local rabbit heaven. He bolted straight across a road in full hunting mode. Cars slamming on brakes, I saw many scared faces in cars. That was my point of no return – I had had enough. Just imagine the dog would not only hurt himself, but would also cause a car crash and else…

Meanwhile, we tried two different trainers and behaviour specialists. Both told me Barry was “untrainable”, had “a very strong prey drive”, and would have to live the rest of his life on a lead. Walking a frustrated, leash-bound terrier every single day felt like a prison sentence for both of us. And I thought it was the only way until I spoke to my neighbour Lucy, who has two large dogs with the same insane prey drive – yet they walked calmly off-lead, even around deer. Whoa! Is that even possible?

What Worked

When she told me it was possible with modern low-stimulation e-collar training, I almost didn’t believe her… but I was desperate to try. Lucy recommended I call the local Prey Drive and Recall specialist who trains dogs with an e-collar.

The transformation was magical. The trainer had Barry responding to an e-collar in under 20 minutes. It then took him three more days to train me how to use the tools properly :-) . On the final day, Barry and I hold an exam. We went to Petworth Park with around 300 wild deer roaming free. Barry saw them and wanted to chase, but responded to the stim and came back to me. That was a breakthrough.

Suddenly, my dog and I could go for a walk anywhere with confidence: be it a forest, a field with other dogs, a beach with seagulls. Barry got his freedom back, and I got my peace of mind. Now we both enjoy walking together.

The e-collar training changed everything for us. Responsible e-collar trainers do a fantastic job – they save dog lives, save the livestock and give the dog’s owner control in any situation.

How We Started Flex Collars

I am very grateful for the e-collar training, so I wanted to add my contribution to the e-collar industry. So I started working on design for a tactical bungee e-collar strap: a comfortable, durable, handmade in the UK, that keeps perfect receiver contact and actually feels good on the dog.

That’s how Flex Collars brand was born. Every strap we make saves lives. Every strap we make is built from the lessons Barry taught me – because no dog with a big personality should have to live on a lead, and no owner should have to live in fear. I hope our collars help unlock your map.

Why Are We Different?

We work closely with manufacturers to create materials specifically for our collars. An elastic element with a unique pattern and qualities was made for FlexCollars, which can last up to 3,000 elongations. We use the AustriAlpin Cobra Quick Release buckle, which is known for its durability ( and widely used in many other dog collars). We use coated metal elements for better protection.

Our collars consist of 2 separate elements, and can be fitted in 4 different ways. This is to meet the demand from various dog trainers and dog owners who like to fit them in a different way.

Thanks,

Julia & Barry