June 9, 2025, 2:34 pm | Read time: 5 minutes

To the untrained eye, it might seem like a harmless or even amusing moment: A dog sneaks up on another dog or a person with a crouched body and slow movements—often interpreted as part of a game. However, this behavior, known as “stalking,” rarely has anything to do with play …

Stalking Should Not Be Understood as Playing

“The dog slows its movement, lowers its body, fixes its gaze on the target, and moves silently and tactically toward it. This is a clear part of the predatory sequence, a deeply rooted hunting behavior.” Playful chasing, on the other hand, is usually reciprocal, dynamic, and full of role reversals. “One runs, the other chases, then they switch. In stalking, however, it’s usually serious: The dog is preparing–whether for a rabbit or the next dog is secondary,” the expert explains.

Therefore, such a situation should be taken seriously. Stalking originates from predatory behavior, which is deeply embedded in the genetics of many dog breeds–especially herding, hunting, and working dogs. Specifically, it is a precursor to hunting behavior: crouched sneaking, fixing, sometimes freezing, followed by a sudden sprint or jump. This behavior serves the element of surprise against prey and not playful contact.

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Many Dogs Read Stalking as Pure Provocation

“Before an animal strikes, it must first get close enough. And that doesn’t work with ‘Hello, here I am!'” explains Katharina Marioth. “Dogs, especially those with a strong hunting drive like Border Collies, Aussies, and Malinois, have this behavior particularly pronounced.” But beware, the expert warns. Even supposedly “calmer” breeds can adopt this pattern situationally–for example, in conflict behavior. Therefore, “stalking” should not be dismissed as a game but should be stopped immediately.

Because it builds tension and intimidates other conspecifics, the dog expert knows. “Imagine someone sneaks up on you with a lowered head and a fixed gaze. Would you think, ‘Oh, how nice, they surely want to cuddle?'” For most four-legged friends, this behavior is a clear provocation, from which it can be read: “They mean business! And either they then react with retreat–or with resistance. And with humans? It can go really wrong. Especially with children or joggers, the behavior is quickly perceived as threatening–and rightly so.”

“Free Running Quickly Becomes a Stage for Bullying”

Such situations can quickly escalate, the expert reports in an interview with PETBOOK. “It’s the classic: Dog A sneaks up on Dog B–who notices, feels threatened, turns around, and lashes out. Bam, a fight.” And then the outcry is great. “Then the owner of Dog A wonders: ‘He just wanted to play!'”

It is particularly problematic when the dog uses stalking to control others. “Free running quickly becomes a stage for bullying.” Particularly bad: Many owners perceive it as a “funny quirk” of their four-legged friend. “But it’s not. It’s a silent escalation spiral.”

Therefore, it can indeed become a danger to humans and animals if owners downplay or even reward this behavior: “How cute, he’s sneaking up!” Because this behavior can even be reinforced, although it expresses stress, control behavior, or territorial insecurity. Especially with larger or quick-reacting dogs, stalking can cause fear in other dogs or people and, in the worst case, lead to biting incidents or conflicts.

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Owners Should Intervene Early

“You can avoid all this by learning to read body language, intervening early, and teaching your dog that you take over the ‘management’–not him. Because those who relinquish responsibility shouldn’t be surprised if the dog decides how to play or communicate,” explains Marioth.

“Watch the posture!” is her call to dog owners. “Do you see tension, fixation, lowered forehand? Then interrupt immediately. Not by yelling, but with clear, learned interruption markers or recall.”

But you can also respond with body language–for example, by blocking the dog with body language and taking up space, explains Katharina Marioth. “But that should be learned, otherwise it just confuses the dog.” To prevent it from getting to that point, owners should have studied their pet’s body language and be able to distinguish whether their dog is acting playfully or in a controlling-aggressive manner.

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“And Exactly This Mixture Is the Risk–Because It Is Often Recognized Too Late”

“Playful looks like this: relaxed body, open movements, soft ears, tail in a neutral to joyful position. There might even be a play face–yes, that exists. Kind of a ‘goofy’ grin,” Marioth explains.

However, if the body language in a situation tends more toward controlling, owners can also recognize this if they look closely. “It gets quiet. The dog tenses up, moves slowly, often with a lowered head, stiff body, fixed gaze. And exactly this mixture is the risk–because it is often recognized too late.”

But what to do if your own four-legged friend actually tends to sneak up on other dogs? Then targeted work on the animal’s impulse control should be done, explains the dog trainer. “For example, through marker signals during visual contact or controlled address training.” Owners should then offer their charge alternatives that satisfy the need. Options could include drag work, structured hunting games, or nose work. “And very important: clear structures and close orientation in free running. Those who ‘hunt independently’ outside need twice as much guidance indoors.