Your rescue dog is obediently walking with the lead. The stroll through the forest is nice and calm - until all of a sudden an unnoticed deer appears between the trees and crosses the path. The dog bolts, jerks the lead from your grip and runs off in pursuit.

The dog goes missing for three days and nights, and the search seems endless. Eventually, a walker finds the tired, slightly emaciated, but healthy canine runaway. This escape has ended well. But you'll want to consider preventing such frightening situations in future.

Sabrina Fruth, a dog trainer in southern Germany puts a damper on people's initial hopes: "You cannot simply wipe out hunting behaviour," she says. "It is one of a dog's basic instincts even if it varies depending on the breed and type." But owners can do plenty to control their dog.

Hunting, but better

"Giving the animals an alternative is important," says Fruth. This could be chasing a toy or training with dummies or canvas bags filled with plastic. Other dummies with zips can be filled with food.

This substitute activity is an essential part of anti-hunting training. This is most successful with puppies and before the dog's hunting instinct has matured. The puppy learns early to distinguish between acceptable stimuli and no-no's. This is more difficult with older strays, as they have already hunted and enjoy chasing prey.

"At first, you should put such dogs in an escape-proof harness and walk them only on a lead," says Walter Götz, a dog trainer in Venningen. "You have to build up a relationship with them and get them used to people."

Training obedience

Basic obedience is crucial to dampening the dog's urge to hunt. Dogs need guidance whether they are cuddly puppies or mature dogs from abroad. Yet, they all start training with the basics. "Sit", "down" and "stay" are all part of the basic commands as is the call "heel". It takes a long time for a dog to really understand these and they have to be practised over and over again.

"The home is the best place to start," Götz advises. If this works well, you can move to a garden or park for training; as the training progresses, the environment (and distractions it brings) can become more and more stimulating and demanding.

If the dog does not obey you in the garden, do not try calling it back, e.g., if it is playing with other dogs or hunting. This is likely to go unheeded and the dog will learn that it can, but does not have to listen to its owner.

"Do not use the call back too often," says Fruth. If the owner is unsure whether the dog will listen, stop using commands such as "here" or "come" for awhile and try to lure the animal instead. Then you can determine whether the dog is responsive at all. If this is not the case, you do not have to use the recall.

Expect only gradual progress

One of the biggest dog training mistakes is "wanting too much too quickly," says Fruth. "A gradual, very slow build-up is important." Rewards such as food or a game are also important and should be based on the difficulty of the task facing the dog.

The dog heeds the recall, but is bored? Then your dog will be glad to hear a friendly word or two and munch a small dog biscuit. A rabbit is hopping around the garden and your dog still comes back? Such good behaviour calls for an extra-large treat. Throw the dog his favourite toy or give him a piece of sausage.

Götz's dog school trains the "stop" command early. The dog sits down immediately at the sound of a whistle or a command and waits. This marks a big step in training, as is bringing and handing over the "prey", ie. the ball or dummy. "The dog learns that he gets a reward in return and makes a good swap."

Gradually increase training

Use a lunging pole, lunging whips from an equestrian centre or extendable telescopic poles to step up the training. A dummy is attached to the rope and set in motion. The dog has to take this calmly at first and is rewarded with food. Eventually, chasing the dummy becomes the biggest reward.

As the training progresses, the owner can use a mix of commands. The dog sits down, for instance, the owner steps away and throws a ball past the dog's nose. The animal must stay still and cannot move.

The dog can run off when it hears a practised command such as "find it" and sit down again when it hears the "stop" command. Dogs trained in this manner are very likely to stop chasing a hare or deer.