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Because
canines are natural predators, many pets love the
thrill of the chase. Unfortunately, cars, minivans
and bicycles aren't exactly traditional prey items
for canines. Your dog could easily get injured should
he attempt to pursue a passing vehicle.
Dog Car Chasing - It’s Just Instinctual
Chasing
behavior is largely instinctual in canines, especially
in certain breeds of terriers, sight hounds and
herding dogs. You won't be able to completely eliminate
your pet's desire to chase, but it is possible to
control this dangerous activity. The easiest way,
of course, is to cut off his access to the street.
Does your yard have an escape-proof fence? If it
doesn't, keep your dog secured on a tether when
you are not around to supervise. And companion canines
should never be allowed off-leash in heavily trafficked
areas. No matter how well-trained your pet may be,
accidents can, and do, happen.
List of Remedies for Your Dog Chasing a Car
There
are several remedies you can try if your dog already
is an established car or bicycle chaser. Simply
have a friend who your dog doesn't know well bike
or drive past your pet. The test vehicle shouldn't
be yours, or any other he's familiar with. If your
dog starts to chase the vehicle, the friend should
come to a stop, squirt him with a water pistol and
give him a firm "NO!" You can also substitute
a noisemaker for the squirt gun - the louder, the
better. As your pet gives chase, your friend should
sound the horn. It's easiest to do this exercise
at a time of the day when there won't be much road
traffic. Great care needs to be taken so your dog
does not get into, or cause, an automobile accident
during training.
As
an alternative, secure your dog on a 10- or 20-foot
lead. As your friend slowly drives or bikes past,
command your dog to "Sit." Offer him a
food reward for sitting on command as the car or
bike passes. Repeat this exercise several times,
with the friend very gradually increasing speed;
at the end of the session, give your dog a favorite
toy.
Repeat
the exercise the next time out, but don't offer
food rewards and use his toy as a distraction. As
a final step, as the friend moves past, throw the
toy for your dog to retrieve in the opposite direction
of the moving vehicle. The idea in this case is
to distract him from the chase.
Car Chasing May Mean Not Getting Enough Exercise
As
you retrain, it's a good idea to assess your dog's
current activity level. Is he getting enough exercise?
If not, your dog may view car chasing as the perfect
way to combat boredom and meet his exercise requirements.
Be sure to get in two good walks every day, as well
as some structured games - especially ones that
involve an element of the chase, such as fetching.
If he still persists, you may need to work with
a professional to solve this difficult problem.
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