Chasing cars

[tmfs]

Our dog is a 18 month old GSD. He has always had an extremely high prey drive chasing basically anything and everything that moves. I have been jogging with him a lot lately and he runs very well with me in a heel position except when a car comes passing. He becomes completely consumed with the passing car charging directly towards it and doesn't respond to any commands or tugs on the pinch collar. While this is quite annoying my main concern is if he ever happens to get out he will try to run directly towards the car except he won't have a leash to stop him. Is there anyway to break him of this habit? Thanks in advance.

[Kuchi]

I would try a gentle leader, that way he can't lunge. He also needs to learn everytime a car goes by it should be ignored, so maybe make him do a trick for a treat while a car is coming so he doesn't focus on the cars.

[tmfs]

bump.

I am still having the same problems and the treat idea is ineffective. It actually has gotten worse we walk/jog the same .8 mile block and he has realized that the cars typically come from one main entrance. So now when we come around the corner he gets low and it's exactly like he's stalking his "prey" waiting for a car to come around the corner. We do have a remote electronic collar, one idea I have thought about trying was every time he went to break for a car give him a shock so he would correlate running after the car with a negative consequence. One problem is even on the lowest settings he doesn't respond well to the collar, kind of like a quick jolt. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

[mainesheltie]

My dog tended to chase cars (still may on occasion) and I feel like I was setting him up for the behavior. Of course, he heard the car before I did, I would tense up, my body and voice gave him the clue to get excited. Have you tried going a different route, walking casually, and going over in your mind that you have control over any situation, focusing on keeping your voice relaxed, your body relaxed, and maybe even stopping and doing the sit command while a car passes? Or several cars while you both just sit and watch them go by? It's not a quick fix, if it works at all. My "boy" and I practice maybe every third time we go for a real walk or run on our regular route, and he's doing well.

I'd be interested to hear if you have success with any of the suggestions you've gotten.

[tmfs]

Thanks for the reply,


"Have you tried going a different route"

There really isn't another route to take, also this wouldn't solve the problem if he got accidentally out.

"walking casually"

The last 4 weeks we have been walking solely.

"focusing on keeping your voice relaxed, your body relaxed"

I've tried both no reaction at all and a firm no, with a quick pop with the pinch collar neither seem to have an effect.

"maybe even stopping and doing the sit command while a car passes?"

I have done this and he will sit and stay, but you can just see the determination in his eyes to just pounce on the vehicle. The exact same determination that makes him so good at catching a frisbee. And again it doesn't solve the problem of him getting out.

"Or several cars while you both just sit and watch them go by?"

I will try this, we live a few blocks away from a really major highway. I think I will bring him up there to the side and make him sit on the side and watch all of the cars going by. Maybe he will see enough that he begins to forget about them. I think I will give this a shot before trying the collar and I'll post the results. Thanks for your recomendations.

[dogs4life]

Boy chasing cars is scary.

I used to take care of a Kelpie, who chased cars, while the his mom was on Holiday (a month). I ran him near roads all the time, he would chase every car but his recall was impeccable. All I had to do is call his name, he'd stop, then I gave him a "come" command and he'd come. All of this was off leash.

I'd try working on recall if off-leash or long lead. Also try another command that focuses your dogs attention back onto you while you are running such as the dogs name or "let's go". Good luck.