Realizing that your pup is obsessed with chasing vehicles can be dangerous not only for your pup but you the owner as well, so if you’re wondering how to stop dog chasing cars, you’re in the right place!
We’ll go over the main reason your dog likes to chase cars and simple yet effective ways to stop your dog from performing this dangerous behavior
Why Your Dog Chases Cars
If your dog is fixated on chasing cars there is usually one main reason, extremely high prey drive! Dogs with high predatory desire have an instinctual genetic response to want to chase things that move or run away from them whether it’s a leaf blowing away, a lizard running or you guessed it even a car.
How To Stop Your Dog From Chasing Cars
When teaching how to stop dog chasing cars we first have to understand that there are two main components we must focus on providing your dog with an alternative outlet & teaching your dog boundaries around cars so his desire to chase cars stops.
Providing Your Dog With An Alternative Outlet:
Providing your dog with an alternative outlet is critical, as dogs with high prey drive are born this way which means everything inside your dog’s genetic makeup is telling him “chase, bite, shake.” As you probably noticed if left unmanaged your dog will find ways to meet those genetic needs.
Providing your dog with an alternative outlet is as simple as playing a good game of fetch or tug of war, that way your dog can fully express his predatory behavior in an appropriate manner.
The main reason providing an outlet is important is because if we just stop your dog from chasing cars, all that energy that your dog placed into chasing will just be transferred into another behavior like chasing ankles, leash biting, etc
Creating Boundaries Around Cars
Now that you have a full understanding of easy ways to provide our dog alternative outlets for natural needs here are some effective ways on how to stop dog chasing cars.
Use the leash to block chasing:
Be sure to use the leash to your advantage, you want to use the leash to interrupt any of the following behaviors; Your dog getting fixated on a car (hard staring), your dog lunging, barking.
Essentially every time you notice that your pup is getting a little too worked up when there is a car you want to use the leash to interrupt your dog from getting into that state of mind by firmly popping on the leash and turning your dog away.
The moment that you firmly pop on the leash and your dog snaps away from the car, reward your pup and make it a big deal!
Essentially what we are doing is preventing your dog from practicing the behavior or chasing, making the act of chasing unpleasent , while also rewarding when ever your dog is doesnt attempt to chase the car.
Your dog will quickly learn, chasing cars is not good but instead playing fetch or tug of war is better.
What To Keep In Mind
Using Cars To Your Advantage
An easy way to help your dog overcome his desire to chase cars is to use cars to your advantage.
Meaning if you have access to a car use it to work on how to stop dog chasing cars.
This might look something like:
Having a stationary car, opening the doors, having someone turn on the car, have someone slowly move the car and so on.
The most important aspect of this is that you reward your pup in the instances that your dog doesn’t react.
Things To Avoid
Here are some easy things to avoid when initially teaching how to stop dog chasing cars.
Avoid having your dog on a harness:
Harnesses increase motivation in the dog from what it is being restrained form especially if your dog is trying to chase something.
The harness also makes it a bit more difficult in learning how to stop your from dogs from chasing cars.
Don’t let your dog get fixated:
When your dog gets fixated you’re allowing your pup to get into an unhealthy state of mind.
You can let your dog look but you don’t want your dog’s ears perked, stiff body, and panting to where you can’t get your dog’s attention off of what your pup is focused on.
Avoid letting your dog pull on a leash:
The more your dog leads you on a walk the more your dog will decide what to do on the walk, you control and guide the walk. for more information on Why your dog is pulling on leash read our article!
What To Do
Reward your pup for giving you his attention:
Rewarding your pup for paying attention to you ensure that your dog learns to focus on you while ignoring distractions
Interrupt reactive behaviors before they occur:
If you understand that your dog is going to try to lunge bark or chase be preemptive and interrupt your dog the moment that you notice your dog is going to react.
Redirection:
Paired with interrupting your dog be sure to redirect your dog’s attention to you and reward.
When you successfully interrupt your dog be sure to show your dog then what it is you want and reward your dog’s success!
Conclusion
Dogs chasing cars is dangerous and should be fixed as soon as possible, following the steps outlined in this article will ensure that your pup stops chasing cars and remains safe and out of harm’s way!
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