Dog training

Training your dog not to

chase cars

One of the most serious, and unfortunately most

common, problem

behaviors among dogs is that of chasing cars.

Dogs must be trained

as early as possible that chasing cars is not

acceptable. That is

because dogs that chase cars eventually become

dogs that catch cars,

and car plus dog always equals big trouble.

One of the most serious, and unfortunately most

common, problem

behaviors among dogs is that of chasing cars.

Dogs must be trained

as early as possible that chasing cars is not

acceptable. That is

because dogs that chase cars eventually become

dogs that catch cars,

and car plus dog always equals big trouble.

Some dogs are more apt to chase cars, bikes,

joggers, cats and other

dogs than are others. Dogs that have a high

prey drive, including

breeds that have been bred for hunting, are

particularly susceptible to

the thrill of the chase. Herding breeds are also

apt to chase cars,

attempt to herd the neighbors children, or

express other undesired

traits of their breeding.

One reason that many dogs chase cars in particular

is that they have

learned to associate cars with good time and

fun things. Most dogs

love to ride in the car, and when they see a car they

may try to chase

it down for a ride.

No matter what your dog’s motivation for chasing

cars, however, it is

important to curb this dangerous behavior as

quickly as possible.

Training the dog not to chase cars starts with

teaching the dog the

meaning of the “Off” command. The “Off”

command is one of the

basic tenets of obedience, and it must be mastered

by every dog.

Teaching the dog to stay where he is, even if

interesting, exciting

things are happening elsewhere, is very important to

all aspects of dog

training. In the world of professional dog

training, this is sometimes

referred to as distraction training. Distraction

training is very

important, and it is applicable to teaching the dog

not to chase cars.

Teaching this important lesson is not something you will be able to do

on your own. You will need at least one other person – a volunteer

who will slowly drive by and tempt your car with his bright, shiny

object. You will stand with your dog on his leash as the volunteer

drives by. Having the volunteer drive your own car can provide an

even greater temptation, since dogs are able to distinguish one car

from another. If your car is the one that provides his rides, it is likely

to be the most tempting object in the world.

When your friend drives by, either in your car or his,

watch your dog’s

reaction carefully. If he begins to jump up or move

away, repeat the

“Off” command and quickly return your dog to the

sitting position. If

he remains where he is, be sure to give him lavish

amounts of praise

and perhaps a treat or two.

Repeat this process many times over the course of a

few days. Once

your dog is reliably remaining seated when your

friend drives by, start

lengthening the distance between yourself and

your dog. A long,

retractable leash works great for this process.

Slowly lengthen the

distance between you and your dog, while still

making sure you have

control.

Even after your dog is trained to not chase cars,

however, it is

important to not leave him out off the leash

unsupervised. Leaving a

dog unattended, except for within a properly

and securely fenced in

yard, is simply asking for trouble. Dogs are

unpredictable, and it is

always possible that the chase instinct could kick

in at exactly the

wrong moment. The best strategy is to confine

the dog when you

cannot supervise him.

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