Get Your Dog To Stop Chasing Cars

Although very unsafe behavior, chasing vehicles is very worthwhile for the dog. Man's best friends loves to go after anything that moves, and the faster it runs, the better.  To crack down on this practice, you must negate the benefits of the hunt. Chasing vehicles is mostly done by canines that have free reign of the whole property and don't see many vehicles.

Expose your doggy to traffic by ensuring that you walk on busy streets periodically.  Command him to be still in a sit-stay position as vehicles pass, and move the collar back if he tries to move.  You can set your four legged friend up for a car chase retraining session by having a friend ready with various cans filled with pebbles, for a noisy effect.

Have your friend drive up to or past the place where your dog begins to chase cars. Tell your friend to apply the brakes as fast and as noisily as possible, when your dog is at a full run after the car. When the car does come to a noisy stop, get your fellow dog trainer to jump out of the car and create a stupendous din, by throwing the cans near your four legged friend. Dogs don't like loud noises generally.

If your dog is not likely to snap, have your friend aggressively run after him, herding him home, and throwing tins by his rear. Make sure you don't hit your dog however.

Repeat this setup with different automobiles, and if possible, other friends, until the recalcitrant canine stops chasing cars.  You can also use this retraining session when man's best friend acquires the potentially dangerous habit of chasing bikers, joggers, and horse riders.


Comments (10)

Martyn
Said this on 6-19-2007 At 05:49 pm
This approach to the problem I have with my dog chasing traffic has failed to work.Am I using the wrong tin can or something. At the moment I am using Tesco own brand. Isa there a particular brand you can recommend
Erin Reihana
Said this on 12-21-2007 At 12:50 pm
hi there, we live on a farm and our dog has been run over for the 5th time and still hasnt learnt to stop chasing the cars, he doesnt chase our car but seems to go for the farm owners do you recommend anything else we could do to try and stop it.
Fox
Said this on 1-25-2009 At 02:00 am
What you are doing with this thing with tins is teaching the dog that the big intruder that is managed to chase off in the past has now become a big aggressive intruder. In other words you are teaching the dog to be fearful of vehicles, ever heard of fear aggression?
I'd say it's 50/50 between this working and this causing a far worse problem that will have to be fixed by someone that actually knows what they are talking about.
Elizabeth
Said this on 3-11-2009 At 01:05 pm
We have two australian shepherds who are now almost 2 years old-brothers. Only one really chases, but the other will chase after him! They are walked off leash every day for an hour. We were walking on a golf course-but now the carts are out as they are cleaning it up to open. We've tried whistle training-which they will respond-but not when chasing a cart/car. We live in a neighborhood with LOTS of slow traffic and they've been walked on leash there every day. We've tried treats, sitting, lying down when the car goes by, but Jacob invariably lunges (about 40% of the time)...Any new tips would be appreciated. We have had a one on one trainer come as well...
Said this on 6-2-2009 At 04:32 pm
Dear Elizabeth, I have the exact same problem. I have a one and a half year old Aussie who loves to chase cars, motorcycles, bikers, joggers, other dogs, and the neighbors cows across the street. I have tried one on one dog training as well but it did not work. I have tried an electric fence, a shock collar, treats, and have spent countless hours trying to train her. She goes on sprees of chaising everything. she will dart accross the busy road and chase cars, joggers, bikes etc. Then she will run accross and chase the neighbors cows. When she does this she ignores us and comes inside on her own time. She has had the animal controll called on her once before for chasing a jogger. If I find anything that works I will be sure to let you know. If you find any sort of solution please tell me! Thank you so much, Allie
Dana
Said this on 6-16-2009 At 06:21 pm
I'm only 10 so correct me if i'm wrong I have a pitbull and german shepard and thevchase cats and cars icant stop them because I'm small and there like horses so wat can I do let them kill cats ecspeaciallty my rare Nile cat
Rachael
Said this on 6-29-2009 At 02:18 pm
Hey there, If your dog has been run over 5 times, I reccommend that you put him on a tie out. I feel really bad for you dog, he has been run over 5 times and you have yet to put him on a leash!! At this point it is not him that needs to learn, it is you! I would also reccommed that you NEVER have another dog again, because obviously you do not know how to properly take care of him.
Jay
Said this on 7-1-2009 At 09:35 am
We have a 5 month old border collie dog who goes to puppy training classes. These are held in an enclosed ground with cars going past. My dog cannot concentrate because he would rather be chasing the cars. The trainer handled him for 10 minutes and when he took interest in a passing car, she used an aerosol canister that emitted a high hissing noise and she gently pulled his lead back. The following week his interest was only a passing glance to the cars. I am not sure what the canister is but certainly has worked so far. I think it's trial and error - you know your own dog and what works for one might not work for another.
Elizabeth
Said this on 9-28-2009 At 12:58 pm
My dog only chases me, and she gets right in front of the car so I can't move. I hate to put her on a tie down as we live in the country and there are no other problems, but I can't leave my house without Kaycee running in front of me, she's going to get hit by me!!! I've heard spraying them with Dog Away or pepper spray will work, does it???
Said this on 5-14-2010 At 12:16 pm

My 8 month old mini schnauzer just wriggled out of his collar and leash and chased a truck down the road.  I was able to call him back (lucky this time) and picked him up.  Trying to calm him down and give him a treat when he doesn't lunge at a car is not working.  Please give me a suggestion outside of the aerosol can and a container of noisy objects.  Thank you, Barbara 

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