Image courtesy: Pixabay.com/ Chasing is a natural behavior in dogs, and they are happy chasing, regardless of whether it is chasing a car or a rabbit. However, chasing cars is not one of those harmless behaviors that you can ignore. Your pet may get killed while he is out in the street chasing cars. Letโs take a look at how you can curb this habit in your pet.
CommandsTeach your dog the โcomeโ command, so he returns to you every time you sound the command. Similar to other training commands, you want to maintain a calm and assertive tone to establish yourself as the leader to your dog. You may not see the results right away, but do not make the mistake of chasing your pet if he fails to disobey or runs away with an object. You want to lay down the rules so he returns when asked to. You can then use praise or
treats to reinforce the behavior.You can also try teaching your pet the โStopโ command. Put your pet on a leash and hold out a tennis ball in one hand. Then roll the tennis ball on the ground. When he instinctively tries to chase after it tug the leash and say โStop.โ You do not want him to mistake it to be a game of chase, which is exactly why you want to tug the leash when he tries to go after the ball. Once he gets a hang of the command you can treat him. The next step is to try the same trick with cars. Of course, you do not want to try training your pet with any random vehicle on the street. You want to ask a friend to help you train your pet, and preferably in a street that is away from all the traffic. Make sure your dog is on leash while training, so he does not run free into the street. Say โStopโ sharply every time he tugs at the
leash. You can try practicing without a leash once he starts obeying promptly to the command.
Professional assistanceIf your dogโs chasing behavior does not stop or reduce even after you try out any of the above methods, then seeking professional assistance for training your pet may be your last resort. Some pet owners recommend the use of force or shock collars to put a stop to their dogโs chasing behavior, but we suggest that you try a different means. If your dogโs fixation toward chasing cars is intense, then minor distraction techniques or commands will not do the trick. You will need the assistance of a professional trainer who takes both the physical and psychological factors into account to correct the behavior in your pet.