My 9 month old yellow lab puppy always tries to chase cars when I'm walking her. I once let her off the leash as she would listen to my commands, but when a car passed by, she chased it till it stopped, although i was lucky it was in the parking lot and no injury. I've never had a dog that did this. I would like to take her hiking, and eventually walking without a leash and wanted to know if there was any way at all I could break her of this. I don't want my girl hurt, if you could help.

Don't know how you would solve this but as well as your dog getting hurt if hit by car you could face a very large bill from a car owner for damage done to the car. In my opinion i would keep dog on lead when anywhere near roads or cars and only let off when well away from them.

bye Karen.

I do understand the importance of a leash, my concern is not only when off, but I have a retractable leash, and it could still happen if I don't see the car and am able to stop her. I understand the consequences, that's why I want to know what I can do.

Have you had her from a baby as it sounds to me, that a car has hurt her in someway, she is chasing them and trying to get out of them. I had a dog that chased bikes, and he was hit by one as a pup.

Keep the windows up and see what happens, i would not be too bothered about the house ones though, as she seems to have the problem with cars not windows.

debbie

Unfortunately, I've only had her for about a month. I rescued her from the pound. That could be a reason, although when she chases them, it does seam more playful, than, aggresive. But I think I am going to keep the windows up, and hopefully she might start considering the cab as it's own place.

I think I've missed something - what windows?

Sorry Karen in one of his other posts he says his dog keeps trying to jump out of the car windows. so to me the dog has a big problem with cars.

Hi,
Since your dog is only 9 months old and still a puppy, she won't be dependable for a long time around traffic. The best thing you can do is get a 6 foot leather leash so you can walk on sidewalks or along the road. Then she can walk properly next to you and you don't have to worry about cars unexpectedly showing up.

The flexi leads (if used) should only be in areas where immediate control is not necessary. (fields, woodlands, parks) Basic dog training is impossible with those things. They've also been known to snap and break suddenly. Someone on here reported a friend who lost eyesight after it hit her in the face after such an occurence.
They're ok for certain situations, but (imo) not for a young boisterous puppy that's still learning how to behave properly.
regards,
toodles

My border collie pup has liked chasing cars since the moment her paws touched the footpath! I carefully carried her round before she could go down so she could get used to traffic, but it made no difference. She just loved chasing cars. Joggers too, but not bicycles for some strange reason. The only way I could break this was to get her full attention on me as we walked along when there were cars passing. Abby is very food oriented so no problem getting her attention, just go along holding a treat and she's there! It took a while before she would stop turning her head to see the car, and each time we went for a walk, to start with, you'd think there was no improvement, but you treat each time as the first and each time is slightly better than the last.She's got to the point where she hardly needs any distraction from me at all.
Think of what gets your dog's attention best - food, a squeeky ball, a tugger - and try it. It can't hurt! Good luck.
LynnT

We used to have a boxer - and not only did he chase cars, but he used to try to chew the tyres! while they were going round! That dog never would come back for us. (a whole other story - and very long)
Linda
X

when close to cars would you not prefer to have you dog to heel on a lead rather than wondering in front/behind/to side of you were you will not be quick enough to prevent accident occurring? If I were in a car and hit a dog that was chasing I would be very up set if I hurt it.

IMO even the most obedient dog should be kept on lead when near roads , places where cars are as I would never trust the unexpected not to happen. How bad would you feel if you dog ran in front of car, car swerved and killed child - I know I would be devastated and so will never take a chance.

I agree with Karen. I have a 6mth old black lab as well as a 2 yr old yellow. The pup was initially scared of cars and showed some aggression towards them but i got a short lead and a choker and walked him to the heel near roads and continued to encourage him etc with the occasional treat when he didnt respond in that manner. Personally i dont like the extendable leads as i did initailly use them on the older lab but found that once i transferred him to the short lead he was a bugger and continued to pull on it thinking that he would be able to go somewhere because of his use with the extendable. Anyway the pupp no longer shows aggression or fear towards cars!

Mark

I don't know where you live, but in the UK it is in fact ilegal to have a dog on a public road without a lead on. the fines around here posted on the lamp posts are £200, though it id up to £500 for not clearing up fouling!

It is one of my pet hates, and there are several dog owners who walk along my busy road, usually in the evenings with dogs off lead. It is a bus route, and a local rat run, even with traffic calming measures.

I have stopped them outside my house and asked them what would they do if their dog ran across the road to sniff at my property when I have bitches in season, explaining their dog could be killed, and cause an accident.

A dog is an animal, and is incapable of being reliable around traffic, as are small children.

I thought the same as you that it was illegal to have a dog on a public highway without a lead. I bought a book on dogs and the law and found out it wasn't! They have to be under control, whatever that means!
However, I would never risk my dogs being loose on the streets and they are always on a lead.
Bec

Must be local bylaws though, as in bristol there are little signs with a picture of a dog on lead, and saying the amount of the fine, and that they must be kept on lead.

Bec, correct, they have to be under control. There is also an exception for working dogs and it covers the wearing of collars/id too, hence we are allowed, legally, to walk out with 30 hounds on excercise ;)

I wonder if I could get away with it with my lot :D
Bec

you may want to eventually take her walking without a leash, but if you are walking in traffic she should be on the lead anyway!
I do not think this is a case of fear...merely a puppy demonstrating typical dog
(i.e. chase) behaviour. I had a hound pup that did that once & cured it by setting up a controlled situation where a friend drove along the lane....the hound chased the car, friend stopped, leapt out & chased pup back to me shouting at pup angrily. Did this twice...pup stopped chasing cars!!!

HAHA very good Sam! If we could only all show the same enthusiam and inatitave!

Regards
Mark

er....are you being sarccy? It was a good method & it worked.

I was going to post something very similar to Sams suggestion -use a controlled situation --a car park or quiet road and when the dog tries to chase ,check him back and call him in with loads of praise
Sounded good to me Sam :)
Liz

I have heard of someone dumping a bucket of water over the dog when it reaches the car
Anne

Some dogs would actually like that, Anne ;) :P

Personally, I think the original poster is outside of the UK.. in the States or Canada. I don't know why I think that, except perhaps it was a clue when a truck was mentioned and not a lorry.