| Chasing vehicles |  |
When a dog lunges at passing vehicles, the most likely cause is that he feels threatened by the experience. He may not have been introduced to a lot of traffic as a young puppy. Or he may have been frightened by a noisy vehicle paasing close to him. No matter what, it can be very frightening for a dog, walking where there is heavy traffic nearby. As we tend to keep our dogs on the lead in heavy traffic, they feel that they cannot escape, so the only other option is to attack the perceived threat.
Because we anticipate that the dog is going to lunge, we then tend to tighten our hold on the lead. This only adds to the dog's anxiety, and belief that there is actually something to be worried about, and he was right to attack
Genetics can also play a big part, as some breeds are more prone to "chase", than others. For example Border collies and some of the terrier breeds can be very sensitive to anything that moves. This chase behaviour becomes part of the hunt sequence, that we see in wild canids like the wolf. These dogs will often lay in wait, watching for any passing bike or car, (the prey), then leap out for the chase.
Desensitisation
Fortunately we can overcome this problem behaviour by using positive reinforcement, and a lot of patience. The dog can gradually become desensitised to the sound and sight of traffic passing by
This type of re-training requires commitment and time. There is no quick fix, and you must be prepared to begin at the dog's starting point, i.e. his comfort zone. You must then only progress at the dog's rate of learning. It might take a few weeks before your dog is happy in traffic. This also means that initially, you will need to take him walks that are away from traffic zones. During this training period, you must make sure that your dog is not being frightened or stressed by the very thing that you are trying to desensitise. If you ignore this part of the advice, it is very unlikely that you will succeed in building your dog's confidence in traffic.
Calming Measures
- If your dog lunges, you can fit him with a Gentle Leader headcollar, or a harness, to give you more control. The Gentle Leader tends to have a calming influence on most dogs. It gives you control over the dogs body, by gently controlling his head and nose. The design of the headcollar causes your dog to stop pulling, and walk easily by your side. It also allows you to turn the dog's head away from the traffic.
- If your dog is very nervous or anxious about the traffic, try calming him down with a herbal remedy such as Valerian Compound. This will help him to relax and concentrate on the training more effectively.
Training Sessions
Try to carry out the training sessions at least three times a day for five minuutes each session.
Before you start your training, make sure you have a very special food treat and your clicker at the ready. I find that small pieces of cheese, or a tube of squeezy cheese is a favourite for many dogs. Others might like some cooked chicken, or hot dog sausage cut into very small, pea size pieces
You should decrease your dog's daily meal quantity to compensate for the training treats, so that he does not become overweight.
Set up the training session by:
- Taking your dog to a quiet road, with very little traffic
- Place him far enough away from the traffic for him to feel comfortable. (You want to make it easy for your dog to do what you are asking)
- Make sure it is in an area that you are safe to have a loose lead
- Encourage him into a "sit". Each time a vehicle goes by, if he continues to sit, click and give him a treat
- Do this several times, until your dog starts to look for the treat whenever a vehicle passes. You can now start to increase the length of time in your sessions, gradually working up to ten minutes each session. Then add in a little bit of distraction, such as another person talking to you
Please ring us if you have any questions, or see our website www.k9centre.co.uk
Carol Martin (AACC)
Edmiston House
Nethermill
DUMFRIES
DG1 3NG
Tel: 01387 860322
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