Stop Chasing!

by Aimee Amodio | More from this Blogger

16 Nov 2007 08:13 PM

I was out walking the dogs the other day when two young men on bicycles stopped me and asked for directions. As the boys started to ride off, Lally suddenly took interest and wanted to chase them!

The chase instinct is one of the strongest instincts in dogs. Pursuit and hunting behaviors are strong in both domesticated and wild canines. Your dog may want to chase:

• Running people or children.
• Bicycles, skateboards, and roller skaters.
• Cars.
• Other animals.

Moose once chased after a ride-on lawnmower. It was a short lived chase; after three or four steps, he lost interest and gave up. But even the laziest of dogs (like Moose) has that chase instinct in there!

As soon as you identify chasing as a problem (or a potential problem), start taking steps to redirect the behavior.

• Use your obedience training. A highly trained dog will listen to that SIT or LAY DOWN command, no matter how badly they want to chase.
• If your dog only chases people, you can have a friend make the chase less appealing. Have your friend (this works best with a friend your dog doesn't know) jog by as you are walking the dog. Arm the friend with a water pistol or water bottle, training disks, or another noisy training aid. When the dog starts to chase, the friend can startle the dog. The chase is no longer fun!
• Redirect the behavior. If your dog likes to chase, he may also like to play fetch. Teach him to retrieve a ball or toy. The distraction may be enough to stop him from chasing.

Dogs can become bored, and chasing a moving object is a great distraction. You can help keep your dog from getting bored on walks by NOT walking the same route every single time. Variety will help keep your dog interested in the walk itself. Plenty of exercise will help too -- a tired dog isn't bored anymore!

Learn more about Aimee Amodio

Aimee is a fiction writer... dog lover... music lover...

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