how do you stop a 38kg 7mth old german shepherd from chasing cars?

Question

I've taken him to training and have had german shepherds before and he is a smart dog. However, whether he's on the lead or off it as soon as he sees a car he wants to be off after it. On the lead it is easier to deal with, i.e swift u-turns if he starts pulling, making him wait etc but as soon as he's off the lead nothing you can say stops him or brings him back until he's ready. Tried rewards too but nothing!!! If you put him on the lead as a car is approaching and wait until way after it has gone past as soon as you let him off again he's off down the lane after it!!! (Never let him off near any main roads). Please can anyone help as i'm worried he's going to hurt himself?!

Answer 1

try him on a motorway.

Answer 2

Hi. Sorry to hear you're having problems with your German Shepherd. Reading between the lines, it sounds like your dog is getting mixed messages. By letting him off leash, he's thinking you've changed your mind about him car chasing. So I think for his safety, it's urgent you find a plan that works and stick to it.

In the UK, we are totally against using shock collars. I know other people here have suggested trying them, but I do feel there are other options you might explore before using what is considered by many as a cruel device.

It's been said here already, but just to reiterate, please do not have your dog off leash when you don't have 100% control over him and I'm afraid I don't know anyone, no matter how well they think they know their dogs, who have 100% control.

Practise rewarding your dog in an enclosed and safe environment, in order to build on your recall. Make it fun for your dog to come back to you. Never chase your dog. Always run the other way and call him. If you chase him, he'll think you're playing and he'll just run even farther away.

In order to stop his desire to chase cars on the main road, can I suggest you try using aversion techniques.

One option is to half fill a small, empty cola can with some pebbles and seal up the opener at the top. Carry the can in your pocket and stay in tune with your dog. As soon as he starts to move into the chase position, say 'NO' firmly, rattling the can at the same time. Once you have his attention, reward and praise and keep doing this until he understands his behaviour is unacceptable.

You can also try using a toy water pistol, if the pebbles don't work.

This technique is only effective when used with confidence and without losing control. Always be firm, but kind and give heaps of praise when your dog is doing as you ask. This is the motivator that will strengthen the bond you have with your Shepherd.

One other think you could also try is 'The Gentle Leader' which fits around your dog's head and will give you greater control over him. http://www.premier.com/pages.cfm?id=29

Good luck!

Answer 3

I have a 6 mths GSD and, fortunately, he's an angel with cars (up to now!) I have another smaller breed & she is exactly the same. The only thing I've found to help is clicker training, it did seem to get through to her, particularly if I made her sit when I heard a car approaching. I think you need to train him on the lead until he's bomb proof before letting him off again (easier said than done, I know.) Have you tried teaching him the STOP command? Somewhere where there are no cars. If you're not sure of the best way of training this, take him to a good traing class & they'll show you.
I think my b1tch does it because she's actually terrified of cars, so maybe try desensitizing him by taking him to a supermarket carpark where cars are only moving slowly (did that with the GSD when he was very small) & then graduate to, say, a town centre where the cars are moving a bit faster.
Don't know if that helps, but Good Luck anyway!

Answer 4

Try putting him on leash with a choke chain and having him sit while cars drive by. You can even have a friend or family memeber drive by. As the car approaches tell him to stay and if he breaks position correct him with a quick sharp pull on the leash. You will have to do this routinely, at least once a day until he improves. Once he is fine staying on the six foot leash you can swithc to a longer leash such as a retractable or 360 leash. This way he will have more independance but you can still control him. Eventually he will associate chasing cars with a correction. Make sure you are also giving him plenty of exercise. German Shepards are high energy high endurance dogs and they require a lot of exercise and stimulation. Chasing the cars is only stimulating his prey drive so you could also play games that do the same such as fetch or focus training in which you throw a toy and as he comes back throw another one when he lets go of the last toy. This will condition him to focus on you and give him plenty of energy whild stimulating his prey drive.

Answer 5

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DON'T USE A SHOCK COLLAR!!!!!. Your dog is only young and a shock collar could have terrible consequences. Some dogs react really badly to them and you could traumatise him for life and possibly make him aggressive.

You should be able to train him not to chase cars. It will take time and patience but it is definitely possible. I recommend that you go to a trainer or behaviour counsellor for a 1-on-1 session to work through this. It will cost a little bit of money but it's worth if to solve a problem like this.

Try the following the organisations to find a trainer that uses kind, positive training methods (i.e. no choke chains or shock collars).

www.coape.co.uk
www.apdt.co.uk

Where do you live? I might be able to recommend someone?

Clare.

Answer 6

Firstly use an extension lead that's what i used with my gsd,i think he is trying to protect you,has anything in the past triggered this behaviour off!.My advise is seek out a dog behaviourist because it is very worrying there might be a time when he slips his lead and i hate to think what could happen,you could also try a tin with stones in it and when he tries to do it again shake it do this every time until he gets the message i know some trainers use this method.

Answer 7

A well-trained dog makes everyone happy, including his owner. Take a little time training him, and you'll never regret it; you'll always have an obedient dog by your side. Find more https://tr.im/0a3Mv

By their nature, dogs are pack animals with a well-defined social order. Through basic training, you need to consistently make sure your puppy understands that you are the leader, not him. So in teaching him the basic rules, you take on the role of pack leader.

To fit into the family circle, your dog must be taught to recognize his name and such commands as come, heel, lie down and sit.

Answer 8

Shock collar will work, but you should properly train the dog to the collar before using it. One good method is using the lowest level your dog can feel, put him on a long line, activate the collar, draw the dog back to you with the line, turning off the collar as he comes to you. Rinse, repeat, until he comes without any use of the line, showing he understands that coming to you turns off the collar. Once he is solid, you can then use the collar at high level to break up the chase, then go to low level to ask for the recall. Works extremely well when properly taught.

Answer 9

I think your dog has decided walking is not for him and wants his own car!!

But seriously, someone I know has a Border Collie thats goes after car wheels, messed his face up a few times and still wont stop...took him to training and he's gradually getting over his mad impulse to chase the cars.

Answer 10

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Answer 11

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