How to stop my dog from chasing and lunging at moving vehicles?

Question

6 1/2 months I have my first dog, Kyro , a rescue that was abused and abandoned, half Labrador and Pit bull, 2 1/2 years old. How do I break the habit of chasing Motor Vehicles? A trainer recommended stopping, sitting and a treat which I find a nuisance. Considering E-collar but not sure how! Soon as he sees the vehicle approaching he has the need the chase. Headlights or noise Motor Vehicles create during rain or snow makes the situation worse. In parking lots, he attempts to bite the bumper.

Jennifer Summerfield, DVM CPDT-KA · Accepted Answer

Hi there! Many dogs are highly aroused by movement and have a tendency to chase cars. What your trainer recommended - teaching your dog to do something else, such as sit or look at you, for a treat instead of lunging after the car - is indeed the best approach, and it's what I recommend as well. I would NOT use a shock collar, as this has a high risk of causing other behavioral issues such as aggression or anxiety, and will not do anything to teach your dog what you want him to do instead. Practice at a distance at first where he can be successful (which may need to be a long way from the road, at first), and praise and reward him with a treat for sitting calmly or looking up at you whenever a car passes by. As he gets better at this, you will be able to gradually move closer to the road until eventually he can do it even when the cars are very close by. You could also consider a Gentle Leader head halter to give you better physical control of him and help prevent lunging, if you need something that will work quickly while you're still working on training him.

How to stop my dog from chasing and lunging at moving vehicles?

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