Chasing cars - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Ponyup · 06-11-2007, 12:08 PM

1st my Logan is never outside alone. We live in town so we always walk him on a leash. We have a retractable leash & he prefers to walk 16ft in front of us. Lately he has begun barking uncontrollably & chasing cars (he's 2). But it's only certain vehicles; such as: mopeds, motorcycles, horse & buggy, jeeps, diesel trucks, & children on bikes (this one really upsets me cause it scares the kids). My Logan is the sweetest & would never hurt anyone. I've found that if I notice a vehicle that will cause this reaction before he does & reign him in & tell him no he won't chase & bark at it. However, if I don't tell him ahead of time he will. How do I teach him that this behaviour is never okay? I'm terrified of him bolting out into traffic.

FirstYorkie · 06-11-2007, 11:45 PM

Hmmm... Keep him on a shorter leash?

Also, the more he is exposed to those scary things, the less likely he is to react to him. I'd try to double the frequency of his walks, at least for a while.

Ponyup · 06-12-2007, 06:55 AM

He's not going to be extremely happy about the shorter leash, but I will try. Should I say anything to him when he starts up or just let him bark his fool head off & figure he will get over it in time?

celstu1 · 06-12-2007, 08:13 AM

I am interested in a good solution to this problem also. One of my boys is almost 2 and started doing this recently. Maybe he was too young last summer to realize what a motorcycle is, but this summer, he is going AFTER motorcycles when I walk them. Trying to get them and barking his head off! And people on bikes! Then he gets himself soooo riled up that he starts to go after any moving vehicle! I dont know why he is starting this now! But I hear you, im scared for him! I never EVER let him out without a leash on but Im afraid if he ever gets out one day he'll get hit bc he chases cars! UGH!

MaxwellHouse · 06-13-2007, 12:48 PM

My first yorkie, Brutus did that with bikes and joggers. Would go ballistic. He saw a jogger one time that before I could reach down and grab Brutus, the man kicked my 7 pound dog that was at his heels barking. I was stunned and so was Brutus. It didn't teach him, though, I just had to keep him on a much shorter leash (he also like the 16').

Maxwell could care less about anything moving unless it is a bird, deer, rabbit, etc. He doesn't look twice at bikes. But he's only 6 months old, so who knows what's in store. I think the suggestion about exposing them to as much as possible. But it's still scary.

SJK1113 · 06-14-2007, 11:14 PM

I would try taking him on more walks than usual for awhile, and keep telling him no. If he doesn't bark or try to chase something, I'd praise him and give him a treat. You have to keep consistently doing that, and he will eventually get it. Dogs learn by repetitiveness and consistency.

wemple2 · 06-16-2007, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJK1113

I would try taking him on more walks than usual for awhile, and keep telling him no. If he doesn't bark or try to chase something, I'd praise him and give him a treat. You have to keep consistently doing that, and he will eventually get it. Dogs learn by repetitiveness and consistency.

Good post, great advise...I couldn't have said it better. Praise works wonders, they want to make us happy. And repeat...over and over and over again.

Ponyup · 06-18-2007, 06:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SJK1113

I would try taking him on more walks than usual for awhile, and keep telling him no. If he doesn't bark or try to chase something, I'd praise him and give him a treat. You have to keep consistently doing that, and he will eventually get it. Dogs learn by repetitiveness and consistency.

I do praise him when he doesn't chase, but the treat idea is great. I will carry treats with me from now on, he is a total treat whore.

06-11-2007, 12:08 PM	#1
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	Chasing cars 1st my Logan is never outside alone. We live in town so we always walk him on a leash. We have a retractable leash & he prefers to walk 16ft in front of us. Lately he has begun barking uncontrollably & chasing cars (he's 2). But it's only certain vehicles; such as: mopeds, motorcycles, horse & buggy, jeeps, diesel trucks, & children on bikes (this one really upsets me cause it scares the kids). My Logan is the sweetest & would never hurt anyone. I've found that if I notice a vehicle that will cause this reaction before he does & reign him in & tell him no he won't chase & bark at it. However, if I don't tell him ahead of time he will. How do I teach him that this behaviour is never okay? I'm terrified of him bolting out into traffic. __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

06-11-2007, 11:45 PM	#2
FirstYorkie YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: American in London Posts: 1,739	Hmmm... Keep him on a shorter leash? Also, the more he is exposed to those scary things, the less likely he is to react to him. I'd try to double the frequency of his walks, at least for a while. __________________ FirstYorkie We Love Clicker-Training!

06-12-2007, 06:55 AM	#3
Ponyup YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Northern Indiana Posts: 1,252	He's not going to be extremely happy about the shorter leash, but I will try. Should I say anything to him when he starts up or just let him bark his fool head off & figure he will get over it in time? __________________ Ponyup Mom to LOGAN

06-12-2007, 08:13 AM	#4
celstu1 Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 10,534	I am interested in a good solution to this problem also. One of my boys is almost 2 and started doing this recently. Maybe he was too young last summer to realize what a motorcycle is, but this summer, he is going AFTER motorcycles when I walk them. Trying to get them and barking his head off! And people on bikes! Then he gets himself soooo riled up that he starts to go after any moving vehicle! I dont know why he is starting this now! But I hear you, im scared for him! I never EVER let him out without a leash on but Im afraid if he ever gets out one day he'll get hit bc he chases cars! UGH! __________________ “Petting, scratching, and cuddling a dog could be as soothing to the mind and heart as deep meditation and almost as good for the soul as prayer.” ― Dean Koontz

06-13-2007, 12:48 PM	#5
MaxwellHouse YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Earlysville Posts: 976	My first yorkie, Brutus did that with bikes and joggers. Would go ballistic. He saw a jogger one time that before I could reach down and grab Brutus, the man kicked my 7 pound dog that was at his heels barking. I was stunned and so was Brutus. It didn't teach him, though, I just had to keep him on a much shorter leash (he also like the 16'). Maxwell could care less about anything moving unless it is a bird, deer, rabbit, etc. He doesn't look twice at bikes. But he's only 6 months old, so who knows what's in store. I think the suggestion about exposing them to as much as possible. But it's still scary.

06-14-2007, 11:14 PM	#6
SJK1113 No Longer a Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: usa Posts: 2,150	I would try taking him on more walks than usual for awhile, and keep telling him no. If he doesn't bark or try to chase something, I'd praise him and give him a treat. You have to keep consistently doing that, and he will eventually get it. Dogs learn by repetitiveness and consistency.