Ok, I have Gunther, the now 8 month old GSD, and he has a rather peculiar thing he does in the car.

As I am driving down the road he very intently watches each vehicle pass... much like he is locking his sights on his target. If it is a vehicle any bigger than say, oh a fed ex truck, he does the exact same thing except as the truck passes he turns and bites the headrest. Aside from the damage to my car I am concerned about if this is something I should worry about or not.

Otherwise in the car he is a dream. He is not barking or growling at his "prey" and if I tell him to "knock it off" he will for a while till he forgets again, after all he is a puppy <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I just don't want a repeat of rescue that I put down over the summer who was doing something similar, but in defense instead of the prey like things I am seeing here.

Anyone else have this happen?

So far as it diminishing with time, well I take him EVERYWHERE I go and tell him to knock it off, but you can watch his little gears turning when he sees a big truck coming to pass :P

Sorry if this wasn't the right place to post it. I really couldn't tell where else to put it.

Sounds like he is just redirecting his prey aggression. Not really a big deal in his case.(I don't think) Can you crate the dog in the car. It is more safe anyway.

No, unfortunately I have a small compact car. It is over the hill though so I will be getting either an suv or minivan over the summer and plan to crate then. I don't so much care about the damage he is doing to the car because I know the next vehicle will have crates <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> Just don't want to let any little demons grow in his head. :P Thanks in advance

It may also be a guard drive thing. That might be HIS car and he's letting these trucks know about it in his own special way. Either way I like the sound of him <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I have a dog who redirects to a tire when he's in his run. Only he is aggressively vocal about it (vicious!), even if it's just a squirrel that's too close. Pretty funny, he's a real "tuff-guy". He's only like THAT when he's in his run though.

When I take my dog for a walk she exibits simliar behavior when she sees semi's ,fire engines etc. Last month while we were taking our morning walk a truck comes roaring by, Xena pulls on her leash and the prong collar comes undone. My heart sank as my dog is chasing a truck in the street. I spend a year on recall and all that could come out of mouth was "XENA XENA XENA". It must of been the fear and ugency in my voice that made her back. Lesson to be learned make sure the links on the prong collar are spread out.

Milt

I have a kelpie that does the same thing only she air snaps at the trucks out the window, it's so funny to see her in the side mirror. Same as yours she lines up the trucks (and holden cars?) then goes in for the snap! She gets so cocky that she has just told the nasty truck off! Which is funny concidering she is pretty spineless the rest of the time (thunder and fireworks are mortifying)
You want to not encourage it though as it can develop into car/truck chasing when out in the street.
Try hanging something like a mobile of toys across the window it might distract from the trucks and give something else to have a go at.

I have to update this little segment....

Well, I ended up buying a station wagon instead of a van and put up barriers. One in the back seat for my "good" dog, and one in the cargo area for the prey nut.

Well thinking there was nothing that Gunther could grasp now I put him in the back and went for a ride this morning....

Well it is raining cats and dogs here and now he has a new item to chase....

The Rear windsheild wiper blade..... LOL thank god that is protected by glass

I think that you should now crate the dog. If you don't stop this little activity than it is only going to become stronger. The more he gets to practice it the stroger it will be. You may evan have to cover the crate for a few weeks. Remember for every behavior you want to get rid of you have to replace the behavior with a desireble one.
Dave

Well if the car was large enough to accomodate crates I would do that, but it will not stop him from "following" his prey. That is in reality all we are dealing with here.

I think you have a warped perception of what is actually going on....

Anyway, I only posted the update because it was actually kind of funny to watch his head follow the wiper. I guess you had to be there to understand.

I can only responded to the information that you typed sweetie.