Hi Guys,

I have a wired situation with my 5 months old GSD pup. This habit of his started two weeks back. I thought in time it will get away but so far no improvements. His heel command is not that strong at this point.
Every time he see a moving vehicle on the road whether he is in my car or outside taking a walk with me, he get very very excited and opens his mouth(to bite) as if he is going to bite the life of it and tries to run after them. I have to pull his leash very hard or he will get under a vehicle. It is getting extremely impossible to walk with him now. This behavior of his is putting both of our lives in danger. He ONLY barks at the vehicles IF he gets really retrain by me. I have tried to calm him; taken him during traffic hours for him to get used to it but nothing seems to work on a long term.
If I make his in a sit position and use my voice and hands to calm him, it does work but only for 5-6 minutes and then sees a bus in a corner and there goes his bad behavior again.
Does anyone of you have had similar issue? Should I continue to do what I am doing and the '6 minutes' will be longer with time?

Please advise.

Rashmi

It happened only ones with my GSD puppy. I think he was about 4 ½ months old. The car was stopped as we were passing by. As soon as the car started my puppy Ben started running after it. I corrected him with the leash said deep no and stared at him in the eyes, than I told him sit and praised him. He never did that again. Two or three times a week I walk him were there is heavy traffic, he never chases or barks after vehicles.

I would start by avoiding the cars until you teach the leave-it command and proof it well around different things. Now apply it in an area of low traffic and gradually increase the distractions of cars and when you get that reaction you dislike, command him to leave it or he'll be in grounds of disobedience...give a good correction or your pup may be under the tires someday. We have broken a similar habit this way with some blue heelers that chase horses.

Maybe someone has a better way, as this would take some time (up to 2wks) to establish a reliable leave-it command & proof it.

My cattle dog did this. I didn't play with her at all. I grabbed the back of her neck and shook her good for looking at cars. I also had to do this several times thru her life.

QUOTE from Alison: I would start by avoiding the cars until you teach the leave-it command and proof it well around different things. Now apply it in an area of low traffic and gradually increase the distractions of cars and when you get that reaction you dislike, command him to leave it or he'll be in grounds of disobedience...give a good correction or your pup may be under the tires someday. We have broken a similar habit this way with some blue heelers that chase horses.
Maybe someone has a better way, as this would take some time (up to 2wks) to establish a reliable leave-it command & proof it END

I know skate boards aren't the same thing, buit I think it's similar, and I used pretty much the same as Alison's method. I had a dog who tried to herd skateboarders from the day I got him, even though I had taken him on a good long "who's in charge here" walk before we entered my property. Evidently he came to me with some skateboard issues.

Alison's method worked. It did take over a week before I felt 100% secure about it, but it proved to be successful (years later!). After the week or so of gradually-increasing exposure, we topped it off by going to a skateboard park and watching the 'boarders.........zero agitation and zero unwanted behavior.

Thank you very much guys. You don't understand how much I appreciate this. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" /> I will update you guys with changes.

Regards,

Rashmi