I recently got a new Mal pup and will be working him in French Ring. He's almost 4 mos old now and has developed a wonderful habit of going into mad drive whenever a car goes by. Lunging at the end of his lead, and that whiny yippy prey bark. As first I thought he would quickly get over it but he seems to building intensity for it as the days go by. I know frustration builds drive and he's clearly not going to catch a car due to his leash, but I worry for his safety as well as I worry that a trial may be held close to a freeway and a passing Oldsmobile will look more tempting than the decoy on the field. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" />

Any suggestions about fixing this problem? I don't want to diminish any drive but at the same time I don't want this to continue escalating. I guess it would be easy drive building for me... a six pack/ lawn chair/ sturdy leash and I'm "training". <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

A bit of info on the little guy. He's loaded with dominance and doesn't take any crap from anyone and so far seems absolutely fearless. Having said that, IMO his prey drive is good but isn't as high as I would like so I'm building that right now and I don't want to do anything to end up stepping backwards... So any help would be great. Thanks in advance.

Grant

Hi Grant,
The one mal that i took over from elderly people does/did the same. Thats one of the reasons they couldnt cope. Shes 14mths old and i am the third owner <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" /> Everything that whizzed by...cars, cycles etc shed lunge and scream her head off at.........The bike thing got cured in one go and the cars is more or less over. If hes 4 mths old and you dont stop these antics now hes gonna get the better of you. He has to learn.....if you dont like it hes not to do it. I put my nut on a 10 meter leash and a good choke chain, paced out the 10 meters to the road and had her sit near me. Along came the car and off she went. She realised that at the end of the 10 meters there was nothing and corrected herself on the choker by tipping a** over backwards. She came running to me and i gave her a reward. Dont avoid it but go looking for it. Patience is a virtue and if you keep going you will win it and the lil one will realise. Dont give him too much slack or its doomed to continue.