Having a dog is the guarantee of having an always faithful and loyal best friend. But it is still necessary to tame it, train it correctly and decipher all its behaviors. Because it is necessary to adopt the right gestures at the right time. Unlike cats, which are much more mysterious and difficult to decipher, understanding dogs is not that complicated. However, this requires some experience and careful observation.
Dogs are generally calm and affectionate. But, sometimes they have exuberant cravings and suddenly become aggressive, which can endanger the safety of some people, in particular situations. A burning question: why do our cute dogs turn into “monsters” when approached by motorists or motorcyclists? Where does this habit of barking at them and running after them come from? Explanation.
Barking dog – Source: spm
Why do dogs bark or chase vehicles?
Many owners experience certain difficulties when it comes to adopting the appropriate method to calm their dog, especially in delicate contexts where they do not understand their reactions, as strange as they are exaggerated. So before you even know how to intervene, it’s important to better understand what causes your dog to bark or chase motor vehicles that venture near him.
Several reasons can explain this:
- Sometimes it can be a characteristic of the breed and therefore of animal instinct, nothing more. Therefore, this can occur especially with hunting or herding dogs. We are talking here about the instinct of predation. When stationary, a stationary car will not attract your attention. But as soon as it moves, your animal can assimilate it to prey to hunt.
- It may also have something to do with defending the territory: it is therefore a defensive intention of the dog in your area. Keep in mind that this protection is critical in canines, perhaps even trying to guard against a potential intruder. Precisely, by barking so loudly, it is trying to warn you of a probable dangerous intrusion. If it is a guard dog, it will often tend to chase nearby passing vehicles to fulfill its guard duty.
- Very often, fear is the trigger: the noise emitted by the vehicle and the speed can distress the dog, which will instinctively sense danger and then move into an attack position to protect itself. Instead of running and hiding, he will bark and run after the car or motorcycle.
- This defensive attitude can also be explained by the fact that your dog is not very sociable and does not go out much. Because, otherwise, and especially in urban areas, it is assumed that he is used to noise and vehicle traffic.
- Sometimes this chase can be seen as a kind of escape from stress or anxiety. In order to evacuate the negative waves, he will thus have the habit of running behind motorcycles or cars that come into his field of vision.
- Lastly, if your dog is too bored at home and his hobbies are limited, barking and racing against cars is most likely a form of fun entertainment for him.
Dog chasing a car – Source: spm
Whatever the reason, it’s important to intervene, because his behavior can have serious consequences, both for him and those he’s after. First of all, if you notice that the situation is recurring, consider selecting more suitable hours and less frequented places to take him for a walk. This walk is precisely synonymous with relaxation and complicity between you. Stress and turmoil have no place here. If you go to a fairly deserted park, don’t hesitate to take the leash off so he can let off steam freely. But if you walk in public places where it starts to get crowded, you need to keep it on hold so you can control it more easily. Therefore, it is always better to choose times with little traffic and places away from the chaos of vehicles. If this is not possible, it is better to take him to isolated areas and keep a good leash on him so that he is not caught unawares.
Next, it is essential to try to distract your dog to prevent him from becoming agitated. And precisely, in case of correct behavior, if you see a car go by without flinching, do not hesitate to reward it with flattery, or even with a small treat. No matter what, scolding him is strictly inadvisable, because it can backfire and may even make him more anxious.
Understanding animals is difficult, but not impossible. It is important to adopt the right reflexes to try to keep your instincts at bay, without crashes or annoyances.
Some tips to follow:
- Your dog must absolutely exercise during the day, not only to avoid daily boredom but also and above all to get tired. If he is loaded with activity, he will no longer have the strength to bark or run after cars.
- To satisfy his instinctive need for predation, offer him predation attractions, such as playful games of finding objects or tracking.
- Get him used to the presence of cars and motorcycles. You live in the country? Take him to the city more often so that he becomes familiar with all these vehicles in urban areas.
- If you feel that you are not properly trained, take the time to do some exercises to improve your obedience skills. For your own safety and that of others, it is imperative that you listen to you and obey you in all circumstances.
- When a car starts to pull away and your dog is about to bark, always remember to divert his attention by talking or playing with him. Over time, you will eventually get used to the noise of the engine and you will no longer feel any particular anxiety.
Understanding animals is difficult, but not impossible. It is important to adopt the right reflexes to try to keep your instincts at bay, without crashes or annoyances.
read also Here’s Why Dogs Bark At Some People And Not Others
