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When a car is coming, give your dog a treat and talk to
him. As the car approaches, walk with your dog away from
where the car is passing. If he is totally losing
control, move him further from passing traffic to
continue your work.
Every time a car passes, give your dog another bite of
treat, and walk him away from the car. Your goal is to
pair the car with something yummy, which pleases and
distracts your dog.
Over time, start moving closer to passing cars while you
work with your dog. Take your time with this step! And
never take chances: keep your hand on the leash and your
attention on your dog.
Once you feel your dog is calm with traffic passing,
stop giving him the treat as the car approaches. Hold it
where he can see it, then give it to him after
the car passes you. By holding off a few seconds more,
you’re helping your dog learn to tolerate the whole
experience of a car driving by. Keep practicing until
you are confident that, when a car comes along, your dog
will be looking at you and waiting for his treat.
Try to practice with your dog every day for ten minutes,
or twice a day if you can. Be patient: car-chasing is a
hard habit to break, and it’s so dangerous, that it’s
well worth your effort. Expect to see some results in a
week (with daily practice), and to have the problem
solved in four to six weeks. With frequent exposure to
cars, he should eventually be able to maintain a calm
manner in the midst of traffic. But, even once your dog
seems “cured”, take time every week to make sure the
habit holds. Incorporate desensitization exercises into
your walks and play. Don’t get over-confident: keep your
dog on his leash, and be very careful with him around
cars.
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