Training Your Dog to Avoid Cars
There are some dogs that chase cars. It is more common than you could ever imagine! The good thing is that you can teach a dog to avoid streets, traffic, and cars. Training a dog to be fearful of cars can be a difficult task, but there are a few things you can do to get the sense of “danger” to override their emotions. There are several ways you can teach your dog how to avoid cars which will be outlined below.
- Sit and Wait – This is a common method which allows you to sit and wait before crossing. The good news about this method is that it is easy to teach. Each time you reach a road, regardless of if there is traffic or not, have your dog sit by your side and only release him to cross after giving him the “okay” command.
- “Down” From a Distance – We always recommend that your dog is always on a leash. However, if your dog is going to be off leash, be sure to teach them to go “down” from a distance. This is a basic obedience command that can be used anytime. By using this command, you can ensure that your dog is not going to run in front of a vehicle.
- Touch and Treat – You can also train your dog to respond to the “touch” command. If you teach your dog this command, they know that they will receive a treat every time they come to you when they touch their nose to your hand.
These are the three training methods that we suggest for your dog to avoid cars and traffic. Obviously, it will take a lot of time and patience to familiarize your dog with each task. For an added measure of safety, please consider having your dog on a leash at times
