|
It
is obvious that if a dog is never permitted on the
street without a leash, the problem of car-chasing
will not arise.
However,
assuming that this is not a practicable procedure
and that the animal is in the habit of chasing cars,
how is the habit to be broken?
Here is a routine method suggested by trainers. Stand
on the pavement or lawn with your dog and have a friend
drive a car past you. Hold a small, light piece of
chain in your hand. As the animal rushes at the car,
throw the chain at its hind legs.
Repeat
the procedure several times. The dog's mind does not
realize that you threw the chain. It comes to associate
the blow from the chain with the passing car, and
feels that somehow it has been attacked by the car.
Repeated
performance of this procedure sooner or later will
break the animal of the car-chasing habit. One very
well-known trainer records that he modified this method
by using a water pistol filled with perfume.
The
trainer stood a short distance behind the dog, and
when the animal lunged for the car the pet's rear
end was squirted with perfume.
This
is a clever modification, because not only did the
animal feel "attacked" by the car, but the attack
somehow persisted. Needless to say, the car-chasing
habit was broken very quickly in this case.
|
