Psychology Of The Object-Chasing Dog
Posted on February 11, 2008
Filed Under Dog Psychology, Dog Training |
For no apparent reason, the instinct to chase seems to be stronger in some dogs than in others. In sighthounds (Greyhounds, Basenjis, etc), this tendency is understandable from a genetic standpoint, in that their early selection favored strong sight and low thresholds for chase reflex excitation.
In other breeds not of the sighthound class, the tendency is probably genetic in its initial stages (the dog as a pup probably displayed strong chase tendencies) but develops into problem behavior through frustration or reinforcement.
The dog may be behind a barrier or on a tether relative to fast-moving objects, or may even have been encouraged to chase vehicles through naive behavior by the owner. An example of this inadvertent stimulation of chasing is the owner who chases bike-mounted neighborhood children off the sidewalk. A dog witnessing this a few times thereafter assumes the guard-duty function.
Aggressive dogs with overprotective tendencies often attempt to keep their territories clear of invading vehicles. This tendency is frequently noted in dogs that are either allowed to wander around their neighborhood or that are taken on regular walks during which they urine mark beyond their own territorial limits. Females as well as males may claim “street right” and chase cars.
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