Teach Your Puppy Not to Chase

Puppies as well as grown dogs love to chase. It's a natural instinct; one that can cause disaster if not curbed while your dog is very young. To ensure your puppy doesn't chase other animals, cars, children, bicycles joggers or humans, you have to teach him not to chase everything that moves, and you have to teach him now. Some puppies will learn very quickly, while others may never learn. Teaching your puppy not to chase is reversing his natural instinct, so be patient.

Chasing is an instinctive behavior for puppies, as I mentioned earlier. They love the thrill of the chase, and if your puppy is a herding breed, the instinct is even greater. Chasing is also a predatory instinct, as well as a play response. Puppies love to chase and be chased, and your puppy will be no different. Until he has learned that chasing is unacceptable, you will have to keep him on a leash.

To train your puppy not to chase, you will have to set up a situation where he can concentrate and learn the behavior you are attempting to teach him. Begin by training your puppy inside your home or in a fenced backyard, where you will have complete control. You must be repetitive and consistent giving him ample time to learn what is expected of him.

Put your puppy on his leash, stand beside him and wave a ball in front of his face. Don't allow him to touch the ball, then roll it away from him, at the same time giving the "no" command. If he tries to chase the ball, give a sharp tug on his leash and firmly repeat "no." It is imperative he not touch the ball, or he will think "no" means chase. You will need to practice this four or five times a day until your puppy realizes that "no" means he is not to go move when the ball rolls away. When he remains in position and doesn’t chase, praise, pet and give him a small treat.

When it seems your puppy understands, try laying his leash on the ground and rolling the ball while giving the "no" command. If he tries to chase, quickly step on his leash. If he stays in position, praise, pet and offer a small treat. Repeat this procedure until he stays in position every time the ball is rolled. Once he understands, try rolling the ball with your puppy off leash. If he stays in position, pet, praise and offer a small treat. If he chases the ball, put him back on his leash and continue training, using the "no" command. Your puppy will eventually understand exactly what he is expected to do.

Now it is time to practice with a human. Recruit someone to help with training. Attach your puppy's leash to his collar and have your recruit run past your puppy several times. If he tries to chase, give his leash a sharp tug and give the "no" command. Repeat until your puppy remains in position as your recruit runs by. Your puppy must perform perfectly before attempting this without holding his leash. When the time comes, have your recruit run by and be prepared to quickly step on the leash. If your puppy remains in position, praise, pet and offer a small treat. If he tries to chase, continue training. Once he performs perfectly, try having the recruit run by with your puppy off leash. Continue training until he performs perfectly.

If your puppy likes to chase cars, have your recruit meet you on a dead-end street or one that has little traffic. Put your puppy on his leash and have your recruit drive by. If your puppy tries to chase the car, use the same method as you did with the ball and the runner. Repeat training until your puppy stays in position each time the person drives by. When he obeys perfectly, try the routine off leash. Be sure to warn your recruit to stop the car immediately should your puppy chase it. Then, put puppy back on his leash and continue training until he stays in position.

Never wait until your puppy is in full chase before you reprimand him. It is your responsibility as his owner to ensure his safety and that of all other moving things. If your puppy doesn't get the message and continues to chase, keep him on leash whenever your leave the yard. This will keep your puppy and other animals and humans he comes into contact with safe. Avoid a disaster - train your puppy now.