Now Tully is chasing cars

[Belladora]

Bella is beginning to make an attempt to chase cars, its been on three occations. We live in a residental area with cars usually in the evening hours as people return from work. I think its either a color thing or certain motor sound, i am going to take better notice if it happens again. I began early with her on walks always sitting at every corner and every alley way and also when cars go by i started saying "stop, sit" and now when she is on her long training lead i can shout a firm stop and she will follow with a sit. I had questioned myself on wether doing the sit every time a car passes is good or bad? Example: if she found herself in the middle of the street and a car approached what if she just stopped and sat right in the street? My gut still tells me its the right thing even though i have that tiny fear. Any thoughts on that? I take her out in the yard every evening at 6 pm on her 20 training lead and we play and watch the cars pass and we stop and sit. Yesterday was one of the chases.. i put my foot on the lead which brought her to a scretching stop and i shouted stop sit and she got real sheepish look.. maybe just maybe something sunk in at that moment.

 

[OntarioSheltie]

Crap. So walking this morning Deska slipped his martingale and chased a van - lucky it wasn't going fast. Usually he would have on a harness but I let my guard down seeing as he was so sore last night.

Anyway, as I ran onto the road to grab Deska I dropped Tully's lead, so then she took off after a fast car coming up behind. Thank god the person heard me screaming at Tully and screeched to a stop. This is the second time in a fortnight Tully has taken off after a car. She has also made a few attempts on lead. I know she is copying Deska, maybe because he has been getting more attention. She also hates that the cat gets to walk off lead all the time.

I gave her a smack (only a light one because she cowers when I raise my voice so I feel rotten). Any ideas for nipping this in the bud before I have another chronic car chaser? Back on the gentle leader maybe

How in the world does he manage to slip his martingale? Can you adjust it so that its just slightly tighter?

If a martingale doesn't work then I'd definitely put both on gentle leaders, maybe even permanently to stop car chasing.

So glad you got everyone back safe and sound. You must have just about had heart failure!

 

[penny]

Dusty's martingale has 2 leash hooks. One will cause the chain to snug if she pulls, but the other won't. Check that you are using the right leash hook.
My previous sheltie could back out of any collar or harness until I found martingales.

 

[Caro]

Definately the right hook. Deska has a very full mane and it gives him extra leverage.

If a martingale is adjusted to 'fit' a dog's neck you will always have the problem of a dog with a thick ruff potentially being able to get out. The only way to get around that is to make the collar too tight, then it just becomes a choke collar and for Deska it strangles him when he spins. Not all dogs are going to work out how to get out, Tully doesnt get out of hers. But it only took Deska one time and he learnt how to do it. A full slip collar is actually safer - he has more trouble getting out of that but I dont like to use it if I am tieing them up.

I can say though, Tully can get out of her harness, which Deska can't, luckily it takes a bit more effort so I can grab her before she runs off.