Some German Shepherds naturally want to chase after anything that moves. This habit poses a real danger to the dog making it important for a dog owner to stop dog chasing as soon as the behavior becomes evident.
It does not matter if it is a squirrel, a cat, a car, or a jogger; chasing is dangerous and can get your dog seriously injured. You cannot possibly take a dog on an enjoyable walk if he is constantly trying to dart this way and that to chase things. To avoid having to keep your dog restrained all the time, you must learn to stop dog chasing as soon as you realize your dog has this problem.
Retraining Your German Shepherd
If your dog is a chaser, you first must start with basic retraining of the animal. If the dog chasing problem is a minor one, usually retraining will diminish the negative behaviors the dog is experiencing. Restraining your animal with a leash is recommended to keep your dog safe during the retraining process.
Keeping the Focus - You must get the dog's attention and keep it focused on you. In order for this method to work to stop dog chasing, your dog must be fully aware that you are the alpha leader. When you start out on a walk, make sure your dog is focusing on you. Do not begin the walk until the dog has given you his full attention.
Leash Training - If your dog likes to pull on the leash and won't pay attention to you, the process may take more time. Whenever your dog starts to pull on the leash and loses his focus on you, stop the walk and make the dog sit and wait beside you. When he is calm and focused, begin the walk again. The dog will come to realize that every time he pull and tugs on the leash, the walk stops.
Distraction - When using a leash to stop dog chasing, it often helps to use a favorite toy to distract the dog. When your dog is about to fix his attention on something to chase, shift it to a toy he is extremely fond of. Try throwing the toy and having him chase it instead.
Aversion - Ask a friend to jog or ride by on a bike to stimulate your dog to chase. Have them spray the dog with a water bottle and firmly say "No!" This sends a message to the dog that catching what he is chasing may not have the desired results. This method only works on some dogs, and they may become aggressive toward the water bottle.
Extreme Measures are Not the Best Solutions
Some dog owners resort to extreme measures to stop dog chasing, including shock collars, electric fences, or other methods of keeping a dog in control. There are several reasons why these are not the best methods to use.
If you cannot stop your dog's chasing behavior, consider using the services of an expert to bring the situation under control. What starts out as a small chasing problem will only escalate into a bigger one if nothing is done to remedy it.
Your dog is at risk as long as the behavior is allowed to continue. Doing something to stop dog chasing early on is in the best interest of your pet, and as the dog's owner it is your responsibility to protect him.
Find out more about Training German Shepherds at http://www.k9trainingsecrets.com.
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