My 6.5 month old GSD has starting barking at and trying to chase cars from the
back seat of my car. We've had him since he was 9 wks old and he has been a
great rider since the beginning. He goes in the car often, and until about a
month ago, he just watched the cars, barking if he saw other dogs, but never at
the cars. Generally, he would sit quietly or lie down for most of the ride.
Now, he goes nuts, barking at the oncoming cars (not at those next to us,
though) and trying to chase them by jumping at the window.

He doesn't chase cars at home, though. When he was very young, he was afraid of
them and would bark, but we've worked with him gently, but firmly and his
confidence has increased to where he watches cars drive by with hardly a
notice. Just today, he laid by the screen door for a couple of hours and
watched cars, trucks, and kids on skateboards go by. When we walk him, we have
him sit when a car comes, because we saw a slight tendancy to chase, and now he
sits, stays, and calmly waits for the car to pass. Then off we go again, no
problem.

We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and when we drive by them, he
barks, as do they, and I think that gets him going to the point where when we
pull out on the main road, he's still so wound up that anything's fair game.
I've been riding in the back with him and I make him sit and tell him to make
friends. After a few minutes of this, he calms down and is fine until we come
back into the neighborhood again. I am careful not to reward him by stroking
him and saying it's alright. I tell him firmly to sit and hold him in position
and when he's quiet, I pet him and tell him how brilliant he is.

I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again? Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?

KC

"CMK1996" wrote in message
news:20031127051830.10213.00001012@mb-
We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and when we drive by them, he
barks, as do they, and I think that gets him going to the point where when
we
pull out on the main road, he's still so wound up that anything's fair
game.
I've been riding in the back with him and I make him sit and tell him to
make
friends. After a few minutes of this, he calms down and is fine until we
come
back into the neighborhood again. I am careful not to reward him by
stroking
him and saying it's alright. I tell him firmly to sit and hold him in
position
and when he's quiet, I pet him and tell him how brilliant he is.

if it were my dog, I would have him wear a seat belt for his and your
safety. Keeps dogs from getting too overstimulated, somehow. Sounds like
your technique is good - food might help too. When he is quiet in the car,
treats and praise. When he isnt', distract and redirect.


I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again?
Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?


Nope. They just get weird sometimes.

"CMK1996" wrote in message
news:20031127051830.10213.00001012@mb-
We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and when we drive by them, he
barks, as do they, and I think that gets him going to the point where when
we
pull out on the main road, he's still so wound up that anything's fair
game.
I've been riding in the back with him and I make him sit and tell him to
make
friends. After a few minutes of this, he calms down and is fine until we
come
back into the neighborhood again. I am careful not to reward him by
stroking
him and saying it's alright. I tell him firmly to sit and hold him in
position
and when he's quiet, I pet him and tell him how brilliant he is.

if it were my dog, I would have him wear a seat belt for his and your
safety. Keeps dogs from getting too overstimulated, somehow. Sounds like
your technique is good - food might help too. When he is quiet in the car,
treats and praise. When he isnt', distract and redirect.


I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again?
Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?


Nope. They just get weird sometimes.

"CMK1996" wrote in message
news:20031127051830.10213.00001012@mb-
We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and when we drive by them, he
barks, as do they, and I think that gets him going to the point where when
we
pull out on the main road, he's still so wound up that anything's fair
game.
I've been riding in the back with him and I make him sit and tell him to
make
friends. After a few minutes of this, he calms down and is fine until we
come
back into the neighborhood again. I am careful not to reward him by
stroking
him and saying it's alright. I tell him firmly to sit and hold him in
position
and when he's quiet, I pet him and tell him how brilliant he is.

if it were my dog, I would have him wear a seat belt for his and your
safety. Keeps dogs from getting too overstimulated, somehow. Sounds like
your technique is good - food might help too. When he is quiet in the car,
treats and praise. When he isnt', distract and redirect.


I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again?
Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?


Nope. They just get weird sometimes.

"CMK1996" wrote in message
news:20031127051830.10213.00001012@mb-
We live in a neighborhood with lots of dogs and when we drive by them, he
barks, as do they, and I think that gets him going to the point where when
we
pull out on the main road, he's still so wound up that anything's fair
game.
I've been riding in the back with him and I make him sit and tell him to
make
friends. After a few minutes of this, he calms down and is fine until we
come
back into the neighborhood again. I am careful not to reward him by
stroking
him and saying it's alright. I tell him firmly to sit and hold him in
position
and when he's quiet, I pet him and tell him how brilliant he is.

if it were my dog, I would have him wear a seat belt for his and your
safety. Keeps dogs from getting too overstimulated, somehow. Sounds like
your technique is good - food might help too. When he is quiet in the car,
treats and praise. When he isnt', distract and redirect.


I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again?
Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?


Nope. They just get weird sometimes.

On 27 Nov 2003 10:18:30 GMT, (CMK1996) wrote:

I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again? Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?

Hmmm. I'm not sure what you do, but I think it is fun-based rather
than fear-based. Your GSD knows he is safe from oncoming traffic when
he is in your car; give him credit for that much.

I might get a crate for the car or otherwise cut down on the visual
stimuli. But I don't know how you can train him out of it without
resorting to a squirt gun, which can be effective but is too cruel to
consider seriously.

Good luck.

Charlie

On 27 Nov 2003 10:18:30 GMT, (CMK1996) wrote:

I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again? Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?

Hmmm. I'm not sure what you do, but I think it is fun-based rather
than fear-based. Your GSD knows he is safe from oncoming traffic when
he is in your car; give him credit for that much.

I might get a crate for the car or otherwise cut down on the visual
stimuli. But I don't know how you can train him out of it without
resorting to a squirt gun, which can be effective but is too cruel to
consider seriously.

Good luck.

Charlie

On 27 Nov 2003 10:18:30 GMT, (CMK1996) wrote:

I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again? Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?

Hmmm. I'm not sure what you do, but I think it is fun-based rather
than fear-based. Your GSD knows he is safe from oncoming traffic when
he is in your car; give him credit for that much.

I might get a crate for the car or otherwise cut down on the visual
stimuli. But I don't know how you can train him out of it without
resorting to a squirt gun, which can be effective but is too cruel to
consider seriously.

Good luck.

Charlie

On 27 Nov 2003 10:18:30 GMT, (CMK1996) wrote:

I am fairly sure this is fear-based, but could there also be a territorial
element at play? Should we take him on shorter rides and build up again? Any
ideas on why this suddenly cropped up?

Hmmm. I'm not sure what you do, but I think it is fun-based rather
than fear-based. Your GSD knows he is safe from oncoming traffic when
he is in your car; give him credit for that much.

I might get a crate for the car or otherwise cut down on the visual
stimuli. But I don't know how you can train him out of it without
resorting to a squirt gun, which can be effective but is too cruel to
consider seriously.

Good luck.

Charlie

I suspect that this is partially or totally a function of age... he's
now a pre-adolescent, and will very soon be a full blown teenage brat...
grin

A seatbelt harness is going to Keep him in place in the back seat. He
can sit, stand or lie down.

This racket is very distracting and irritating to you as the driver,
making the situation potentially dangerous to you and the public. It
justifies the use of a squirt gun loaded with cold water. One bark and
he gets a blast in the face and a softly, firmly said "hush". It
startles him, but does not injure or cause pain. When he stays silent
for even a second, Verbally praise generously in a quiet cheerful voice.
It must be done with EVERY bark, so it's helpful to have a helper who
can handle this.

If the cold water doesn't work, some one with great aim can squirt him
in or near the mouth with each bark with lemon juice.

A good obedience class (cheapest may not be best... ask the gals in the
vet clinic AND the vet for the best training programs in the area...
they know!) will help to build confidence and turn you into a team...
and he won't feel as if he has to bark because he will trust and
respect you as his leader. Contact the trainer now to enroll for
classes starting right after the holidays.

Jo Wolf
Martinez, Georgia