Some dogs seem to regard bicycles, motorcycles and yes, skateboards as entrees on the run.
Three-year-old Shepherd mix Simon enjoys napping on the sunny spot in the dining room, tossing his Wubba, and playing with his friends at the dog park. His favorite sport, however, is chasing anything that moves. Lately, this includes not only motorized vehicles, but also hapless joggers and even strollers.
His owners suspect that an early run-in with a tricycle may have caused his obsession with moving targets. Another theory is that his latent herding instincts, frustrated by the lack of sheep in his resident suburb, has been triggered to round up just about anything.
Another possibility is his need for speed. The one or two walks a day that Simon’s owners take him on never seem to completely satisfy his high energy level. A wild chase might be his way of getting a bit of extra exercise.
Or maybe its just another game of fetch, albeit with the goal slightly larger than a tennis ball.
Simon seems to have developed a sixth sense when it comes to cars, too. His owners have compromised their rotator cuffs when Simon spots and lunges for a Jeep Cherokee. The ultimate fear is what would happen if he actually reached the car.
An unsuspecting skateboarder that Simon outran had a tough time wresting his board from the dog’s molars, but it is unlikely that an SUV would meet with the same end.
So, should Simon be shipped off a farm so he won’t have cars to chase? Oh, wait. What about tractors and threshers and other motorized farm equipment? Once again, re-housing the dog doesn’t fix the problem. There are three things that the owners have resolved to try:
1. Start exposing Simon to bicycles and skateboards that are NOT in motion. Praise and treat him for regarding them dispassionately.
2. Limit Simon’s access to the constant stimulation of moving cars and trucks by fencing his yard and taking him to a park for his walks.
3. Enroll Simon in herding or agility classes to funnel some of that energy into acceptable and rewarding activities.
Most of all, stay calm! If you have the sense that your anxiety and the tension it transmits down the leash into your dog might be at issue, have someone else walk your dog without you and report back. Maybe it’s not the dog...!?!
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