Got chasing dogs? A dog that seemingly chases everything is satisfying its natural disposition toward chasing prey. It doesn’t really matter what the prey is (a rabbit, a bird, a car, leaf, or another person). If it moves, chasers chase it. That spells trouble when you consider dogs don’t understand safety precautions and can’t predict danger the way we can. Confining a chasing dog is one approach to solving the problem, but there are other solutions.

Since chasing is stimulated by fast moving objects, you can block a chasing dog’s view of them with a fence covered with foliage or similar material. Be aware that decreased access to perceived prey increases agitation so much that a chasing dog can become a victim to displaced aggression. Displaced aggression is when a frustrated chaser can’t pursue its perceived prey and feels the next best victim is another pet in the home, a small child, or its owners. Rewarding the dog for remaining calm in the face of inaccessible temptation can help curb displaced aggression, but so can increasing the dog’s exposure to the things that are accessible and tempting. Gradually expose the dog to more exciting stimuli, while praising and rewarding it for staying calm. This should help a chasing dog learn that everything isn’t prey.

Another thing that will help is satisfying a dog’s natural prey drive with chasing games. Chasing games give chasing dogs the proper outlet and prey (toys) to chase after. Just be sure that you refrain from chasing after your dog. Refer to our article about the human dog syndrome to understand why chasing after your dog will only make things worse. Try to make your games encourage the dog to chase after you instead of the other way around. Fetch is a great game that satisfies a chaser’s urge and reinforces the "return-to-owner" rule at the same time. Another great game has a chaser run after a tennis ball swung around in a wide circle with a fishing pole.

If the back yard’s fence separates your chaser from your neighbor’s chaser, you can keep both dogs somewhat quiet by not only blocking their views from each other, but also by keeping the dogs as far away from each other as possible. Install a second fence if necessary that will prevent the dogs from getting close to one another. This fence may create an awkward view of the back yard, but it will help keep things quiet – especially in a congested neighborhood.

Dogs that have claimed mail persons and delivery persons as sworn enemies or prey will go ballistic every time a package is put in the box or left on the doorstop. Ironically, the behavior of the delivery person initiates this behavior. Chasing dogs interpret mail and delivery persons as trespassers. Since they stay on the property no longer than what it takes to leave the mail, dogs think their chasing, barking, and growling scared them away. Socialization at a young age will prevent this situation and so will introducing a chaser to the local mail or delivery person. Reward a chaser for good behavior and encourage the mail or delivery person to treat the dog as well. Another good idea is to order things for the dog through the mail, and open them in front of the dog when they’re delivered. This will reinforce the idea that the mail or delivery person brings good things.

Check your local community ordinances for laws regarding chasers and mail and package deliveries. If your dog prevents a mail or delivery person from doing his job, the carrier has legal permission to pepper spray your dog or simply stop your mail’s delivery.

A list of prey-driven dog breeds known to chase:

· Afghan Hound

· Airedale Terrier

· Alaskan Klee Kai

· Australian Shepherd

· Bluetick Coonhound

· Borzoi

· English Foxhound

· German Wirehaired Pointer

· Greenland Dog

· Greyhound

· Jindo

· Kai

· Karelian Bear Dog

· Kerry Blue Terrier

· Miniature Schnauzer

· New Geinea Singing Dog

· Norfolk Terrier

· Pointer

· Rhodesian Ridgeback

· Sealyham Terrier

· Small Munsterlander

· Staffordshire Bull Terrier

· Standard Schnauzer

· Whippet