07/10/2025
I said it before and I say it again: Car Chasing is NOT Predatory Behaviour!
❓Why Car Chasing Isn’t Hunting — And What That Means for Your Dog
Have you ever watched your dog go wild when a car, bike, or jogger passes by?
It looks just like hunting: they lower their body, fix their eyes, maybe even lunge or bark. At first glance, it seems the same as when they chase deer, rabbits, or birds.
But here’s the thing: car chasing isn’t hunting. And that difference matters a lot for how we train.
✨ Predation vs. Fear
When a dog chases wildlife, it’s a predatory behavior. Predation is what experts call a “distance-decreasing” behavior — the dog wants to get closer to the prey. The ultimate “goal,” hardwired by evolution, is to catch.
But when it comes to cars, bikes, or even joggers, your dog isn’t trying to “catch” them. They’re trying to make them go away. This isn’t predation — it’s a fear or fight response. The car is scary, unpredictable, noisy. So your dog reacts by lunging and barking, hoping to drive it off.
That’s a huge difference!
✨Why This Matters for Training
👉 Wildlife chasing needs training that channels prey drive into safe, fun outlets.
👉 Car or bike chasing needs confidence-building and emotional safety work, because at its root it’s about fear and stress, not hunting.
Mixing the two up can lead to frustration: teaching “anti-predation” games won’t fix fear of cars, and trying to desensitize fear won’t satisfy the deep needs of a hunting dog.
✨What You Can Do
• Watch the context. Does your dog want to get closer (predation) or drive it away (fear)?
• For wildlife: Try games that let your dog “hunt” in safe ways — like tracking, search games, or Predation Substitute Training®.
• For cars/bikes: Work on calmness and safety. Reward your dog for noticing the car and choosing to stay with you. Increase distance until they feel safe.
✨The Takeaway
Not all chasing is the same. And when you understand whether your dog is hunting or reacting out of fear, you can choose the right tools — and stop trying methods that don’t match the problem.
Your dog isn’t being “stubborn” or “bad.” They’re just showing you what’s going on inside. And with the right approach, you can help them feel safe, fulfilled, and connected to you.
✨ Curious about safe ways to channel your dog’s hunting instincts?
Start with the PST Principles Course "Transform Chase Into Connection" and learn all about Predatory Behaviour in Dogs, including your first training exercises and games.
➡️ https://predation-substitute-training.com/pst-principles/
