Expert: Marwan Husseini - 8/29/2005

Question
How do I stop my dog from wanting to chase down vehicles? He is a 2 year old black lab mix. He is very strong though, and every time I try to take him for a run or walk, he lunges so hard when cars go by, I can hardly hold onto the leash! He has lots of energy, so we walk/run a lot. I get frustrated every time though. Although he is always tied up, I am afraid he will end up being hit by a car if he gets loose. Please let me know if you have any ideas to help. Thank you!

Answer
You have to yank the leash and firmly say "No" whenever he does that, you can also close his mouth with your hands untill he starts to whine; if this doesnt help you can buy him a nylon that you place on his muzzle and attach the leash to it. I wouldn't use the nylon mask because I dont think it is humane, but with the risk of getting hit by a car I think it should be used as a last resort.