Dog Community

Car obsession

Posted : 5/14/2006 5:25:47 PM

Hi everyone. I recently adopted a seven-year-old border collie from an animal shelter. She's an absolute gem most of the time, but when we're out for walks she is totally fixated with parked cars. She will not be distracted until I've physically dragged her away from the vehicle! It doesn't seem to matter what kind of car or where it is, she wants to get in it. Anyone had this before?

Susa

Posted : 5/14/2006 9:05:59 PM

Mhm, we got our dog from the shelter 4 weeks ago and he didn`t know many things. And since we go to holidays by car we wanted to show him, that being in a car is such a great time! We put im in the car and went to nice places where he could run free and have fun.
And obviously we did a good job, cause now we have the same problem as you have. He runs to parked cars and wants to jump in. He once ran to a lady who was getting something out of the car and he sat in front of her, wanted to jump in and the woman couldn`t move.[

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I think (and hope) that it will be better when the education is established. For how long do you have your dog?
I just work mith mine and the better the bond between us the better will he listen to me.
Maybe your dog really likes cars...mhmm...border collie?
It is also possible that she`s trying to herd them? In that case she really needs a "job", more activity. Maybe you can do some agility with her or at the beginning go to classes, teach her tricks and give her something to "think". Borders really live for that.

spiritdogs

Posted : 5/15/2006 8:09:06 AM

BC's can be "one trial" learners, and she may associate cars with something pleasurable. It takes adopted dogs a few months to acclimate to a new situation, and she may be thinking if she can just get into the car, it will take her "home". Once she realizes that you are "home", this may lessen. Hard to say what she's really thinking, though...usually BC's are fixated on the cars that move - not the parked ones LOL.

jo drysdale

Posted : 5/15/2006 4:40:24 PM

Thanks for both of your comments. They do make sense to me. Susa, you made me laugh when you suggested that she wants to herd them- that's actually the MOVING cars :-)

When approaching a busy road she will do the "sheepdog walk" with her head down, and once at a pedestrian crossing she lies flat on the ground with her chin on the pavement, head wagging back and forward as the cars go past. She even tries staring them out :-)

We've just been getting to know one another. I think I will take your advice and find something energetic for her to do (other than leaping into puddles, streams and oceans and bounding around like a two year old)

Thanks again.