How to train a dog to stop chasing people?

In the streets and alleys of the city, you can often see such a heart-wrenching scene: a dog suddenly jumps out of the green belt and runs towards passers-by. The person being chased is panicked, and the owner shouts and chases desperately from behind. Such a scene not only makes passers-by terrified, but also makes the dog's owner feel troubled and helpless. The behavior of dogs chasing people seems to be an accidental naughty act, but in fact it is a complex behavior under the interweaving of multiple factors. To truly solve this problem, we need to have a deep understanding of the dog's behavioral motivation and train it in a way that emphasizes both science and emotion. ​

From a biological point of view, it is an innate instinct for dogs to chase moving objects. In their genes, they retain the memory of their ancestors as hunters. Fast-moving objects will stimulate the chasing reaction mechanism in the dog's brain, causing them to enter the "hunting mode" involuntarily. Especially for some hound breeds, this chasing instinct is stronger. But in modern society, this instinctive behavior often causes various problems. When a dog chases a passerby as a "prey", it may not only cause harm to others, but also put the dog itself in danger, such as running onto the road and getting into a traffic accident. ​

In addition to instinctive factors, dogs chasing people may also stem from psychological problems. Dogs that are overexcited, lack a sense of security, or are in a state of depression for a long time are more likely to exhibit this behavior. Some dogs are locked up at home for a long time and lack sufficient exercise and social interaction. Once they go out, they are like wild horses that have broken free from their reins, releasing all their energy on chasing behavior. Other dogs have been frightened or hurt before, and when facing strangers, they will protect themselves by chasing. This seemingly aggressive behavior is actually an external manifestation of their inner fear. ​

To change the dog's habit of chasing people, you must first establish a deep trust relationship between the owner and the dog. Dogs are like children. They will only be willing to obey commands when they feel the love and respect of their owners. Take some time every day to interact with your dog, such as gently stroking its head, playing with its favorite toys, and communicating with it in a soft voice. In this process, the dog will gradually let down its guard and regard the owner as a "leader" that can be relied on. This emotional foundation is the key to the smooth progress of subsequent training. ​

In the training process, positive motivation is the most effective method. When the dog can remain calm when seeing pedestrians and does not rush out to chase immediately, the owner should give rewards in time. Rewards can be delicious snacks or enthusiastic hugs and praise. Dogs are very smart animals. They can quickly understand what kind of behavior will be recognized by their owners. By repeating this positive feedback, dogs will gradually associate "not chasing people" with pleasant experiences, thereby changing their behavior patterns. ​

In addition to positive motivation, distracting the dog's attention is also an important training method. When taking the dog out, the owner can carry some toys or snacks that the dog likes with him. When encountering pedestrians, notice the dog's excitement in advance, use toys or snacks to attract its attention, and guide it to divert its eyes from the pedestrians. At the same time, the owner can also issue simple commands, such as "sit down" and "come here", so that the dog can focus on executing commands. After a period of training, the dog will develop the habit of paying attention to the owner's instructions first when seeing pedestrians.​

Social training is also crucial to correcting the dog's behavior of chasing people. Let the dog come into contact with different people in a safe and controllable environment. At the beginning, you can invite familiar friends to your home so that the dog can meet strangers in a relaxed atmosphere. As the dog's adaptability increases, take it to places with a large flow of people such as parks to let it gradually get used to the scene of people walking around. During the socialization process, the owner should always pay attention to the dog's emotional changes. Once it shows signs of nervousness or wanting to chase, comfort and guide it in time. Through this step-by-step approach, the dog will gradually overcome its excessive curiosity and fear of strangers and reduce the occurrence of chasing behavior. ​

During the training process, the owner's emotional management should not be ignored. When the dog shows chasing behavior, many owners will feel angry and anxious, and even beat and scold the dog. But this method not only fails to solve the problem, but also makes the dog feel fear and resistance, making the situation worse. The owner should remain calm and patient, and guide the dog with a calm attitude. Every dog ​​has a different personality and learning ability. The training process may be long and will encounter various setbacks, but as long as you stick to it, you will definitely see changes.​

The behavior of dogs chasing people is like a difficult problem that requires the owner to solve carefully. The key to solving this problem lies in our understanding and care for dogs. Through scientific training methods, building trust, giving positive motivation, and conducting social training, we can not only help dogs change bad habits, but also deepen the emotional bond with them. One day, when we walk on the street with our dogs, they can quietly follow us and be friendly and calm to passers-by. The sense of accomplishment and happiness cannot be described in words. This is not only an affirmation of the results of dog training, but also a testimony to the deep emotions between us and dogs. Let us use love and patience to help dogs become better and more popular family members.