Why does my border collie "stalk" cars?

My border collie gets down on his stomach and "stalks" cars everytime I take him for a walk. Then just as the car is passing he lunges at it. He is a year old now and I thought he would grow out of it but he has down this since he was a puppy. I take him out on walks 2-3 times a week or more. But I'm worried that he may get loose someday and get hit. He does the same think when I take him for a ride, crouching down and lunging at the window at every passing car.

Why does my border collie "stalk" cars?
Well, he does it because he's a border collie - a herding breed. They're stimulated by moving things, like bikes, children and cars.





He stalks it, they move, and he thinks he made it go. And then he does it again, is successful again, over and over, and voila, we have a self-rewarding behavior.





BC's need a lot of mental and physical work, and he's keeping himself busy with the car stalking.





Don't allow him to stalk. If he starts, just say 'let's go' and keep walking briskly close to you - don't even look at the car. Praise and reward him for walking by cars that are moving.





If you'd like it to stop, you can do a set up where, when he chases the car, the car becomes a VERY bad thing. Have a buddy throw water balloons at the ground near your dog (hopefully won't hit the dog). Toss several cans of coins at the dog from the window. Blow an air horn out of the window.





At the same time, give him an outlet for his instinct - try agility, or find a trainer that will teach him to actually herd sheep or goats.





Good luck.
Reply:He's trying to heard it.


He's a border collie, thats what they do. Heard.


My BC does it do, with everything moving. Except for she doesn't lunge, just croutch and move toward it sometimes nipping at the heels.
Reply:Well, border collies are herding dogs. It's his instinct to stalk and herd, I guess. So, it's kind of like he thinks that car is a sheep, you could say. ;]
Reply:he is just trying to herd them around i guess! lol it's in his breed
Reply:ur dog has bad manners u need to take him for training

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