Why Does My Dog Chase Anything That Moves? A Pooch's Point of View!

It’s nearly time for the thing I’ve been looking forward to all day… my walk! I love going on walks—it gives me time to play and chase after toys, people, cars, dogs and other animals. Hmm, now that I say it out loud, dogs love chasing after a lot of things, don’t we?

While I’m waiting for my walk, I’ll answer some of your questions and tell you the reasons why dogs seem to chase after everything!

Why Do Dogs Chase?

Whether it's a squirrel in the park, a car on the street, or even a ball thrown by a human, this action gives us dogs an irresistible urge to chase. In fact, it’s deeply rooted in our instincts.

Even though I enjoy a life of leisure now, historically, dogs would have to chase their prey. This predatory drive is still present in me and many of my friends. Although we no longer need to hunt to feed ourselves, any sight of a moving object can trigger this instinct. When we dogs chase things, remember that we’re not trying to ignore the rules on purpose—sometimes our drive to chase is all we can focus on!

Do Some Dogs Chase More Than Others?

There are certain breeds of dog that are more prone to chasing than others due to their genetics. For example, my friend from my neighbourhood is a Border Collie and she loves chasing—more than anyone else I know. This is because she’s a herding breed. As the name suggests, they have a strong instinct to chase and herd animals, or in her case, squirrels!

For many dogs, chasing is simply a fun and engaging activity. When I chase after my ball or play fetch, I find it a fun way to do physical exercise and be mentally stimulated, so not all chasing is bad!

What Might a Dog Be Chasing and Why? 

When dogs are chasing, we like to go after anything that moves, especially if it moves quickly. Some things dogs love chasing include:

• Animals—We often chase smaller animals such as squirrels, rabbits, and birds. I know humans probably wonder, why do dogs chase cats? Well, we do it because this behaviour is driven by our prey drive. Our instinctual desire to hunt moving objects can be seen in both urban and rural settings, which explains why some of us might chase cats at home. 
• Vehicles—Some of us are also known to chase cars, bicycles, and motorcycles because the movement and noise of vehicles can trigger our chase instinct. However, we’re not proud of this, as we know it can be particularly dangerous and puts us at risk of injury. If you’re a human wondering how to stop dogs from chasing after cars, remember to keep your dog on a lead during walks and ensure they are in a secure, fenced area when off-leash to prevent them from chasing after cars. Also read the section below for training tips!
• People—In some cases, we may chase people, especially if they are running or cycling. This can be due to a combination of prey drive, playfulness, and a desire for attention. 
• Objects—We may also chase inanimate objects like balls, frisbees, and even leaves blowing in the wind. This is the type of chasing we do during playtime, usually when our humans are playing fetch with us. 
• Tails—A dog chasing their tail can be a sign that we’re feeling playful or bored, or possibly a sign of an underlying medical condition. As a pet parent, it’s important to check what the reason behind this might be.

How To Stop Dogs From Chasing

Although chasing is one of our natural instincts, there are ways to help us dogs stop chasing everything that moves:

• Consistent training and positive reinforcement—Training and positive reinforcement can teach your dog to control their impulses and focus on you instead of the moving object. It helps if you’re super engaging and rewarding so we can find you more interesting than the thing we’re chasing. 
• Work on your dog’s focus and recall—We love rewards, so rewarding your dog for staying near you and ignoring distractions can get us to focus on you. A great way to do this is to use    a really tasty treat! Using treats as a high-value reward and gradually increasing your dog’s exposure to distractions will help us become desensitized to the situation and less likely to chase. 
• Train your dog to respond to cues—Cues such as "leave it" or "stay" are important for us dogs to learn because they keep us safe and teach us obedience. These cues can be used as a distraction control to help us remain calm in more intense environments.
• Learn your dog’s body language before they chase—If you notice us stalking or being extra alert, you can be prepared to distract us with something like a squeaky toy. Make sure you’re distracting us with something that we really notice or like, so our attention is diverted from the thing we’re about to chase.

Things To Remember About Dog Chasing 

It’s nearly time for me to head off on my walk, but before I go, there are some last things I’d like you to remember.

As well as natural instincts, we dogs can also chase things because of boredom, stress, or frustration. This is why it’s important to provide us with plenty of physical and mental stimulation, as this can reduce our urge to chase.

Outlets like games of fetch, hide and seek, or tug of war are great activities for helping us with impulse control and releasing our pent-up energy. Mental stimulation such as general training and puzzle toys can also help us stay entertained throughout the day, too.

If you notice from our body language that we’re chasing things because we’re stressed, ADAPTIL Calm Collar can be a great solution. It provides us with continuous calming support from anywhere, and when I wear mine, it makes me feel less anxious when I’m at home and on walks.

If you notice that your dog is only chasing at home, then ADAPTIL Calm diffuser can also be a good solution. This diffuser can be easily plugged in to provide your dog with a calming message for enhanced serenity. However, if your dog's chasing behaviour is severe or difficult to manage, seeking help from a professional dog trainer or qualified behaviourist can be beneficial.

If you have any more questions that you’d like answered from a pooch’s point of view, we have plenty more articles to explore online. Plus, you can sign up for our newsletter to stay in the loop with all our latest tips, guides, and updates!