Doglovers, please help! Our terrier won't stop chasing - do we have to keep him out of the garden?

[Wolfmother]

Our border terrier is two in the summer, and is eager to please and very affectionate. But he is also extremely fast and fit, and loves to chase; worst of all, he chases cars.

Atm, obviously, we keep him on a lead more or less all the time. But even in the middle of the countryside, he'll take off after squirrels or birds and then we worry that he'll end up near a road. His energy is very high, so he does need to run.

I constantly practise recall with him, and he is improving - ie he will often come to me instead of going after a squirrel he's seen. Often, however, not always. I feel his behaviour is worsened by the fact that we habitually let him out into the garden after dusk, and he spends his time rushing around on a high, going after everything that moves. Do you think it would help if we simply ban this night-time hunting? I think he could still be allowed out into the garden during the day, because he seems much calmer then.

Forgot to add, there are lots of urban foxes which are the main thing he goes after in the garden. We would have to put him upstairs to keep him away from whining at the doors downstairs. The foxes only start being active at dusk.

Border Terriers are born to chase! A friend of mine has won obedience competitions with her Border Terried but still can not let him off the lead outside! So you have a big strong instinct to deal with here.

Chasing gives dogs the biggest endorphin rush they can get so if I have a chase dog referred to me the first thing I would look at is if they have any insecurities of any kind. It is hard to see that a fear of loud noises can make them chase more but it does. So first deal with any insecurities. (although in this case I think he probably has just worked out what fun it is!)

Next I would not let him chase in the garden as this is just reinforcing that chasing makes me feel Great!

I am afraid that it is very hard to stop the chase recall. You can but it is hard and does take a while.
You may consider other ways of releasing his energy, have you thought about agility BT can be fab at that also maybe obedience. What this does is help to occupy his mind and so tire him out in a constructive way.

I would walk him on a lead and not let him chase when out of the garden.

If you do want to stop the chase instinct you have to channel it onto something he can chase eg a ball. He must love his ball more than anything else and you must be the one who controls when he can chase. When you get to the stage that you can throw a ball and call him away from the retrieve you know you have a dog you can let off the lead again. However it can take a while.

Excellent article here

Thanks, Minimu, will read that article in a min. I can't actually find a local agility class, but am sure it would help. He is just so active in every way.

Honestly I think we may have to give him back to his breeder. Chasing a ball seems to make him worse and reinforce the behaviour. I keep telling the kids we have got a dog we can't control, and it's not fair on him. If he went to someone who could control him, he would be happier.

Wolfmother do not blame yourself at all. BT are lovely lovely dogs but will chase. I doubt that anyone else can do any better than you are.

Here is link to borderterriertrust they have a trainer who works with BT and can give you emailed advice. She may know of a trainer locally who can help you.
borderterrierwelfare.

If they can't help I try the APDT website and they will have a trainer who could help you. link.

Don't despair your dog is not being naughty or bad just doing what Border Terriers love to do but he has to learn when he can do it! Bet he gives lovely cuddles on the sofa though

If any of those links don't help I am sure e can finf other solutions to try.