Dog Walking problem

Question
Hi Every time i walk my 18mth old Border Collie she goes into the down position whenever she hears a car coming..the car could be 200yds away but she wont get up until the car has passed.. Ive tried distracting her with treats but it not working for me..any suggestions

Answer
Thank you for asking your question.

Is this a new (or newer) behavior for your dog? If so, you may want to take her to visit the veterinarian and to be certain she has a clean bill of health so you can rule out any health concerns.

I like that you are trying to encourage her to be confident with the treats. Have you tried a variety of treats to see if there is something that she really responds to like chicken, hot dogs, liver.

If you know there is a certain distance that is "safe" I would take her to that distance and practice giving her treats there for not being afraid. Then over time, move her forward so she can understand that you are there and will keep her safe.

Fearful dogs do not suddenly become suddenly become confident. Determine in a specific manner how you want you dog to react and behave and you can make it become a reality. Remember your plan needs some flexibility too because it may take more time to achieve certain steps than others.

Avoid reinforcing fearful behavior. Petting and talking in soothing tones reinforces the behavior. A more hands-off approach will send the message that there is nothing to fear. Yawn, stretch, or  tell her there's nothing to be scared of.

Let me know if you have additional questions.

Here are some links to my web site for additional information. Good Luck!

http://outlawchinooks.com/articles.html
http://outlawchinooks.com/index.htm