Theories that explain why dogs bark and chase cars
- Dogs will chase anything that runs away from them. It is an inborn instinct. That is why people say ‘when you see a dog; do not run away from them’.
- Dogs come from the family of wolves and coyotes’. Though dogs are not as wild or harmful, they have the same instinct of hunting down a prey. Chasing is a natural hunting behaviour inbuilt in dogs. That is why dogs also chase balls or squirrels.
- Some dogs mark their territories by peeing on car tyres for a sense of recognition of other dogs in that area. So if a new car enters the area, dogs smell a different scent and feel someone else is entering their territory.
- Not every dog runs behind cars. Next time you are in a car and a dog is chasing you, stop and see what he does. Most probably he will lose interest once you stop.