Nobody likes being chased by a dog. Especially when you are skating. It is full of fun until coming across a dog. You might have encountered a situation where a dog barks at your skateboard madly. The hate of dogs for skateboards is obvious. Therefore, it is quite intriguing why do dogs hate skateboards.
Dogs are mostly calm and friendly. Normally they do not run behind cars and bikes, but they do show some peculiar attitude towards scooters and skateboards. This biased hate is a concern of many people around us. It can be extremely dangerous for skaters as well. Of course, dog bites are extremely painful. Therefore, people who skateboard should avoid interacting with such dogs. Let’s read more about the reasons behind this and how to overcome this problem.
Why Do Dogs Hate Skateboards?
Dogs hate skateboards because of the sharp sound that they hear when a skateboarder passes by. They hate the noise of the skateboard, or they are scared of it. Some dogs run behind the skateboards because they find it threatening. However, it is equally dangerous for both the skaters and the dogs. Skaters can get serious injuries because of such behavior of dogs toward them. Here you will see some possible reasons why dogs chase skateboards.
- Chasing Nature
Dogs usually have the urge to run after moving objects. When a person skateboarding dashes past the dogs, their prey drive activates in the blink of an eye. Sometimes, the owner loses control over it and runs into a big problem.
Many dogs find it attractive and joyful to follow moving things. So, they become used to it and do not stop even when the owner is forcing them to.
Dogs are intelligent but not enough to know that chasing can put them in trouble. They can get severe injuries in case of a crash.
This urge to prey is specifically true for dangerous hunter breeds of dogs. They are trained to hunt the mobile target specifically. It is not advisable to bring such breeds to public places, especially in skating parks. They can be extremely dangerous for skaters.
- The Sharp Noise
Skateboards make a lot of noise when they roll on a rough surface such as bumpy grounds and roads asphalt. This sound irritates or agitates them. Some dogs manage to stay calm and do not pursue them. While some hurriedly run to overcome their anxiety. Ultimately hurting them badly.
Dogs being highly sensitive animals would panic over this rushing loud sound. Their curiosity would activate the fight or flight response in them. Consequently, dogs shoot to fight back. That is the reason they get wild when they see a skateboard passing by. In other words, you can say dogs hate noise more than the skateboard itself.
- Threatening Object
Dogs are usually protective animals who can sense danger and threats coming from far-off places. Dogs being unaware of a skateboard, see them as a threat to their families and themselves. Hence, they attack innocent skaters to guard their owners.
Usually, dogs are afraid of noisy vehicles. Dogs who run behind cars and cycles are more likely to chase skateboards too. It is in their instinct to be scared of such things. Therefore, the act of getting mad is a sign of fear. The fear can lead to anxiety problems in dogs. If you feel such symptoms, read the next section of this article.
Want to train your dog to skate? Here are the Best Skateboards For Dogs.
Anxiety Signs in Dogs
It is important to know whether your dog is afraid of the skateboards, or he is just angry. Not being aware of what exactly happens to your dog can make the situation even worse. Keep a check on the behavior when the skateboard passes by your dog. Here are some common signs of fear in dogs:
- Barking constantly at the object
- Pupils dilated
- Tail tucked between the legs
- Obscure hair shedding
- Shaking around skateboard
If you observe any such attitude in your dog, do not try to yell at them. This will make the problem worse. The dog may get stressed if you try to suppress them in such a situation.
The situation is commonly seen in dogs who have less interaction with humans and objects around them. You need to be more empathetic to your dog to eliminate this fear. Otherwise, you may run into a problem when walking outside with your dog.
To remove the aggressive interaction of dogs with a skateboard, read the next section of this article. A detailed training process is there to bring you out of this troublesome situation.
How to Avoid the Hateful Interaction?
Now you know where this anxiety came from. The next thing you might be looking for is its solution. Of course, there are ways to desensitize your dog to the skateboards. When people don’t follow the right way of training their dogs, they end up wasting their time. This might be the last thing anyone would want as a dog owner. Hold on with this article and you will find out how to fix the barking and aggression issues.
Here are the easy steps to lessen the hate between your dog and the skateboards.
Avoid Extra Skateboard Interaction
If your dog shows a severe reaction to the skateboards, avoid confronting them with skateboards. Remember this is the first and temporary step of the training. This is important if you experience skateboards more often around your area. Not only your dog will be calm but also it will save skaters from the hustle.
Try to keep your dog indoors in this initial stage of training. Otherwise, change the direction of any skateboard that approaches you while walking. Try not to go to places such as skate parks etc.
Make Right Distraction
To eliminate the negative association with skateboards, try to refrain from the interaction as much as possible. When you find a skateboard rider passing by, distract your dog with its favorite toy. You can divert its attention to some other activities happening around as well. This is the best way to be safe from any inevitable mess.
Another way to avoid your dog’s interference with the skateboard is by training it to calm down. Ask your dog to sit, and stay calm when a skateboard passes by. You can also offer them a treat if they behave well. This is quite an effective way of growing a positive attitude toward skateboards.
Friendly Connection With Skateboards
Bring a skateboard home and put that in some corner. The dog will get used to it. This is extremely important to reduce the fear of skateboarding. The more generally your dog sees the skateboard, the less it will be afraid of it. Make sure your dog starts interacting with that skateboard at home first. Your dog will not show an intense reaction toward skateboards outside.
The step requires patience. Don’t make your dog run behind the skateboards much, as it will do the same outside. This step is just to remove the fear and make a friendly interaction with skateboards.
Train for the Skateboard Noise
Once the fear disappears, try to introduce the dog to the skateboard’s noise. Move the skateboard slightly around the dog. You can also use sound effects at a mild level at the start. Command your dog to sit, and stay calm when the sound plays. Give a treat when the dog behaves well. When he gets made, don’t give a treat at all. This is the last probable solution to train a dog for good behavior.
Another possible way is to ask someone to ride the skateboard slightly near your dogs. Ask your dog to sit down and give him a treat if he does so. That way, the dog will learn to sit down every time he encounters a skater.
The goal is only achievable if you stay calm and have extreme patience. But the results are trustworthy. Keep on working until your dog learns to stay calm around skateboards.
Lastly, you can make the interaction more often. Bring your dogs to skate parks or streets. Try to sit far from the skating area. This is a healthy way to reduce anger. Remember to keep rewarding your dog for his positive attitude every time. Your dog will stop hating the skateboards eventually.
Conclusion
Skateboards aren’t scary at all, but the dogs find them scary. It is natural to ask why do dogs hate skateboards. The answer is either they are afraid of the clunky noise, or they chase the moving objects.
The solution is not to lose nerves and start with the initial step of training. The dogs are easily tamed. Introduce your dog to skateboards in a friendly manner and boom! The fear goes away.
We have tried to answer all your concerns about why dogs go wild around the skateboard. Stay with us for more interesting articles about skateboards.