Kenzi is good on the leash. She pulls a little but settles after a bit. Doesn't dart off and try to drag me every time she sees something else now and up until about last week she didn't double back on the leash, but suddenly when we are on our runs and a car goes by she will slam on the brakes, double back, and turn directly into me. While when it first started it was annoying it has become something far worse after tonight when she turned head first into my knee and shoved my knee cap somewhere onto the side of my leg, and effectively bit her tongue hard enough she was bleeding. She yelped, I yelped and that was the end of our run.

When a car comes we are always on the opposite side of the road and usually completely up into neighboring yards on the other side of the ditch even. When we first started running the ditch was far enough for her. She would let me be between her and the car and she would watch it pass and carry on. Now I completely stop with her, have doubled the distance between us and the car, and she is getting to see the car coming in advance but it's like the car sneaks up on her. I'm not sure how to get her past this new found fear or whatever it is. Do I need to start all over with leash training even though she's fine with everything else? We take her to car shows all the time and we own race cars so she's used to loud engines and vehicles moving around, but it's all different when we are out running. We don't live on a real busy road. Only one maybe two cars might come by on a run but one time running me over hard enough we both cry is more than enough on a given night. Any advice is really appreciated. We are going to really hurt each other at this rate.

Knee is swollen and bruised today, but at least Kenzi bounced back fast. Though a small part of me wishes her headache would linger if it would teach her a lesson.

bump! I have no advice, but hopefully somebody else will! Sheba has been doing this too, but only on normal walks. I'm waiting for her to grow up a little bit more before running with her (she is SO dainty!!), but I don't want anything like that to happen to me!! EEK!

Does she do it when your walking too or just running?

I would go somewhere a little busier, if you can, and try to desensitize her a little bit. Try just walking her in a place with a few more cars and bring some treats. Start off at a distance where she feel comfortable and have her sit when a car passes and treat. Slowly work your way closer to the cars and then work your way up to walking as they pass and then running as they pass.

I did this with Pippa, because she was terrified of buses and garbage trucks, but she's better with them now. She's still a little uneasy, but she doesn't instantly cower and try to dart away anymore.

Have you tried using a Gentle leader? I have used one and it really helps in stopping the pulling and she is unable to double back without a lot on concentrated effort. Be very careful in using it though there are ways of hurting the dog in the usage, but it used correctly it works wonders. We use it at Orlando Dog training Club for all of our beginner-intermediate Obedience classes. I am a trainer there.

Carry some treats in your pocket when you run and when you see a car approaching start treating her for looking at it. Try and do it the whole duration as it passes. If you can get something extra delicious into your pocket for when it gets close and she usually freaks, that would be great. This is called the "Look at that" game or commonly abbreviated as LAT and is a great tool especially with a reactive dog like my Aussie but its uses are really endless. We have seen a remarkably turnaround with his behavior using LAT and other force free methods. I wouldn't use the gentle leader, this is a trigger issue not a walki issue. I would be nervous about her hurting her neck when she snaps back on the gentle leader.

Thanks guys. I will attempt treats when we can get back at it. She will do it on walks as well though I've been just stopping with her lately. We were at a full stop when she got me this last time. I think it may have something to do with the speed of the vehicles. I take her to car shows and cruise-ins and she does fine around all the hustle and bustle there. I've never used a gentle leader. Her leash loops under her front legs and around her chest. She's bad about trying to back out or slip other collars when she gets worked up. I will try to get her out and work on desensitizing. When I first got her she was okay with cars on the road. She was sure to give them a wide spread but she didn't do this. It just seems so sudden and I have to wonder if I've done something to cause it, but can't figure out what.