My mum has a border collie she is now 2 years old but since she was about a year old she started to chase cars although she is always kept under controll this is a habbit she wants to get her out of for the safty of the dog and others who may be affected if she were to get loose , mum thinks maybe the problem arose from having workmen on the land with their vans and maybe this upset her

I dont know what you could do with it to stop it. This behaviour seems to be quite common in borders. Maybe something to do with the herding instinct.

You could change its name to Rover 2000 Just a joke. Wish I could help you. Perhaps some form of training like herding to allow its natural instinct some freedom. Just a thought. I dont know much about the breed.

Good luck Mick.

My 14 week-old Border Collie pup has started to try chasing cars since she began walking on the lead. I religiously carried her everywhere before she was "safe" to get her used to traffic, but it obviously looks so different from her level now and it seems her herding instincts have appeared early. Apparently this instinct, if it's going to appear, develops anywhere from a few weeks to a year old, which seems to fit with your mum's dog. You may find "Understanding The Border Collie" by Carol Price helpful. She covers the background to why collies chase and suggests how to try to break the habit, which may not be easy in a dog who has been chasing for a year, and will need persistence. When a car passes Abby now, I get her attention to do some heel-work, and as long as I have her attention she doesn't even glance at the passing traffic. As our walk continues she shows less interest in the cars. However we have to start from scratch on each walk, but it's only been a couple of weeks, her walks past traffic aren't long yet, and it's an instinct I'm trying to get through so I'm not expecting miracles overnight.
I know the consequences of a collie getting loose to chase a car doesn't bear thinking about. Good luck to your mum. I'm sure she'll get there.
LynnT

Hi yes this is down to the collies work instinct it moves so it must be herded:D But as Mick and Lynn rightly say the consequences of herding cars doesn't bear thinking about Lynn's solution with Abby is the one I would use with a bc .Find a fairly wide pavement beside a resonably busy road and get the dog to do obedience. Heelwork, sit, down,obviously all on lead.Any interest in cars tell a sharp firm no and bring attention back to you.Anytime she ignores a car extra praise for her work and continue on with the obedience training.It may take awhile as the habit has become ingrained but by occupying her with the obedience and being consistant with the praise when she behaves as you want she should learn to ignore the traffic.Gillian

My border collie has never shown any interest in cars or bikes but she does run up to people and dogs twice her size barking madly. I think Id prefere her to be interested in cars as it can be quite embarrassing!
Elaine

Abby is the first of my collies to show any interest in cars so it's a new experience for me. She still has time to develop the running up and barking thing:D
Lynn x