My dog's becoming a chaser

[shoeey]

Dear all, I wonder if anyone has some good tips for helping me with my seven-year-old JR.
We lived in the countryside until the past year and she was used to spending the day at my parents', going out with the horses and generally hanging on the yard, while I was at work.
Now we live int he town she gets an hour/45 mins in the morning, access to a small garden all day (and company from my other half who works from home), a half hour walk around 5pm and another of the same length last thing.
But I think she's bored and is acting a little strangely for her.
My OH likes to take her running with him but she's stopped running and just hangs behind, and sometimes tries to hoof it home.
However when I walk her she gets very excited about runners and runs up to them barking - which some find a bit upsetting!
She does not do it all the time and never does it when being walked by him.
She has also developed a real fear of German Shepherd dogs - no other breed it's wierd. And she thinks attack (wild barking) is the best form of defence.
She is quite a lazy type of dog usually
Sorry this is so long.
Any advice?

 

[CorvusCorax]

I'd keep her on a lead until you get it sorted.
To be honest, I'd be slowing her down a bit if she is making for home as she obviously isn't enjoying it.
My bitch isn't a big fan of exercise and tries to bomb off home when she gets bored or stressed. I keep her on a lead because I do not want her to get run over or come across livestock. She is almost two and she will be exercised whether she likes it or not!!!

When on the lead your girl will be easier to control. If she heads for a jogger, your OH should check her with a sharp tug on the lead and a firm 'NO' and when her attention returns to him he should make a fuss and reward her with a treat or a ball.

Same goes for the dog thing. Funnily, JRTs always 'start' my two GSDs.
I know I can hang on to my pair but the next one you meet may be very determined and launch a counter-attack, I know my two don't take to kindly to it.
Again, reward her for having her attention on you and rebuke her firmly for showing aggression to other dogs, it's not worth her getting hurt.

 

[maxapple]

My JR went through a bit of an 'asbo' stage when he was a puppy - so much so that we got a dog trainer out for advice!! He thought our dog, Charlie' was bored which is why he was being naughty ... so that could be the problem with your girl too?

We tried quite a few things during the day to occupy his mind. We 'hid' bits of food (cheese & bits of very smelly chopped up sausage from Lidl!), bought a 'treat' ball that he had to work to get food out of, and we did at least 30 mins of training with him at night .... agility / games / tricks that really required hin to think. It really did the trick and he's now really settled.

JR's are very clever dogs so I'd guess that even though she has access to your garden there's not enough to stimulate her during the day. Perhaps try some of the stuff above to see if it works.

Good luck!