dog charges at cars that drive by-WHY? (noise, stop, work)

[nicolepsy]

i am wondering why all of a sudden my little chi charges at any cars that drive by. this is brand new behavior and since this is my first dog i'm hoping someone can help me understand what the heck is going on?
thanks to all who respond.
p.s. also, how to stop this behavior? please?

[kelly3120]

Originally Posted by nicolepsy

i am wondering why all of a sudden my little chi charges at any cars that drive by. this is brand new behavior and since this is my first dog i'm hoping someone can help me understand what the heck is going on?
thanks to all who respond.
p.s. also, how to stop this behavior? please?

it might just be discoverying it's surroundings and cars trigger it's mind.
I don't know its age, so I am not sure.

Before a car comes step infront of our dog and block the vision. Then ask it for a trick or something in place of the car noise. ...it takes a while but you can redirect the dog to think about you when the cars go by if you practice this enough.

[Keeper]

My Jack russell did that when we would go on walks, he also would do run at bikes. He scared me to death the first time as I was sure he was going to get run over.
I started making him sit when I saw/heard a car or a bike. I would also give him a treat for sitting.
I don't know why he started doing it either, but the sitting worked.