Why Are Dogs Scared Of RC Cars? [Complete Guide]

RC cars seem like they can be a great source of entertainment and exercise for you and your dog, but you need to be aware of the dangers and appropriate training to make the right choice of using an RC car to play with your dog.

Why Are Dogs Scared Of RC Cars?

Dogs develop fears for objects for a variety of reasons, especially if the object is unfamiliar. An RC car is not a familiar object, your dog will be afraid of it initially. You must introduce your dog properly.

If you have a new RC car and are just beginning to introduce it to your dog, your dog might become frightened by the noise and sudden movements your RC car makes. As a result, your dog can become afraid of the RC car.

Are RC Cars Bad For Dogs?

If you use an RC car for your dog, it could be harmful due to a variety of reasons and can vary based on its size. However, if your dog is trained properly to react to an RC car, it could provide a good tool for entertainment. But while the pros may seem to outweigh the cons, it is important to be aware that RC cars may cause more harm than good.

You must remain alert to the dangers the RC car pose. If you choose to use it to play with your dog, you must do so in a very specific way including proper training and constant supervision.

Do Dogs Like To Chase RC Cars?

To determine if your dog likes to chase RC cars, it could depend on your dog’s personality and the way you use the RC car.

Is It Bad For A Dog To Chase An RC Car?

It can be a bad thing for your dog to chase an RC car.

As mentioned previously, your dog might find the RC car frightening due to its sudden speed or mechanical noise. Constantly exposing your dog to this may cause more harm than good, especially if your dog is afraid of the RC car.

Or your dog might develop an obsessive behavior concerning the RC car whenever the opportunity is present. This can be a negative thing. While this may seem cute, it can lead to dangerous situations if the dog’s obsession with the RC car leads to a life-threatening situation.

What Is An RC Car?

An RC car is short for radio-controlled car. An RC car is a miniature version of a car this is controlled remotely.

The cars come in all different sizes and shapes. They vary based on shape, color, types of wheels, power source, off-road or on-road, and types just to name a few.

RC cars are a popular hobby for many people, but it can be a costly active so being aware of a budget and researching can be helpful.

Why Do Dogs ‘Freak Out’ When They See RC Cars [But Are Not Scared Of Real Cars]?

The idea of dogs chasing cars comes from the notion that they are following their natural instinct to chase prey. But seeing an RC car, a dog can perhaps become frightened of the sudden noise and racket the RC car makes and become intimidated.

How Do I Train (Counter Condition / Desensitize) My Dog To Not Be Afraid Of RC Cars?

There is a small opportunity to introduce a dog to an RC car.

If your dog is afraid of an RC car after the period to introduce your dog to it has closed, going a food reinforced training to introduce your dog to the RC car might be the best approach.

Reward your dog with treats each time they tolerate the noise or the presence of an RC car.

With time and increasing the frequency of food treats for tolerance, you might be able to reintroduce your dog to RC cars.

At the same time, you need to consider the well-being of your dog. Is reintroducing your dog to RC cars doing more harm than good? Despite the continued exposure training and positive reinforcement, if your dog is still afraid, you consult with your vet on the best way to proceed.

What Not To Do With A Dog Who Is Afraid Of RC Cars?

You don’t want to force a dog who is afraid of RC cars to interact with them. This might create further traumatization and make matters worse for your dog.

You might have an opportunity to reinforce tolerance with your dog after missing the initial window to introduce your dog to the RC car.

Just be aware of your dog’s well-being and do what is best for your pet in the end.

Should You Comfort A Dog Scared Of RC Cars?

Yes, you should comfort a dog scared of RC cars.

If your dog is afraid of an RC car or something else, do the following:

Make sure you are not making the object of your dog’s fear worse
Use products like a Thundershirt to swaddle your pet and encourage safety and security
Expose your pet gradually in a controlled setting using positive reinforcement for behaviors
If it is a true concern of a larger issue, consult with your vet.

The well-being of your dog should be one of your highest priorities.

What Exactly About RC Cars Is My Dog Scared Of (The Look? Noise? Sounds? Vibrations?)

Dogs can be afraid of many aspects of an RC car. There is no one specific thing that dogs are afraid of. An RC car can scare dogs based on the sounds it makes, the noise it creates, the look of it, the vibrations, or a combination of all the above.

You might be able to narrow what exactly terrifies your dog but it could be one or multiple things.

My Puppy Is Terrified Of RC Cars

If your puppy is terrified of RC cars, try slowly introducing them to the toy car and using positive reinforcement with treats to reinforce the positive attribute of tolerating the RC car. You don’t want to force your dog to like RC cars.

My Dog Is Getting An Increasingly Severe Fear Of RC Cars?

If your dog is getting an increasingly severe fear of RC cars, do not try to force your dog to interact with the RC car. You will likely do more harm than good.

You can try to slowly introduce the car to your dog, but if your dog has increasing anxiety about the situation, consult with your vet. Your vet may be able to help you to determine the best steps for helping your dog conquer their fear and how to approach the issues.

Are RC Cars Dangerous To Dogs?

On the surface, RC cars appear to be a safe toy for your dogs to chase. This is due to the outer shell of the car that may hinder your dog from biting it and getting into the smaller, more choke-able parts of the car.

But no RC car is completely dog-proof.

You must maintain constant supervision while your dog plays with RC cars. Parts of an RC car can be choking hazards and other injuries might occur.

If you suspect a major issue or if you suspect your dog might have swallowed apart from the RC car, you should contact the vet or take your dog to the emergency vet.

Can & Do Dogs Destroy RC Cars?

As mentioned previously, no RC car is completely indestructible.

A dog can easily destroy an RC car. The dog might have had difficulty attacking the outer shell of an RC car, but once it gets past the rough interior, it might easily destroy something like a wire or smaller part. Even worse case

How To Dog Proof An RC Car?

You may want to invest in an RC car with a thick shell, but that could be costly in the long run.

Another solution is to use a bitter nontoxic solution like lemon juice or vinegar. Put the bitter solution on the shell of the RC car before playing with your dog.

Dog Proof RC Car Wheels/Tire

It is still a point of contention, but many believe that letting your dog play with an RC car is not a great idea. Others might argue otherwise.

But to make sure the tires of your RC car are protected, you may want to use Buggy tires for your RC car.

Buggy tires are not the only type of tires that an RC car can use. They also include:

Buggy
Truck
Short course
Truggy

In determining the type of appropriate tires for your RC car, you also need to consider,

The width of the rim
The depth of the hex slot
The radius of the tires

Buggy RC tires tend to be bulkier than regular tires and might be able to absorb a dog’s bite a bit more than regular RC tires.

Can I Use A Remote Control Car To ExeRCise The Dog?

You can use an RC dog to help exercise your dog but you need to train the dog properly first before you attempt to exercise your dog with an RC car.

An RC car can make for good exercise, allowing the dog to chase it.

Is It A Good Idea To Take An RC To The Dog Park?

Taking an RC to the dog park could be either be a good or bad experience.

Yes, taking an RC car to the dog park can be a good experience. It allows for dogs to exercise. The fence that typically surrounds a dog park will make sure the dogs stay safe and keep them from running into the roads.

However, if you use the RC car around other dogs than just your own, you can’t anticipate the reaction of the other dogs. Maybe the other dogs might react okay with it. Maybe the other dogs might be afraid of it and the commotion the RC car causes. There can also be dangers for the safety of the dogs with them running in groups chasing after the same car.

If you decide to bring your RC car to the dog park, do so cautiously and exercise safely while letting your dog play with the RC car.

Best RC Car For Dogs To Chase?

Two of the best are the

Traxxas – 36054-1- Voiture Radiocommandé – Stampede – Xl-5 – Ready To Race – Monster Truck or
The ARRMA GRANITE BLX 2WD Electric RC Monster Truck.

What it can come down to is what sort of thing you hope to achieve when playing with your dog. Take into consideration factors like your dog’s size, how fast they can run, the durability of the RC car, and budget.

References

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Radio-controlled_car

https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/why-do-dogs-chase-cars#1

Why Are Dogs Scared Of RC Cars? [Complete Guide]