I have a different answer than Greg has. I think this saying refers to the fact that dogs chase cars, and they act very "tough" when they chase them, but they never actually catch cars. What would a dog do if it actually caught a car? Answer: It wouldn't know what to do. The dog would be unable to hurt or defeat the car, so all of the chasing turns out to be pointless. So, the idea of a "dog who caught the car" refers to a person who is pursuing some goal that he/she cannot enjoy or take advantage of, even if the goal is achieved.