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When young dogs chase their tails, it’s often a sign of play. Suddenly they notice that protrusion from their back end and they try to catch it. Older dogs who chase their tail may be signaling something else, such as an anal gland infection, fleas or a neurological condition.
For some dogs, tail chasing becomes an obsession. This is often true in the Bull Terrier. Since Obsessive Compulsive Disorder comes out in other ways in this breed, such as playing with balls, it’s thought to be a genetic trait. These dogs will sometimes be so obsessed with their tail or ball, they won’t even stop for food. The human drug Prozac has proved to be helpful with this. Also, increasing exercise and eliminating anxiety-provoking events, such as confinement, may help. But non-compulsive chasing can just be a cry for attention – my pit bull Hudson knows he gets applause for the goofball that he is if he chases his tail and stops after getting a treat for his performance. Kelly is a pet writer. She lives in the Boston-area with her three pit bulls and one neurotic cat. |
October 23rd, 2009
Because they can!
MY DOG (POMERANIAN) IS OBCESSED WITH SQUIRRELS,,VERY OBCESSED,, SHE GOES AROUND AND AROUND AND AROUND THE TREES AND SIT AT THE STORM DOOR AND WATCHES THEM,,,,MOST OF THE TIME SHE STARTS BARKING AT THEM AND WANTS TO GO OUTSIDE SO SHE CAN TRY TO GET THEM AND CHASE THEM,,,, SHE IS WORRYING HER SELF AND OBCESSING OVER THE SQUIRRELS,,WHAT CAN I DO ?? SHOULD I CALL HER VET ??? PLEASE HELP ME,,!!!!
Any person who suggests giving their dog Prozac has lost all credibility with me!
My darling little eskimo dog (now deceased) once, in trying to get her aussie brother to play, started to prance and then circle around to try to catch her tail. She was so cute and funny that I laughed and clapped my hands. She stopped suddenly, stared at me and immediately went through the ‘dance’ again! I responded the same way. From then on, everytime she wanted to please me and make me laugh, she would deliberately do it. In her case, it was a childlike gesture
- done only to make me laugh. I know this is so because my son, as a toddler, would deliberately repeat something he had seen me laugh at. I’ve always believed that dogs CAN reason, even if some unknowing people do not.
Elizabeth –
Suze – Have you ever seen a Bull Terrier who is obsessive or has OCD? Some of them become so obsessed with chasing their tail that they stop eating and going to the bathroom. You cannot train this behavior out of the dog. Prozac is a relatively safe alternative (remember, it was tested on dogs for human consumption). I urge you to try and stop a dog with severe OCD with anything other method.
Eleanor – That’s exactly what my dog Hudson does.
Karen:
You can probably train this out of him by using distraction. You can try making a loud noise everytime he starts up or bring a favorite toy along with you and when he diverts his attention to that, give him a treat. Cesar Millan has some info, too: http://www.cesarmillaninc.com
Good luck!
- Kelly
I used to walk a Brittany Spaniel daily, and we would go to the park with a “Chuck-It”. The minute I whipped that thing out, she would spin herself in circles until I threw the ball. It’s amazing that she didn’t get dizzy and fall over!