| ad_section_start --> | | | | You can run a dog until he can barely move, and |
| Obsessive compulsive dog behavior is actually a | | | | still have him be hyperactive soon thereafter - or |
| Bad Dog Behavior because it is unhealthy and | | | | in this case, spinning after his tail. His mind must |
| dangerous for the animal's psychological well being, | | | | be made to focus. For 45 minutes on a heel, he |
| and could also harm him physically. Some of this | | | | needs to have a "job," to feel useful and needed. |
| dog obsessive behavior includes chasing tail, digging | | | | Obedience with walking at a heel is his "job" and |
| dog, and barking dog. | | | | gives him the same sense of pride that we get |
| Dog obsessive behavior usually begins innocently | | | | from working every day. |
| enough, with the owner believing that Max's | | | | Okay, so you walk the dog and almost |
| chasing his tail a little more than normal dogs must | | | | immediately when you bring him home, he starts |
| be his trademark that makes him unique. | | | | tail-chasing again. So what do you do then? Simple. |
| Sometimes the owner's argument in response to | | | | Each time you catch him beginning to obsess, you |
| chasing dog tail is that the puppy is just playing, | | | | correct him (make him sit or lie down) and |
| and you don't want to make the dog lose its | | | | redirect his mind. Give him something else to do - |
| agility and flexibility. Other times, people are | | | | a ball, squeaky toy, chew, favorite toy, or such. |
| genuinely concerned but wrongly suggest that you | | | | Often it helps to add a dog backpack for high |
| cut the tail off, as though that would solve the | | | | energy dogs. Put one bottle of water on each |
| problem. It would not. The dog would just chase | | | | side to increase the efficiency of the walk. |
| its rear end in circles. The tail is not the problem! | | | | (Weight balance discipline.) If you want to get an |
| Sometimes, spinning is only a temporary | | | | idea of what kind of difference this makes, take |
| fascination of a pup, because he discovers that he | | | | a couple of light hand weights (e.g., 2 pounds |
| has a tail. Chasing dog tail is only bad when it is | | | | each) on a walk. You will feel it! |
| becoming frequent ... becoming a pattern ... leading | | | | Do not turn to drugs if they can be avoided. No |
| to a preoccupation ... to obsession ... Such is the | | | | amount of medication can treat a dog |
| case when the pup does it only when bored, and | | | | psychological problem, and in many instances, it |
| almost always when he is bored, or when he is | | | | can change the dog's personality. Some dogs turn |
| not getting your attention. | | | | aggressive. You want to help your dog's physical |
| This chasing tail problem comes from dog | | | | condition, but be careful with dosages and watch |
| boredom and not feeling useful. The dog "fixes" | | | | carefully. If you observe personality changes that |
| itself with something to do ... chasing dog tail ... | | | | start to turn your dog nasty, consult a |
| around and around .... | | | | veterinarian who understands alternative |
| The prescription for this mental issue is two | | | | treatment as well as traditional veterinary |
| forty-five walks a day, or one walk plus one | | | | medicine and the tradeoffs. |
| twenty-to-thirty-minute run with a bike, | | | | If at any time the dog starts obsessing, then |
| rollerblade, skateboard, etc. | | | | correct the unwanted behavior immediately and |
| I have heard: "I walk them, but it makes no | | | | redirect his mind. Again, make him sit or lie down |
| difference." This is because the dog is allowed to | | | | (surrender) and then send him to an assigned |
| be in front of the walk and smell whatever he | | | | spot to stay for a while with something else to |
| wants around him. He is getting exercise without | | | | do. |
| mental challenge or discipline. | | | | |