| Dogs develop fixations for many reasons, often | | | | fixation. A fixation goes beyond normal dog |
| as a result of a lack of exercise, or maybe he | | | | behavior and becomes an obsession that is not |
| becomes obsessed with chasing a ball because he | | | | only extremely annoying, but a problem for the |
| never gets a walk. One of first steps to helping a | | | | dog. For dogs, obsessions and fixations can |
| dog overcome an obsession is to increase his | | | | become as seriously harmful as addictions are for |
| exercise. Obsessive and fixated behaviours can | | | | humans. When we laugh at a dog that is fanatical |
| develop because of lack of leadership or just | | | | over a bone, a ball or toy, a shaft of light, a |
| boredom. | | | | game of fetch, or the neighbor's cat, it's like |
| A fixation is literally an addiction or obsession. | | | | laughing at someone who is falling-down drunk. |
| Many dogs with one fixation usually have other | | | | Sure, his behavior looks comical at the moment, |
| fixations for example squirrels, cats, bikes, lorries, | | | | but the truth is, he's truly got no physical or |
| push-chairs, lights, Frisbees, shadows, roller blades, | | | | psychological control over himself. Someday, he |
| toys, food, water, chasing their tails or licking their | | | | may really hurt himself and those around him. |
| bodies. It could be anything. Just because a dog | | | | That's exactly what obsessive behavior is to a |
| likes to play fetch does not mean he has a | | | | dog - an addiction. |