Tuesday, May 3, 2011

The Reason Your Puppy Chases His Tail

By Wendon Lee


It really is one of the silliest looking things your puppy dog can do, but there is certainly the fact is nothing funny about your puppy chasing his own tail. There was a time when this behavior was dismissed as just the silly antics of a maybe bored puppy. Today it is considered a sign of compulsive behavior (yes, puppies can suffer from compulsive disorders just as human beings do). Although some instances are so mild that the puppy's owner might not even notice it as unusual behavior, some cases can be so extreme the puppy dog does small all day but frantically turn around in tight circles. Such puppies harm themselves psychologically by becoming withdrawn and can even harm themselves physically if they basically catch their tail in the grip of their teeth. Clearly you would like to halt that behavior prior to the results turn out to be that severe.

Like many behavior issues in puppies, some breeds chase their tails far more than other dogs. Bull terriers and German Shepherds are especially prone to it, which suggests genetics may possibly be involved. But compulsive disorders can also be triggered by stresses in the dog's life. In the event you can locate those stresses and lower or remove them, your puppy in turn may well have much less of an impulse to chase his tail.

A few of the stresses connected with tail chasing include confinement and its counterpart isolation. A German Shepherd left alone in a kennel for significant stretches of time might really properly turn into a tail chaser. The very first step to putting an end to the behavior is to right away put an end to the confinement. But do not quit there. Do proactive things that will let your doggie, properly, be a puppy dog and not a prisoner.

Get your puppy outdoors where he can chase and fetch and discover the world to his young puppy heart's content. Fill his life with enriching, puppy-appropriate activity and exercise and stimulation, and genuinely involve him within your life, the life of your family, and also the community around him. Not surprisingly, this is recommended treatment for any doggie within your care. But inside the case of a tail chaser, it could mean the difference between the alleviation of his compulsive disorder or its reinforcement.

In case the behavior continues despite all your efforts above, it truly is time to take him to a veterinary behaviorist. He could prescribe the same anti-obsessional drug prescribed to human beings. He is also likely to suggest other techniques to help with the tail-chasing that has your young puppy and you going around in circles.




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