Dogs areweird . It ’s why we love them . They like to snuff butts , pursuit sticks , and boop our legs . Some dog also like to chase their tails .
But istail chasing in dogs precious , or is it a sign of something incorrect ? We spoke with veterinary behaviorist to get the fact about why dog track their tails and what you might need to keep an centre out for .
Is It Normal for Dogs to Chase Their Tails?
So , is tail chasing something dogs just do ? The short answer is yes , but with a big caution . Dr. Leanne Lilly , a veterinary behaviorist at the Ohio State University College of Veterinary Medicine , says tail end chasing in dogscanjust be a form of looseness — but only if it ’s brief and intermittent and , generally , if your pup is still young .
“ Silly play incline to happen in young animals , ” addsDr . Julia Albright , a veterinary behaviorist . “ Puppies , up to 18 months . ”
Playful keister chasing in dogs is fairly easy to recognise , Dr. Lilly says . “ If they take one or two jump , enamour it , then let it go , ” she says , then it ’s probably play . “ But if you see a firedog who chases his tail obsessionally , to the exclusion of everything else , it ’s time to get him to a vet . ”
Some breed are more inclined than others to track their backside , Dr. Lilly adds . Bull Terriers andGerman Shepherds , in particular , are know tail pursuer .
But again , normal , harmless , playful tail chasing in dogs is a brief collar - and - release . Frequent , obsessive , or even fast-growing tail chasing and mastication is likely a sign of something more concerning .
Why Do Dogs Chase Their Tails?
If your dog is whirling around in circle dog his behind , this puzzling behavior likely raises a few doubtfulness , like : Why is my detent chasing his buttocks and biting it ? Does he think it ’s a toy dog ? What could possibly be so interesting back there ?
permit ’s look at a mates possible aroused reason and then some physical ones for heel chasing their tail .
Stress
Wilddogs and brute do n’t typically give chase their can , Dr. Lilly says , butcaptivewolves ( and some jailed big African tea , FYI ) sometimes do . This level to one of the non - play reasons dog might chase their tails : strain .
“ Dogs might do it as a coping mechanics , ” Dr. Lilly says — something to fixate on when they are feeling anxious or frustrated .
Dr. Albright aver that one of her three dogs bang to go for walking and gets foiled when he ca n’t go out . Sometimes he goes after his tail . But his defeated shadow chasing looks unlike than a dog who might have a aesculapian emergence around back . “ It ’s not frantic , ” she says , but it is distinctly her dog work off some of his stress .
OCD
Just as some humans have OCD tics , Dr. Albright says , so do weenie , and rump chasing might be one of them . She say the behavior might start up because of some kind of stressor , but continues when there is n’t anything presently emphasise the dog out . This is where the tendencies of Bull Terriers and German Shepherds to chase might derive into play . But it ’s not wise to assume your dog is chasing his tail just because his stock is more prone to do that .
Pain, Discomfort, and Medical Issues
dog-iron tailsare racy , complicated structures . They are , in fact , arm made up of vertebrae , brawn , cartilage , and nerves , and that stand for dogs ’ tails are as prone to injury , nerve damage , transmission , and disease as any other part of their bodies . “ stern botheration is a chief cause of arse chasing , ” Dr. Lilly says .
And if there is any kind of aesculapian job happening in your dog ’s tail , he might endeavor to overtake and manducate on it as a mode of treating the issue . “ A net ton of medical payoff can go to tail chasing , ” Dr. Albright says .
Some tail trouble in click can be fairly easy to address , such as :
Other reasons for tail chasing in dogs can be more serious , such as :
And because blackguard ca n’t just evidence us what they ’re feeling , some signs of behind hassle to watch out for include :
Dr. Lilly says that dog obsessively chasing their tails or overly spinning in one direction could be a sign of pain in the neck or discomfort on one side of the body , near the dog ’s hind end .
exuberant buns spinning also ( though less frequently ) could be a symptom of a deeper issue . “ There ’s always a pocket-size chance that a repetitive behavior is part of a raptus or other psychomotor disorder , ” Dr. Lilly say . It ’s why she says preferent parents should default to last to a vet and not make assumptions .
How to Stop a Dog From Chasing Their Tail
The skilful direction to stop dog from chasing their tails is to feel out why they ’re give chase them in the first place .
Our expert stress that tail chasing lasting more than 10 seconds , or in wiener older than a year or two , should be addressed medically . “ For any behaviour that ’s not normal , the veterinary is the good place to initiate , ” Dr. Lilly enunciate . “ Always go to a ex-serviceman first . ”
In other words , do n’t assume your puppy is just acting up . Let your veterinary surgeon or a veterinary behaviourist rule out more serious way out first . Once youdorule out aesculapian trouble , there are step favourite parents can take to stamp down tail chasing in dogs :
Do n’t : Encourage . There ’s a hazard your pup ’s wonted posterior chasing might actually be a way of seeking attention . If you laugh or in some other room reward your pup with attention when he whirls around chasing his backside , says Dr. Lilly , “ it ’s like yelling ‘ ice ointment ’ at a kidskin ’ party . ”
Do : Redirect . “Whenever we involve a dog to be in a different seat , ” says Dr. Albright , “ we airt . ” In the moment , mid - spin , she sound out , “ call him away , calmly . Ask him to do other things . ” If he does antic , now would be a full time to break a few out . Or maybe take a walk , or play with a toy . And if he does n’t know any john , well … maybe now you have a reason to teach him a couple .
Do n’t : airt with intellectual nourishment . Food reward are a training tool for andiron . If you offer him treats in central for not spinning , he ’ll probably figure out how to game you for post - spinny kickshaw very quickly .
Definitely Do n’t : Restrain . Dr. Albright says never seek to physically stop or restrain your dog while he ’s in the middle of chasing . It will just add to his tension and could make thing worse .
Tail Chasing in Dogs: Other Advice
Tail chasing does n’t happen in a vacuum . But it could happenbecauseof the vacancy ! In other words , stress reactions have forerunner — something that bespeak that a behaviour is about to get .
Dr. Albright says the best thing favourite parent can do is learn to greet what triggers behaviors like spinning and tail chasing in wiener . And it could be anything — the void cleaner , the mailman , gimcrack garbage motortruck , kids playing close by . Does your dog set about chasing or spinning when these thing show up in his blank space ? particularly if he is block from seeing what ’s cause him stress , or , conversely , feels he ca n’t get away from it ?
Dr. Lilly sound out preferent parents can work around these approach pattern once they recognise what actuate a bout of stressful stern chasing in dog . If you know when the garbage hand truck exhibit up , for example , perhaps leave on some music or another sound your pup likes as a way to drown out thenoiseof the truck . If you know whattimea iterate stressor hap , a food bowl with a timekeeper could school your dog to call up of the garbage motortruck or afternoon siren or postman visit as time for a snack , Dr. Lilly says . Reassociation and dodging , she tell , go a foresightful way .
The bottom line for dog parents is to give attention to your pooch ; to never assume behaviour like tail chasing are just your dog being weird ; and to see a veterinary behaviorist or vet if your dog is chase after his stern a lot .
That whole butt - sniff thing , though — you’re just gon na have to live with that one .
