Dog Chasing Own Tail...

hudsonw

hudsonw

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Hi, I have a 5 month old collie that chases his own tail.

It's almost as if he forgets it's attached to him...He stalks his tail, pounces and either spins round trying to chase it until he falls over dizzy or runs around with it in his mouth.
He's got toys all around the house, he goes for 3 long walks everyday, we play with him, he's got food and water. He has treats and is generally a very happy dog.
He doesn't chew his tail.
He'll do this 3 or 4 times a day.
Is this normal?
He'll even do it sometimes on his walk...is he just attention seeking?
Should we discourage it or just leave him too it?
 
You really, really, really need to nip this in the bud, it is negative, useless behaviour.
It's not cute and it's not funny and it is one of the behaviours I really hate to see (and I have sympathy, having owned a fence-runner - it's a similar thing. Your dog is occupying/entertaining/calming itself down with this obsessive behaviour.

He is young enough for you to break it - and break it you must.

Get him into an obedience class or agility class as soon as he is old enough (no excessive jumping before twelve months. Even a herding class, ANYTHING.

Instead of rigorous exercise and three long walks (he's only five months, think about his joints) give him brain exercise, make him find things, work things out, give him something to occupy his brain.

ALWAYS distract him or make a sharp noise if you catch him doing it. Never let him work himself up into a frenzy. Remain calm and NEVER turn it into a game or give any sort of positive attention.
Take him out, play ball, hide his favourite toy. Just make sure he stops it.
I would also confine a dog that does this, in a crate/trailer compartment etc, to create a small, dark, comfortable environment.

You could also try a DAP diffuser or Rescue Remedy in water.

I know I probably sound like a doom monger but I know of two adult females who had to be PTS for this, one who all but ate through her own tail through a muzzle.

He's young enough, good luck x
 
Wowzers, i didn't realise it was so serious.

I've just this second spoken with my vet and he said he's just doing for attention. I need to distract him when he first does it and then ignore if he carries on so he doesn't associate getting attention by doing the behavior.

He's suggested some rice in a bottle to shake if he goes for his tail and then give him a toy to play with??? However he said he'll probably grow out of it.

He goes to the vets once a month for a check up and will do up until he's 12 months. He gets weighed, teeth check, body check etc and the vet knows his exercise routine and is happy with what he does and has never said anything about his joints.

I've got another post at the moment about castration and the vet has recommended waiting for another few months before he does the op but does recommend getting it done :)

Thanks for your advice.
 
The bitches I knew who did it, didn't do it for attention, they did it because it was an obsessive behaviour and you could have let off a cannon beside them and they would have kept doing it :( but they were a lot older and it was more ingrained, it is a weakness of nerve that makes a lot of dogs behave in this way and if they are not occupied or distracted it can become their whole 'life's work'.

Your vet is correct in terms of distracting him BEFORE he grabs his tail (after is too late sometimes) and then rewarding him when the focus is back on you.

Your vet is your vet but I know quite a few youngsters who are broken because they were over excersised as youngsters - just because they CAN do it, doesn't mean they should. Free running in several bursts is fine at five months but I would not put a lot of road work, running and jumping, high impact activity on a dog of that age.

But like I say, I'm probably being a drama queen :p
 
Not being a drama queen at all CC, it is a very serious ocd behahaviour ,and can become so compulsive the dog goes potty and needs PTS.SO BREAK the habit NOW!
 
Definitely not being a drama queen, I have known of a couple of tail chasers, in both cases owners struggled to keep weight on them, and the dogs at best had sore tails, at worst an open wound on their tails.:(
 
CaveCanem said:
....... nip this in the bud, it is negative, useless behaviour.......

.......Instead of rigorous exercise and three long walks (he's only five months, think about his joints) give him brain exercise, make him find things, work things out, give him something to occupy his brain........
Click to expand...

Exactly this. Never allow such puppies to entertain themselves.

Alec.
 
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