Why do dogs chase their tails?
A dog chasing its tail is one of the typical traits people associate with owning furry friends. The image of a dog chasing its tail can be comical and is often associated with ‘zoomies’. But why do they do this? What triggers this behaviour in your pets? In this article, we will provide all of the information you need regarding dogs chasing their tails, giving you info on the potential reasons as to why your dog may chase its tail, whether any conditions can trigger the behaviour, and whether or not you should step in when your dog is chasing their tail.
Why do dogs chase their tails?
There are many different reasons why a dog may chase its tail. It can be hard to actually pinpoint the exact reason your dog will begin to chase its tail, or why they may do it sometimes and not others. This is because the behaviour can be related to many different factors, and sometimes, is not due to any behaviour at all. Here are some of the reasons as to why your dog may begin to chase its tail. It is important to note that there may actually be no reason as to why your dog starts to chase their tail, they simply may find it fun!
Reasons
Could a dog’s age affect chasing tails?
Age can play a role in why a dog may chase its tail. Most commonly, young dogs and puppies will chase their tails as a form of play, whereas older dogs may begin to chase their tails as an indication of a potential medical/mental condition.
Could my dog chase its tail because it’s feeling playful?
Play is perhaps the most common reason why a dog may chase their tails. This is most common in younger dogs. When they get excited they will begin to play, when dogs get overstimulated they may do things out of the ordinary
Could my dog chase its tail because of fleas and ticks?
This may be the case. A dog that has an irritating flea or worm on its tail may appear to be chasing its tail as a form of play, however, it may actually be trying to catch its tail to relieve the irritation of the flea or tick.
Could my dog chase its tail because it’s bored?
This is similar to a dog chasing its tail for play. When a dog is bored, or when they have not been stimulated thoroughly, it may begin to chase its tail as a form of entertaining itself. This will stimulate them for a short time, however, a bored dog is an unhappy dog.
Could my dog chase its tail because it wants attention?
Dogs can be very needy. Dog owners will be very aware of this. Some dogs will require regular attention and may use rather extreme measures to get it. Your dog chasing its tail when you are not paying it attention may be a sign that they are looking for your undivided attention
Conditions
Is a dog chasing its tail a sign of something more serious?
When your dog is chasing its tail you may just assume that they are playing, however, it may actually be a sign that something could be up with your dog. Dogs will sometimes chase their tail when they have certain health conditions, or when they have something mentally going wrong in their brains.
Could my dog chase its tail because of anxiety?
Your dog can certainly chase its tail because of anxiety. When your dog is feeling anxious it may show behaviour that is completely out of its character, this can involve chasing its tail. Your dog may become anxious for many different reasons. They can become anxious because they need exercise, or because have been left alone for long periods of time.
Could my dog chase its tail because of a compulsive behaviour disorder?
Compulsive behaviour disorder is a condition that can cause dogs to become obsessed with certain behaviour. This could be all manner of things, including obsessive tail chasing. When your dog is obsessed with chasing its tail this could be a sign of all manner of different conditions or behaviours.
How to treat compulsive behaviour in dogs?
When your dog is showing signs of compulsive behaviour there are a few things you can do to change this. A few things that you can do in order to change your dog’s compulsive behaviour include:
Increase exercise - This should keep your dog stimulated, and should tire them out if they are restless.
Increase positive reinforcement - If your dog is quiet and not chasing its tail, praise it and give it a treat
Remove negative reinforcement - If your dog compulsively chases its tail then you should make sure not to laugh when it does so, and should not encourage it to continue doing it.
Should I stop my dog from chasing its tail?
If your dog cannot stop chasing its tail and you suspect that it is compulsive behaviour then you may wish to stop your dog from chasing its tail when it does so. Never do this aggressively, and always ensure that you praise your dog when they are showing the behaviour you want.
Sources
https://www.purina.co.uk/articles/dogs/behaviour/understanding-dogs/why-dogs-chase-tails
https://pets.webmd.com/dogs/guide/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails
