Why do dogs chade their tails?

Most dogs, at some time in their lives, will chase their tails. A puppy may be lying quietly, with nothing particular to do, nothing claiming his attention at the moment, when suddenly, out of the corner of his eye, he sees something move. He tries to grab it. It springs away. He tries to catch it. The chase is on!

Tail-chasing is normal with puppies. It is especially noticeable when they've first been separated from their litter mates. They don't realize that the tail they're chasing now, can only belong to themselves.

The problem arises when the behaviour persists into adulthood and becomes excessive. There are several possible causes, some of which the owner can correct, others which will require a veterinarian's attention.

Dogs are social animals and they crave attention from their owners. Of course, positive attention is best, but negative attention is better than none at all. What happens when your dog chases his tail? Do you laugh? Do you call others' attention to him? Do you offer another activity to distract him? Even if you scold him, he's getting attention.

The remedy in this case is to completely ignore the chasing behaviour. Instead, praise him and give him treats when he's quiet, or behaving in an acceptable manner. Alert family members to do the same.

Sometimes sheer boredom can cause a dog to chase its tail. Is your pet getting enough exercise? Is he spending too much time confined in a small space? Some dogs have so many restrictions placed on their behaviour that there's few opportunities for normal canine activities. Some of these unfortunate dogs will chase their tails until they're tired enough to fall asleep.

Anxiety can be another cause of tail-chasing. Humans may bite their finger nails, or twist a lock of hair. Dogs may chase their tails. Is anything different in your pet's routine or environment? Has a favourite person gone away? Is there a new baby in the family? Try to pinpoint when the excessive tail-chasing began. What happened around that time? What changed in the dog's life?

There may be an underlying medical condition which is irritating the tail, the hind quarters or the anal area. The dog may be attempting to address the origin of his discomfort. There may be fleas or ticks on his tail. He may need to be de-wormed. Check for a rash, which could be related to an allergy, on his hind quarters.

Some dogs may have neurological conditions, such as seizures related to psychomotor epilepsy, or compulsive disorders. These can usually be controlled with medication, but it must be prescribed by a veterinarian. Make an appointment and be ready to give the following information about your pet.

The vet will ask about the frequency and duration of the chasing episodes, and the intensity of the behaviour. If your dog is a new patient, s/he will want to know its medical history. He will also inquire whether you know of similar behaviour in closely related dogs. The more information he has, the more accurate the diagnosis will be, and the more effective the treatment.

Dogs are good friends and valued family members. Like humans, they sometimes have bad habits, illnesses, or psychological problems which need to be addressed. They can't tell what's troubling them or where it hurts like human friends and other family members can. They are completely dependent on their owners to care for them and preserve their health and well-being.

Anyone who owns a dog but who is unwilling to accept responsibility for its health and well-being, is unworthy of the privilege of owning a pet.