How to Train Your Dog to Stop Chasing His Tail

Hello Riccardo, I suggest consulting a veterinary behaviorist (someone who is trained both medically and in behavior modification). Tail chasing can be an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Certain breeds, including German Shepherds, are more prone to it than others. The OCD can be triggered by excitement, anxiety, boredom or imbalanced Serotonin and Dopamine levels. If he receives attention when he does it, like people laughing, then he might also be doing it for attention. Finally, it could be a sign of a medical issue in the bum region, such anal glands that are impacted, worms, or other itching and soreness he has trouble reaching. To deal with the tail chasing, you need to first determine what's causing it or triggering it, then work with your vet (if purely medical, like worms), or a veterinary behaviorist to deal with underlying causes while also implementing training at the same time. Just treating the medical side or just treating the action of chasing alone may not be enough, both need to be addressed, unless it's simply due to worms or anal glands. A veterinary behaviorist with experience with OCD and repetitive type behaviors will be the most likely to be able to help you determine the underlying cause and implement a behavior modification protocol based on what's causing it. Check out the article that I have linked below for a bit more information on tail chasing and causes: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Terry, I suggest consulting a veterinary behaviorist (someone who is trained both medically and in behavior modification). Tail chasing can be an Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Certain breeds, including German Shepherds, are more prone to it than others. The OCD can be triggered by excitement, anxiety, boredom or imbalanced Serotonin and Dopamine levels. Some puppies grow out of tail chasing and simply do it for fun. German Shepherds are more genetically prone to it, so it might be worth contacting your vet or a veterinarian behaviorist now to see if there is something medical of phycological going on. If he receives attention when he does it, like people laughing, then he might also be doing it for attention. Finally, it could be a sign of a medical issue in the bum region, such anal glands that are impacted, worms, or other itching and soreness he has trouble reaching. Since he tends to do it just during times of excitement that is less likely though. To deal with the tail chasing, you need to first determine what's causing it or triggering it (excitement triggers it), then work with your vet (if purely medical, like worms), or a veterinary behaviorist to deal with underlying causes while also implementing training at the same time. Just treating the medical side or just treating the action of chasing alone may not be enough, both need to be addressed, unless it's simply due to worms or anal glands. A veterinary behaviorist with experience with OCD and repetitive type behaviors will be the most likely to be able to help you determine the underlying cause and implement a behavior modification protocol based on what's causing it. Check out the article that I have linked below for a bit more information on tail chasing and causes: https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Karen, First, I suggest stimulating pup more mentally. You can food pup part of her kibble our of dog food stuffed chew toys and durable puzzle toys. Incorporate training into routine exercise, like heeling, Sit, Down, and Stay periodically during a walk, and Wait, down, Sit, Stay, during fetching games. I also suggest having a 30 minute training session with pup each day that you can, for the purpose of exercising her mentally - mental exercise has been proven to tire a dog twice as much as physical exercise alone, and the right type can help release calming chemicals in the brain. During these sessions you want her to be slightly challenged by practicing new things or slightly harder versions of current commands as she improves to keep things interesting and a little tiring - this has the benefit of also gaining a well trained dog. Finally, before resorting to amputating, if pup is still bothering the tail and measures with your vet are not effective alone, I suggest hiring a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues like fear, aggression, and obsessive compulsive behaviors (which might be what's going on here), and is very knowledgeable with e-collar training, to work on low level e-collar training, to interrupt the chewing, then redirect pup to something more appropriate to chew, like a dog food stuffed chew toy right after. You want pup to learn that chewing the tail is unpleasant now (she might view it as rewarding right now since obsessive compulsive behaviors can feel self - rewarding to the dog), and then the chew toy is a pleasant alternative instead. This needs to be done with someone who understands behavior and how to train at a dog's "working level" which is a term they should understand to mean the lowest level on the e-collar that a dog will respond to the collar at. If they don't know that term, they likely aren't familiar enough with e-collar training. You may also need to speak with your vet about pup wearing a cone for a couple of weeks, since pup may be chewing at it now due to irritation from past chewing, making it continuously itchy. You will need to break that cycle by preventing pup from chewing it for long enough to allow it to heal, using something like a cone temporarily. This will likely only be part of the solution, since the behavior may be habit now, but it is one important part of the solution. I would recommend with your vet's approval, a couple weeks of the the cone (or however long they recommend), then begin the training with a trainer as soon as the cone comes off, so that you are starting with a healed tail and don't have that working against you. I am not a vet, so consult your vet for any medical advice. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

Hello Izel, I recommend hiring a professional trainer who specializes in behavior issues and understands e-collar training well. I recommend using low level e-collar stimulation with professional help, to interrupt pup for any obsessing about the tail. I also highly recommend providing pup with lots of mental stimulation to help with any obsessive fixating on it - such as practicing regular training sessions, incorporating obedience into heeling walks and games with pup, like fetch, feeding pup their food via dog food stuffed Kongs, puzzle toys, kong wobbles and similar things. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden