How to look after your pet's teeth
90% of cats and 80% of dogs suffer from some form of dental disease.
Read more9 January 2020
This behaviour, while amusing for the most part, can become repetitive and interrupt your pets daily functioning. Petcover will take a look in to why dogs chase their tail and what you can do if it becomes a habit. There can be a number of reasons why your pup will chase their tail. Some of these reasons may be linked to underlying issues, however it can also relate to their instincts and overall playfulness.
As dogs are social animals, they rely on attention and affection from their owners. They will often do things that may garner more attention from you, which will put in their mind that this behaviour will come with a positive response. With this positive reinforcement, your pup may start chasing their tail whenever they want attention from you.
Boredom or lack of exercise resulting in a build-up of energy can lead to your pup chasing its tail. You may find your pup chasing their tail in order to exert extra energy that they have. Exercising your pup regularly will help reduce this behaviour as they are less likely to do it once they have spent all their energy on something else.
Certain breeds have a pre-disposition to compulsive behaviours like chasing their tail. For example, German Shepherds and Terriers are more likely to chase their tails. The age of your dog may also play a major role in this sudden behaviour. Puppies are more likely to chase their tail as they may not see their tail as a part of their body and therefore think of it as another toy that they want to play with. As they get older, this behaviour is most likely to stop.
If this becomes a common occurrence, there may be underlying medical issues. Your dog may have injured its tail by getting it caught in a door, or they may have an irritating skin condition or bites.
The best way to stop this kind of behaviour is by acting upon it early. This means if they do it from a young age try to get them to stop and do not encourage it.
Don’t give the behaviour any attention – just ignore it
Introduce interactive toys so they have something to distract them
If it continues, a vet check-up may be on the cards to check for any medical reason behind this behaviour. If they can’t find a problem, seeking a behavioural therapist may be your best option in order to stop this obsessive behaviour.
Petcover specialises in offering quality, straightforward pet insurance with a range of policy options that suit your needs. Whether your pet is big or small, furry or scaly our range of cover options are packed with added benefits. Accidents can happen at any time and the reality of veterinary costs can come a quite a shock. With our range of cover levels for dogs, cats, horses and exotic animals, why not get a quote today.
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