Tail Chasing Obsession | Cesar Millan

Dear Cesar:

We have a ten-year-old lab/pit bull mix. He is house broken and can do a few tricks. The only problem is he LOVES to chase his tail. Whenever someone comes into the house, or even if there is any loud noise, he chases and chases and chases until he catches his tail. He can walk down the hall with it in his mouth and even climb into his chair.

He came from the shelter about eight years ago, and I thought this was a behavior he did there to keep himself occupied. Can you help?

Lois Harvey

Dear Lois,

For dogs, some habits can be harder to break than others. In my experience, a dog chasing its tail is often a sign of boredom. Sometimes, it can just be a physical reaction to excitement. Based on your description, I'm leaning towards excitement. If this behavior is causing your dog physical health problems, then I suggest you remedy the problem by using a correction method that is both calm-assertive and humane. Remember, timing is everything, which means you have only a few seconds to correct the behavior as soon as its displayed. Otherwise, it may be too late for him to connect his actions with your corrections. Hopefully, with a little practice, he can learn to bite a chew toy as a substitute behavior for possibly harming himself by biting his own tail.

Stay calm and assertive,

Cesar Millan

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Tue, 08/17/2010 - 6:11pm — jvuicich

(DIXIE) Border Collie/ Australian Shephard Mix

Cesar,
I have a border collie and Australian Shephard mix and she loves to play fetch. But here lately she has created an obsession with shadows. She will stand in the back yard and stare at shadows all day and chase them. Even when we bring her inside she will find a shadow on the wall and bark at it and chase it forever and not stop. I can get on to her and she will stop for a minute until I turn my head and go back to it or find another one to drool over that is closer to her. She has never done this and has just started. She is getting so bad that she is so into it that we really have to try to get her attention. What should I do. This is a really sad situation and people are really starting to think she is weird. Everybody asks what is wrong with her and I say nothing, she just created some obsession with shadows. But she is such a good dog and soooo smart! I hate to see her like this, it really makes me sad! Will you please help me and give me some personal hints. Thanks, Jerod!

Fri, 06/11/2010 - 8:16am — falcon15

Obsessive Tail Chasing

According to Dr. Nicholas Dodman, who studies dog psychology, obsessive tail chasing can be a sign of a neurological or health problem. If you can't stop this behavior through training/correction, it may be that the dog needs medical intervention, as he may have a vitamin/mineral deficiency or an allergy to something in his food.

Tue, 05/18/2010 - 5:49pm — leeshacoons

my 9 month old pit bull

Dear Cesar,
I also have a pit bull that will constantly chase her tail. It doesn't matter if she's excited or bored (she has plenty of toys to play with), she just constantly does donuts everywhere. I don't know what to do about it. She does it whether she's inside or out. She' go hide out in the bathroom and go in circles for what seems like forever. Running into the wall doesn't even stop her from doing it. And when she gets ahold of it she still goes. Once she's gotten it in her mouth she just drools incessantly. and she will also just lick and lick on her hind quarters until it's dripping wet. She will get so wet the when she spins slobber flies off her tail end everywhere. Please help me figure out something I can do to break her of this habit.

Leesha Coons

Mon, 02/08/2010 - 11:35am — janetosh

tail chasing

Dear Ceaser
I have 8 mounth blue merl border collie
he has a tail chasing problem. We have tried the water spray that works for now but it doesnt make a difference. He doesnt chase it outdoors but when he is indoors he does. It seems to be exitment or it could be when a bag is rattling could you please tell me what i could do to stop it please.
yoursincerly
Jane Tosh

Mon, 06/28/2010 - 11:23am — kascova

tail chasing

I have a dog that chases his tail too..he growls at it and bites at it for ages.You can't lay a hand on him or else he'll look back to his tail growl at it then chase and bite it.

Tue, 07/06/2010 - 6:14am — playboy83

my dog

Hi i have a 7 month old border collie and he bites his tail all the time, even thought we are out with him many hours a day and we exersise and play with him, we have been to the vet but there is nothing wrong with the tail he just wont stop biting it. and when he lies on the floor he licks on it all the time. and chases shadown that arent there, and he also dives domn in to the floor with his mouth and bites on the floor. what can i do to make him stop. i look at your show all the time.

please help me cesar.

from mariann in Norway