Spinning and tail chasing might look cute, but can become welfare issues when they turn into compulsive or self-injurious behaviors.
You have likely seen a dog greeting someone or anticipating his dinner by jumping around and spinning in a circle. There are countless videos on social media of dogs and puppies spinning and chasing their tails, and the comments are always how cute these behaviors are.
Spinning and tail chasing are sometimes harmless, and might occur as an occasional response to a stressful or exciting situation, but when these behaviors happen in other environments and situations with or without a particular trigger, or when the dog spins or chases his tail continuously and repeatedly, a 'cute' behavior has become a much more serious problem.
How can I stop my dog from spinning or tail chasing?
- In some cases, an increase in exercise and mental stimulation will decrease the frequency of these behaviors.
- Giving your dog activity toys, puzzles and problem solving games helps relieve stress and gives your dog something productive to focus on.
- Some dogs that chase their tails have a high prey drive. Give your dog an outlet for that behavior through chasing games and activities such as fetch, flyball, or allowing him to run off leash in a fenced-in area.
- Agility is a great sport that encourages your dog to follow your cues and negotiate apparatus that are usually set in a pattern of straight lines. Encouraging your dog to go through pieces of equipment such as a straight tunnel can help.
- Training tricks will challenge your dog’s mind while allowing him to use his body in an appropriate way.
- If your dog tends to spin or chase his tail when he’s had too much activity, the increased exercise might be exacerbating the issue. If this is the case, we recommended calmer problem-solving games such as finding a hidden toy with food.
- If this problem persists and you can’t easily redirect your dog, seek the help of a qualified, positive trainer to help guide you to a solution.
How can I help my dog?
Sometimes, dogs are so focused on tail chasing that they can be difficult to redirect. If that is the case, your dog likely needs more help. If you’re having trouble, work with a qualified professional trainer, your veterinarian and/or a veterinary behaviorist to help. It sometimes takes a team effort to give your dog relief, especially if this has become a behavioral disorder that needs medical intervention.
