Wednesday, October 24, 2012

10 Behaviour Myths in Dogs: # 8


Myth # 8: Dogs chase their tails or spin in circles because they are bored.

Repetitive behaviours such as pacing, spinning, tail chasing, and foot licking have many causes.  To infer they are caused by boredom oversimplifies a complicated problem.  These behaviours may be caused by frustration or conflict.  They may be secondary to certain medical problems that cause itching, pain, or discomfort in a body part.  Sometimes they are caused by seizures or other forms of brain dysfunction.


FACT: Repetitive behaviours are complex problems that require evaluation, diagnosis and appropriate treatment. Please let us know if you are concerned about any of these behaviours in our own pet.

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