Behavioral problems in dogs is a fact that must be taken seriously, as it is one of the main causes of abandonment. All negative behaviors appear gradually, so it is very important to observe our pet and see if something causes him to change his behavior.
It may seem funny that a dog continually chases its tail, starts jumping for no reason or takes possession of certain objects, showing aggression if it is attempted to be removed. However, these are not positive behaviors, as they have a negative influence on their well-being.
If you think your dog may be developing compulsive behavior, continue reading this article on our site. You will learn to differentiate these behaviors, why they occur and what guidelines you can follow to help your pet. Discover 5 compulsive behaviors in dogs:
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs (stereotypies)
Obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs or stereotypy (erroneously called OCD in dogs) is characterized by a repetitive and invariable sequence of activities or movements that have no obvious purpose or function Although these behaviors usually stem from normal behaviors such as grooming, feeding, or playing. Repetitive behavior interferes with normal behavioral functioning.
Obsessive compulsive disorder in dogs is very different from what humans can suffer from. People are ashamed of being like that and it is usually associated with a personality with a high sense of responsibility and a great need for social acceptance. Compulsive behaviors are abnormal because they appear out of context and are usually repetitive, exaggerated or sustained over time.
5 compulsive behaviors in dogs
We can classify the compulsive behaviors of dogs into 5 groups: locomotor, oral, aggressive, vocal and hallucinatory.
- Locomotor compulsive behaviors: going around in circles, chasing tail, pacing, jumping in place or stay "frozen".
- Compulsive Oral Behaviors: Nibbling on limbs, self-licking, air nipping, compulsive nose licking, chewing or licking objects, binge eating, drinking large amounts of water continuously, and pica (eating non-food objects).
- Compulsive behaviors related to aggression: self-directed aggression, such as growling or biting parts of your body, attacking your food bowl, or other objects. Aggression redirected towards people, which is usually unpredictable, would also fall within this group.
- Compulsive Vocalizing Behaviors: Vocalization may be a rhythmic bark or compulsive whimpering.
- Compulsive hallucinatory behaviors: looking at shadows, chasing light reflections and waking up suddenly for no apparent reason.
Causes of stereotypies in dogs
There are several reasons why a dog may end up suffering from a compulsive disorder. Knowing and understanding these causes we may be able to help our dog to solve her problem
- Stress and Anxiety: Compulsive behaviors are conflict behaviors caused by situations that occur around you. For example: a conflict can occur when there are two equally strong motivations, such as calling a dog and immediately scolding him once the animal approaches us. This happens a lot in dog parks, where we see people calling their dogs and, if they don't answer the call right away, the human will scold him when the animal comes. This behavior causes frustration and stress in the dog. Any environmental factor that results in frustration (such as not going to the bathroom outside the house) or stress (for example, the presence of other stressful behavior problems, such as social conflict with another dog, separation anxiety, or illness) can contribute. to obsessive-compulsive disorder.
- Genetic predisposition: Genetic predisposition is probably present in any case of stereotypy. Dogs may be genetically susceptible to the development of compulsive behavior. Large breed dogs appear to be more likely than small breed dogs to develop stereotypy.
- Organic causes: when a dog has a small scratch or a surgical wound it is normal for him to lick, but little by little he begins to lick other areas. Persistent licking can cause other injuries that have nothing to do with the original. Stress associated with physical injuries or irritations, such as allergies, can contribute to the development of stereotypies, as can any other disease that increases stress or irritability, such as skin disease or hormonal imbalance.
- Conditioning: Most people pay attention to their pets when they engage in compulsive behavior. Therefore, most cases of stereotypy tend to be aggravated because the person who takes care of the dog pays him excessive attention, the dog knows it and begins to perform the behavior only in the presence of his favorite human.
Compulsive behaviors in dogs associated with the breed
Certain breeds tend to present very specific stereotypes, for this reason, here is a list of the breeds with their most recurrent compulsive behaviors:
- English Bull Terrier: Running back and forth, chasing tail and "freezing".
- German Shepherd: run around and chase tail.
- Dalmatian and Rottweiler: Hallucinations.
- Doberman pinscher: flank licking.
- Border collie: chasing shadows.
- Australian Cattle Dog: Tail Chasing.
- Miniature Schnauzer: look back.
- Large breed dogs: limb licking.
How to treat OCD in dogs?
As we always highlight on our site, in the event of any new or strange symptoms in our pet we should go to a veterinarian as soon as possible.
Handling the situation
First we must identify the triggering source of stress, conflict or frustration if possible, establish daily routines, keep our pet stimulated both physically and mentally and avoid fighting or any other type of punishment, as we will increase the dog's level of discomfort.
Behavior Modification
Although behavior problems should always be supervised by a specialist in behavior modification, such as aethologist, canine educator or trainer, here are some basic tips so you can start working with your dog and try to lower stress and anxiety levels until the visit:
- Teach your dog basic obedience with the use of positive reinforcement (food, petting or kind words) will help develop basic skills and reduce boredom. Clicker training can be used as a training strategy if desired. The goal is for these behaviors to become automatic and replace the problem behavior.
- Avoid or eliminate triggers, for example, if a dog tends to eat or chew certain objects, we should remove them from the home to prevent them from displaying such behavior.
- Identify the stimuli (sounds, activities, visual triggers) that cause the dog to engage in negative behaviors to increase the likelihood that appropriate behaviors will occur. An example is covering windows to prevent the dog from seeing outdoor activities if that is the reason the animal is in trouble.
- Remove attention as a reward for compulsive behavior. Only interact when the dog is behaving appropriately. In the early stages of developing a stereotypy, attention can become the reinforcing factor.
- Engages the dog in alternative behaviors to replace the problem behavior.
Clinical Treatment
When compulsive behaviors in dogs reach intolerable or unmanageable levels, your veterinarian may prescribe the use of drugs to improve the behavior of the dog. This option is usually used in extreme cases, when the welfare of the animal is null or very poor.
