It’s one of those dog quirks we’ve all seen, but why do dogs chase their tails?

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Entertainment and attention

Dogs are the ultimate people-pleasers; they love to make us laugh and live for our affection and attention. Earning our praise is the name of the game for our canine companions, so if your dog chased his tail once and got a positive reaction from you, he’s likely to keep doing it in a bid to keep you amused.

Personality and breed

Chasing his tail may simply be a dog’s way of expressing his playful side. That’s why puppies often have a tail-chasing phase, they find fun in even apparently mundane activities. Some breeds are also more prone to chasing their tails, or behaviour that can be mistaken for tail chasing. The German shepherd is a renowned tail chaser, while bull terriers like to ‘whirl’.

Prey instinct

Some dogs were bred to chase or retrieve prey; it’s a hard-wired instinct and it takes only a hint of a potential object of prey to set them off. Sometimes a glimpse of his own tail from the corner of his eye can be enough to trigger a dog with a high prey drive to leap into action.

Medical conditions

Dogs experiencing pain or discomfort in their rear end will often chase their tails in an attempt to reach and soothe the problem area. Blocked or infected anal glands are a common cause of pain in this region. Your dog’s vet can manually express the anal glands, easing the discomfort and stopping tail chasing associated with it.

There are some rare neurological conditions that can cause a dog to chase his tail, and the behaviour has also been linked to epilepsy. See your Greencross Vets if you’re concerned your dog’s tail chasing could have an underlying medical cause.

Boredom or anxiety

If your dog doesn’t receive adequate physical exercise and mental stimulation, they may chase his tail in a bid to keep amused. Make sure your dog gets at least a daily walk, and leave enrichment toys and activities with them if they have to spend long periods of time on their own.

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Compulsive tail chasing can be a sign your dog is experiencing stress or anxiety. Often, the dog finds it comforting or pleasurable, and so it becomes habitual. Consult your Greencross Vets for advice on treating anxiety.