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Canine Compulsive Behaviors
from:Dogs can exhibit obsessive compulsive behaviors much like humans
can. Many pet owners witness strange, repetitive, destructive or
even harmful behaviors in their dogs and may have questions
about treatment. Unfortunately, many owners elect to get rid of
their dogs because of the behavioral issues. But, with a little
love, care and special training, you can try to treat your dog
and remedy some of these behaviors instead of giving them away
or putting them in a shelter.
Many dogs may have a genetic predisposition to exhibit certain
behaviors. Many breeds may show insistent tail chasing. This is
the most common compulsive behavior in dogs. Other dogs will
obsessively lick a paw or other part of their body. This may
seem harmless at first, but over time, they can lick off the fur
and wear down the skin, producing open sores and exposing them
to infection. Many obsessive behaviors are destructive in nature
and can hurt or injure the dog over time. Another compulsive
behavior is snapping. Some dogs will snap into the air
continually and wear out their jaws. Some have been reported to
attack at certain times. Many will attack their food bowl or
violently protect it. Some will jump to attack doorknobs and
break off their teeth. Compulsive behaviors will continue if
untreated and can become life-threatening to the dog.
Compulsive behaviors in dogs almost always stem from a stressful
situation. Compulsive behaviors are a response to anxiety, much
like they are in humans. Sometimes the behaviors come on
gradually and sometimes there is a marked event, such as being
hit by a car or being abused that can trigger compulsive
behaviors. The behaviors can continue for years after the event
is forgotten as a way to cope with any anxiety.
For example, if a dog is blind or going blind, it may feel very
anxious about other pets or humans at feeding time. They may be
thinking that something or someone will take their food and they
will not be able to see it coming. The anxiety can cause the dog
to snarl, bark, bite or even attack to protect the food dish.
Many owners are afraid, threatened and even in real danger when
they witness this behavior. The high anxiety of the dog needs to
be controlled to reverse this behavior. Before resorting to
prescription drugs, such as serotonin re-uptake inhibitors,
which have been shown to be very effective in treating such
behaviors and anxieties in humans and dogs, try to work with
your dog on treating the underlying anxiety.
Dogs are very good at sensing human anxiety. You must remain
very calm even when you know that the behavior is about to
begin. If you notice the anxiety level arising, take charge and
show the dog that you are the leader of the pack by laying the
dog down, without hurting them of course, and use a firm voice.
Get the dog very calm and praise them for being calm. Only
attempt this behavior modification if it is safe to do so. Talk
with a vet or trainer about specific behaviors that you are
trying to correct. The general idea is to let the dog know that
you are the boss, and it is not acceptable to let your anxiety
level rise to the point of doing the behavior. A lot of dogs are
very responsive to behavior modification training. You may have
to stay with your dog constantly at first, depending on how
often the behaviors are exhibited, but it may not take long to
break these bad habits. If you are looking for dogs for sale and are
concerned about compulsive behaviors, do not go to puppy mills
where the dogs may have already been traumatized. Make sure that
you are getting your dog from someone who has been treating them
right. Online adoption and sales can allow you to really shop
around when searching for your new pet.
About the Author: Dean Burton is the owner of MyDreamPuppy.com, a leading provider of purebred puppies for sale. For more information, please visit www.MyDreamPuppy.com.
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Southern California Dog Obedience Council News
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