How can i stop this?

Question

I just brought 2 Year old dog from interstate, all i knew before buying is that she was locked in a Garage her whole life, she is very skinny and that she chases her tail. Well feeling sorry for the dog and seeing a picture i decided i would purchase her, fly her to me and then i would go from there!! Well she hasn't stopped chasing her tail (I KNOW IT WAS CAUSED BY BOREDOM) but she is 2, does anyone know how to stop her from doing this? She only does it when people are near her!! Its really starting to get annoying!!

Answer 1

Please don't be annoyed with your poor little dog. Her problem wasn't caused by boredom alone; it was caused by sensory deprivation. If you were locked alone in a garage and half-starved for 2 years, don't you think you'd come out a little neurotic?
Your vet has medications that can help with this, something like "puppy Prozac". She might not need to be on it very long, just until she is certain you're not going to put her back in that garage. It will help her relax while you retrain her.
Remember that a 2-year-old dog is roughly equivalent to a 13-year-old child. You have to be extremely patient and loving with her but understand that love and patience are new to her.
Buy a book on dog behavior and read it. It could help you both.

Answer 2

This is a learned behavoiur caused by her situation of being locked in 24/7. The best way to stop this is to shower her with attention, give plently of treats & toys to play with.
Try to let her mix with as many people & other dogs as possible so that she can build her confidence. The tail chasing is just a nervous reflex. She is scared but can't run away so she does the only thing she can.
Given time, effort, love, patience & a bit of socialising there is no reason that she should not outgrow this behaviour.
Good Luck.

Answer 3

I would not worry about your dog chasing her tail in fact most dogs do it as a form of getting attention...try to teach her to trust herself more when around humans (or other dogs)...it seems that she has a low self steam and needs a little push to boost it.

Every time your friends visit, give them each some treats so they can offer them to your doggy...this will control the anxiety and she will learn to be more social - if she continues get her mind out of that mode by distracting her with a toy - eventually she will learn not to be so anxious at getting attention and eventually she will do the tail chasing a lot less but dont spect to stop it completely as it is a natural thing for them.

Answer 4

Amazing that you're already getting annoyed, and over something you were warned about, before you even purchased her.

You have to have patience, as it may not just be a boredom thing, but rather a nervous habit. She probably wasn't very socialized with humans (or other animals), and therefore will require time to relax.

Take her to basic training. Teach her the ''sit'' command. That way, whenever she goes after her tail, you can grab her attention and get her to sit. Then reward her to let her know she's safe.

Has she been checked out by a veterinarian, to rule out any neurological problems?

Answer 5

Give her time to adapt. she might be doing when she feels insecure. Let her do it on her own. Get her other toys and let her come to them when she is ready. Give her lots of love and reassurance. but dont get tired of her already. think of how you would be if you were locked in a garage for two years. Its like being in solitare confinement in prison you just cant walk out and everything is different. Its hard for a dog especially if thats all its known. Just work slowly with her and she will probally stop doing gradually. get the toys and throw one and she what she does show her there are other ways of playing also let her get used to you. you seem like you are expecting too much from her at this point. let her get settled in and get to know you so she can gain some trust with you on her own. just be patience.

Answer 6

OK, alot of these answers, yes and no. I would never recommend medication for a dog with this kinda problem unless it is a last resort. You know, Ceasar, the Dog Whisper on National Geographic actually had a similar case not too long ago with a German Shepherd, however, the German Shepherd did not have the back ground yours does. He just started doing it as a puppy and never stopped, and he would do it literally for hours and hours. I have 2 German Shepherds and from time to time they also will do it and it is out of boredome or just saying, "look at me aren't I cute."

Now I do not remember the entire episode of Dog Whisper, but I do remember one thing and that is because he says it in every episode. Excerise, Excerise, Excerise. Make sure your dog is getting out twice a day for 20 to 30 mintute walks, and when you take the dog for a walk, the dog doesn't sniff around, and pee everywhere. Let me explain this from start to end.

When you awake in the morning, do not feed your dog, and do not fuss over her. Simply get yourself ready and then take her, put her leash on her and take her for a walk. Now if she starts chasing her tail when you go to put the leash on her, turn your back. Ignore the behavior as it maybe a learned behavior that she is doing to get attention. If she does not stop after a couple minutes walk away. I know, it sound cruel, and as Jan Fennell said in her book, "The Dog Whisper", the hardest thing you will ever do is attempte to ignore your dog because it is just like ignoring your child. However, if you think about it, when you have a baby, many so called experts tell you not to pick up a baby every time it crys as they will learn that when they cry they get picked up, and there for will cry all the time. Same thing here. Every time someone approaches this dog, it starts chasing his tail. Now if he is doing it to get them to go away, then the turning the back will get him to realize that chasing his tail is not going to get you to walk away. If he is doing it out of excitement, then turning your back is also going to tell him that if he is not going to be calm, then he is not going to get what he wants. I have been working with German Shepherds for 3 years, and have read several books, and most say the same thing.

I have used these techniques many times myself, including recently. I have a 5 month old German Shepherd puppy, and I live in an apartment with the stairs inside. When he wants to go outside he runs down to the door and whines. However, there is not enough room down there for me to bend over and pick up his leash when he is down there jumping on me. I have taught him that if he wants to go outside, he must wait at the top of the stairs till I get the leash. Now, it is still an on going process. Every time I go to take him out, he runs half way down the stairs and then looks at me, and I stand there. IF he does not come back to the top within a few seconds, then I turn and step away. He usually will then come back to the top, and sit there looking at the door and wait till called. Check out that book by Jan Ferrell. There is also one called the "Dog Whisper" and this is the original one, not "Ceasars Way" and also there are a couple books by the Monks of New Skete that are very good. Hope this helps

Answer 7

do opp