Introduction

You’ve probably seen your dog chasing its tail. It looks like it’s having so much fun. You might even wonder why you don’t do it, too! But for dogs, chasing their tails isn’t always as fun as it seems. In fact, quite often it’s a sign that something’s not right in paradise and needs to be addressed by a professional—and sometimes both the owner and the veterinarian need to work together to solve the problem. Here are some of the reasons why dogs chase their own tails and how you can stop this behavior if your pup does it:

They’re relieving anxiety.

Although dogs are pack animals and are very social, they can experience anxiety from being left alone. Dogs can also experience anxiety when they’re in a new environment or around other dogs or people. In these situations, your dog may resort to chasing their tail as a way to relieve their anxiety.

Chasing their tails is also common in puppies who are teething and exploring their environment by chewing on objects that interest them.

They’re bored.

Dogs can get bored when they are left alone for long periods of time. They also tend to get bored when they’re not getting enough exercise.

If you have a dog that is acting out and chasing their tail, then it could be that they just want some company! The best thing you can do is bring them on walks, play with them daily, and make sure they have toys or puzzles to keep them occupied while you’re away from home.

They have fleas.

Sometimes, a dog will start chasing their tail after they’ve been bitten by a flea. While it’s normal for dogs to have parasites, these little critters can cause some serious health issues if left untreated. For example, severe itching can lead to skin infections and other rashes; excessive scratching may lead to soreness or even anemia; and tapeworms are also possible if your dog is infected with fleas.

Fleas aren’t the only parasite that can cause tail-chasing in dogs, but they’re certainly one of the most common reasons why this behavior occurs.

They have worms.

If your dog is chasing its tail, it’s possible that he or she has worms. Worms are a common cause of tail chasing in dogs, and can be treated with medication.

Worms are transmitted by fleas, so if you find that your dog is frequently scratching itself and losing hair due to fleas, this may indicate an infection with worms (and preventable with regular worming).

Another way in which dogs can get worms is from eating rotten meat or from drinking dirty water. This can be prevented by feeding them a healthy diet and making sure they have access to clean water at all times!

They’ve seen another dog do it.

Dogs learn from other dogs, so if you have a dog that chases its tail and you don’t want it to, make sure the other animals in your house are not doing the same thing.

If you have an older pet who likes to chase its tail, then consider adding a younger one into the mix. The younger dog may not understand what’s going on or why they shouldn’t do it themselves. Your older dog might see this as a challenge and start chasing its own tail again (or maybe just get jealous). If this happens, try training both dogs together by having them work for treats or toys while ignoring each other until they’re calm enough to focus on learning something new.

They have obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

You may think this is the most obvious answer, but your dog actually doesn’t have OCD. Dogs do not have a mental illness called obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which involves repetitive thoughts and behaviors that are hard to stop. This can include things like repeated hand-washing, doing certain actions in a certain order or repeatedly checking to see if a door is locked or unlocked. However, dogs who chase their tails do show signs of compulsive behavior — but it’s not the same thing as having an actual mental health disorder like OCD would be for humans.

The good news is that you don’t need to worry about your pup suffering from a life-threatening brain disease; there are many other possibilities why he might be chasing his tail:

Dogs will only stop chasing their tails if the underlying need is fixed by a professional, owner, or both.

First, you should understand that there are many different reasons why dogs chase their tails. Some dogs chase their tails due to underlying medical conditions, some do it because they’ve been bored, and others simply have a genetic predisposition for the behavior. If you’d like to prevent your dog from chasing his tail, I recommend finding a professional who can help with the underlying problem before trying any DIY methods yourself.

If this isn’t an option for you—or if your dog has already started chasing his tail—there are still things that can be done at home in order to stop your pup from chasing his tail. First, try giving him more regular exercise so he doesn’t become over-energetic when left alone for long periods of time (which is one of the most common reasons why dogs will start compulsively chasing their tails). You can also try playing games with him or giving him treats every time he looks away from his own body part; this will reinforce positive behavior instead of reinforcing negative behavior like self-mutilation by encouraging attention on something else instead!

Conclusion

Whether your dog is chasing their tail out of boredom or just being a playful pup, there are plenty of ways to help them stop. Try to figure out what it is that they’re trying to do when they chase themselves around in circles and then try one of these tips: