Why does a dog chase its tail?

Question

Why does a dog chase its tail?

Answer 1

To pass the time

Answer 2

i don't know but it's pretty funny. if you capture a dog doing that on camera take a video of it and put it on you've been framed, you'll get £250.

Answer 3

Because its playing with itself.^^

Give it more affection, that would help.

My dog does exactly the same. ^^

Hope i helped.   XD

Answer 4

Behavioral Causes: Attention-Seeking, Boredom, Anxiety

Tail chasing and other stereotypic behaviors may be a result of operant conditioning, a process by which a behavior is affected by its consequences and an association is made between a stimulus and a response. Because dogs are social animals, attention from the owner is often a positive reinforcer causing an increase in the frequency of the performed behavior whether the owner intends this or not. Even adversive attention may act as a positive reinforcer of the behavior, especially when the animal receives little owner attention in the first place. In this case, any attention the dog receives is highly rewarding. This type of behavior is known as "attention-seeking behavior".

Boredom is another postulated cause of some stereotypies, but an unlikely one. A diagnosis of boredom as a cause of stereotypic behaviour can be incorrectly assumed. In fact the animal may simply have a greater need for aerobic exercise and will cease energy consuming stereotypic behaviour when activity is normal. It is not boredom per se that is the problem, but lack of exercise.

In addition, some dogs with anxiety may chase their tail as well. This anxiety may be in response to some sort of stimulus or it may be nonspecific. Sometimes if a dog has had a previous injury to an extremity, it may start chasing that region when it becomes aware of it. Such dogs are usually neurologically normal.

Medical Causes: Neurological, Physical Injury/Irritation

In addition to the behavioral conditions mentioned above, neurological conditions can also cause behaviors such as whirling. Severe tail chasing has been attributed to psychomotor epilepsy and sometimes described as a seizure-related problem. There is also evidence that stereotyped behavior depends upon the dopamine systems involved in the control of movement. Dopamine turnover is increased in animals with stereotypies. This becomes important when drug treatment is to be considered. As well, there is a possibility that these behaviors may cause a release of endogenous opioids which stimulate the pleasure centers of the brain and protect the animal from perception of pain in more severe cases involving self-mutilation. In Bull Terriers, a breed that has been historically associated with dog fighting, it has been speculated that there may be a reduced pain perception, genetically passed on as an adaptation from the fighting generations. (Additional information on these neurological theories are discussed in the references cited at the end of this article).

A variety of superficial or peripheral conditions involving pain, irritation, or other sensations in the tail or hindquarters may also trigger tail chasing. Such conditions normally, however not exculsively, involve injury or disease to the skin and/or peripheral nervous system.

Answer 5

sometimes it's because he has fleas or worms

Answer 6

its possibly a dance routine.is your dog in show business?perhaps kylie is on the radio when he does it.IM SPINNING AROUND you know the words come on sing along!

Answer 7

Out of boredom usually, my Border Collie did this when I rescued him simply because he wasn't getting enough exercise, since he has been with me he gets 1 and a half to 2 hours each day and he no longer chases his tail.

Answer 8

It is just a habit, most dogs need their tailes cut in half due to chasing the tail. My dog usually does it when it gets bored and notices its tail. I think it is just a habit and probably cos it is so long it irritates them when they look behind. My dog has been doing it since it was born!

answer this one too please:

http://uk.answers.yahoo.com/question/ind...

Answer 9

usually an indication that the dog is bored and it soon developes into a habit. Get plenty of toys for your dog to play with, take him for walks, spend time with him.

Answer 10

Primarily out of boredom although puppies are quick to catch on to the fact that people notice them doing this and so it  becomes something they do for attention, too.  A tail-chasing dog needs someone to play with it, take it somewhere for a walk, teach it something...so it won't be bored anymore.

Answer 11

when they look round they notice something wagging and its they're instinct to chase it. my dog does it constantly and is always banging into stuff!

Answer 12

They usually chase their tail because they are bored, and it expends extra energy!

Answer 13

something for fun or out of bored em or to get attention, just like we play with our hair or flutter our eyelids