OCD genes in some breeds - Page 2

Beetree, if you ever had a dedicated rock chewer, you'd know it's not about laughing it off or training. The ONLY option is to keep a rock-free zone. Have you ever thought about trying to get a compulsive hand-washer to stop worrying about germs? Same thing. You can't train them out of it unless it's merely a bad habit. Compulsive behavior CANNOT be trained away, either in people or in animals. As far as I know from a lot of studying of behaviors that are neurological in origin, the only thing that works is drugs to settle the chemicals. And those drugs have lots of side effects.

Interesting article!  I wonder if anyone is doing research on other breeds, or the effect of how a dog is kept on the genetic predisposition.   I see some of those OCD behaviors with my boy, for example, though they're subsiding -- and without medication, which indicates that the cause isn't purely organic.  From what I've read about dogs with problem behaviors, apparently a lot of the working/herding breeds are prone to issues.  They're highly intelligent, energetic, and driven, and that can spill over into unhealthy fixations and hyperactivity. 

LAVK-9 how old is your dog, and how much to do regularly exercise him?  I'm asking because my current dog actually needs *less* exercise than I would have previously considered proper to be calm.  It's a bizarre contradiction, but "a tired dog is a good dog" doesn't apply!  Seriously, with my previous dog we walked/hiked 10km daily, coupled with 30 minutes of ball or running (daily), and a longer run or swim two or three times during the week.  With the current dog I thought he needed more exercise to calm down, but when I really started analysing his reactions I realized that at a brisk walk he'd start overloading at the forty-five minute mark -- sooner if the exercise was more strenuous.  Cutting the duration and intensity of the exercise I was giving him paradoxically helped him calm down because he wasn't becoming overstimulated by it.  You might find your dog becomes calmer if you pare back the exercise a little, too. 

I would not call mine a dedicated rock chewer, only if there are no balls around or he is frustrated for one reason or another, or a combination of the two, then he can seemingly not care that a rock does not bounce, and determinedly paw or mouth the rock depending on the shape. If he is not stopped he will make this god awful scream-like yelp, and I know he is going into full force OCD mode. Then I yell at the kids for not paying attention, and have them remove all rocks beyond the e-collar zone. He can also obsess on buckets, big ones, little ones, etc. The key for us, is to command him to stop or re-direct etc.

For the pacing, it really is necessary to keep the dog active, every single day or he will start "to make the rounds" in our open floor plan house. I might have mentioned before, I, uhhmmm, don't even own a crate, lol!  And this has worked for us, by not allowing the OCD behavior to take over all his activities. And I don't want to give the idea my dog is a total spaz all the time, because that is just not true. The truth is that I do see OCD tendencies and I don't ignore them or encourage them so it is not so hard to deal with them. 

http://www.k9web.com/dog-faqs/medical/medical-info.02.html#l_2409016

"The experiments at NIMH showed that this behavior is caused by a lack of Seratonin. This lack can be caused by a genetic predisposition and also by stress. Proper medication was shown to relieve similar problems in dogs, horses and people! Some of the reported results were on Labradors that literally licked the hair off of their paws, dropping the habit completely after medication."

http://www.petalia.com.au/Templates/StoryTemplate_Process.cfm?specie=Dogs&story_no=1530#ct-8

How are obsessive-compulsive disorders treated?
An underlying medical reason for the behaviour needs to be ruled out, and this can involve in-depth medical investigation.

Some behaviours are not treated if they are not causing any physical harm to the dog and do not cause the owner significant concern. For some dogs, the compulsive behaviour may be the most practical and acceptable outlet for reducing stress or resolving conflict in the home environment.

Drug therapy is often used as it can help normalize brain neurotransmitter levels. Drugs are used in conjunction with behaviour modification. This involves reducing stress or finding methods of decreasing the sources of arousal and conflict. Situations that cause the behaviour are examined, so that they can be avoided if possible. The behaviour is not rewarded by attention from the owner, or other pleasant distractions.

The dog can be distracted from the behaviour by remote indirect devices such as an abrupt loud noise (rape alarm or air horn), a water pistol, or by pulling on a head halter attached to a leash. Once the dog is distracted sufficiently to stop the behaviour, alternative behaviours are encouraged such as sitting or lying quietly. Once a desirable behaviour is exhibited, it is rewarded.

Jackal73- My dog is 6 and he acts as though he is a puppy. I have taken him on short walks or to the baseball field and thrown the ball for him.After a while he seems to calm down but then when we go out of the field he all of a sudden gets more energy.I will work him in obedience in hopes to calm him down.By the time we get home he is ready to go!! I use to have a fenced in yard where he and the other dog would play.He seemed to settle down better then and would just enjoy laying out there.I don't have a fenced in area where I am(hoping that I can find a place to move to that has one) but there are places to hike and in the summer he swims. I use to have him run on a treadmill for an hour(with a warm up and cool down) After he would get off he would be ready to play ball.He just has an exuberant amount of energy.I only wish i had the same!! lol
~L~

the more you do with him, the better in physically fit he is, the more he will want to do.

us the interest in a ball to work his obedience.......focus, focus, focus.....

sounds like he needs a job and something interesting to do. try to spend a few minutes a day to teach him tricks.....dog tricks for dummies.....if his brain is tired, he may be less excitable. - this worked on my Aussie.

 My dog is 6 and he acts as though he is a puppy. (LAVK-9)

Heh.  I can see where it can be frustrating, but at the same time it's a source of great joy.  Hopefully he'll keep going, and going, and going -- like that rabbit in the battery commercial -- for many years to come!

I agree that he just sounds high energy, not OCD.  Giving him mental work can help.  My fellow is reactive, and so is a paradox.  Asking too much from him in training is just as likely to cause a melt down as overexercise, or the other stimulants that cause him to overload (like people rollerblading).  Going lightly and slowly increasing his tolerance is working, but it's an exercise in patience, and I've learned to stop short at a point where I would keep working another dog.  Each one is unique, no question. :)

Yea we do obedience as he loves that.Rewarding him with the ball and throwing a few times.Sometimes I will go hid it and have him search for it in a wooded area.(I will put it up a tree where he can jump up and get it) We go for hikes or walks around the park.Sometimes I will do tracking with him as he loves to use his nose.Made the mistake of teaching him to open the fridge.He has figured to do it on his own.lol Although it is a good thing if I died he can help himself to the food in there.lol (my friend brought that point up about it) So there are many things we do.It just never seems to be enough.I would love to have a cart like the mushers use in the off season to have him pull it.I think he would have fun cause he loves to just run!!. They just cost a fourtune!! Thanks for the advice.


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