chasing tail - Page 1

I have a young 6 month working line gsd that is increasingly chasing her tail more and more. At first it wasn't a big deal, but now seems to be taking away from her focus during training and sometimes even on walks. I did notice her mother did the same thing, but i'm not sure how often

Distraction, keep her busy, play, work, give a big knuckle bone when you can't be with her  -----  all of these thing.

Sorry for your problem but if you don't stop her now it can be BAD NEWS.

I had one that couldn't be helped.

That can become compulsive quick! ,You should have an alternative behavior for  her if she starts to chase her tail make her sit or better yet drop. Its a very non productive behavior there is nothing worse than a spinning dog especially if they are on a leash  then It can be dangerous and they are not clear in the head when they are doing that ,As best you can you have got to let her know ''we don't do that'' and avoid putting her in situations where she will spin , if she tries it on leash do not allow it to happen

Your pup needs more exercise, and an outlet for her energy. Chasing a tail as said above can become a very bad issue if not curbed quickly  ( do not punish ) Do you have a trainer you are working with that understands high drive females? Maybe someone who has a degree in animal modificatoin behavior. After you have exhausted all of your options sometimes compulsive meds work well ( must see a vet ). Meds do not work alone, modification teaching is manditory for success.
JMO
Always,
Cee

Like a tree falling silently in the woods when no one's around to hear it?  Good advice from Cee, meds alone can't do all the work.  I recall two different vets who failed to understand this, and with their own personal dogs.  One I verified had a "behaviorist" degree.  It must be addressed immediately, and consistently.  If you find yourself not making progress, don't delay putting the dog in the right hands temporarily.  I'd recommend playing a lot of attention focus oriented games with the pup, with gradually increasing durations of watch & wait for it's reward.  Tail chasing is a form of obsessive-compulsive behavior that's due partially to genetics, but only conditionally expressed under the reinforced behavior that may occur during early neurological development, which is the portion you're empowered with the option to facilitate in the behavior's development.

if nothing else works................Cut her tail off and hope for the best

DuvalGSD,.................... That is an absolutely stupid thing to say,

I remember a dog once where the tail was amputated above the mutilated area dog again mutilated the stump so a more was taken off  ......... the dog had a tail like a Rottie and it still spun.

Another tail amputation then mutilated his leg !!!!!!!!!!!!

With my puppy I began to think he spun only when he saw me ( that was in the beginning )as I often saw him alone and not spinning but he would start the moment he saw me. He spun on lead........ he could not be distracted............Took him swimming, he spun in circles...............meat times was a mouth full and spin  food ended up all over the floor.

I can even pinpoint exactly when it started .......... it was the day after he had an anesthetic for a fractured baby tooth........I had no idea that it would become compulsive behavior.

Duval just roared up here one night, spun his wheels, and hasn't gone away since. Duval, why not spend a few weeks reading rather than writing? Sort of get the lay of the land? 

Vom Marischal
Of course given that it is possible to have multiple IDs on this database perhaps Duval didn't arrive here recently. Just my first thought, may be wrong.