I have a 5 1/2 month old lab pup who at various times throughout the day runs round in circles chasing his tail is this normal behaviour. He is a very nervous dog when out for walks frightened of people and other dogs and strange objects is this normal behaviour. Any comments would be appreciated.

Thanks

I have a five-month old Cairn who chases her tail. She growls at it and spins around in a bit of a circle. A couple of days ago she tried it on the bed and promptly fell off. I have told her I would dock her tail if she likes, but it isn't standard for the breed. :-)

My husband used to have a daschund who not only chased his tail, but frequently caught it. He would hold it in his mouth and attempt to jump up into a chair or climb stairs at the same time.

By the way, my Cairn is afraid of nothing. Tail chasing and nervousness are not related. She will bark at strange objects, or objects that she has suddenly decided to notice, like a rubbish bin in a new place. However, she barks and then investigates it.

If you Lab is nervous of strangers and other dogs, then more socialisation is a good idea. If you can enlist the help of friendly "strangers" and allow him to approach as slowly and carefully as he likes, getting a treat from the stranger when he is close, that generally helps. Have you taken him to puppy obedience or socialisation classes?

Stacey

re the tail chasing, have you had his anal glands checked? Our lab cross chases her tail and will stagger around most strangely with her tail in her mouth when her bum is 'playing her up'. Might be worth checking?

Thanks Stacey

Been going to puppy classes but he is very nervous there. The trainer remarked that he is hand shy as well as nervy of people and dogs he won't take titbits from trainers there. Any more suggestions about getting him over this hurdle would be apprecaited.

Russ

If he's not doing it all the time he could just be entertaining himself.
Try distracting him with toys or play with him when he starts.
Lara x

HI Russ, my lab pup used to chase her tail. She is now 10 months old and has grown out of it, in fact I can't remember the last time she did it, so hopefully yours will do the same.

~Sharon :)

(Edited to add that my lab isn't nervous, so I don't think there is a link.)

Hi
Just a little something my vet explained to me, at about a third of the way down a dogs tail from the top..there's a gland, which sweats and gives off a scent..so when a dog get anxious, excited etc and sweats he smells the sweat gland which can cause him to chase or even grab,hold or chew it.
Tracey :)

That's interesting Tracey, I wonder if that's why my yellow pup has a slightly lighter patch on her tail where that gland is?

HI walkhound
could be ? i don't really know anymore than what ive already said but that was one idea linked to tail chasing, holdng ect. :)
Tracey

Tracey, thank you so much for this piece of info. Our white GSD was one year old when his previous owners gave him to a rescue home because he was chasing his tail. We have had him two years and have managed to control it with various methods but I don't believe he will ever be cured. I was really interested in your post as this is exactly where he holds his tail. I was always told it was an attention seeking OCD but I've noticed that he does it when he's excited and not just when he's anxious. Maybe a form of dog deodorant would help (if there's any such thing!). When we got Foggy we had his anal glands checked and his tail checked and the vet couldn't find anything wrong but we have since changed vets so I think I will approach our new one to ask about this gland and maybe there is something further I can do to help Fogs.

Hi JUNE
Apparantly the best thing to do is wash it twivce a week with a human shampoo...don't know why but that's what he said. :) hope it helps, a spinning gsd is lethal ha ha :D
tRACEY

Thanks Tracey I'll try the shampoo, maybe 'No More Tears'........ ;)

Thank you for the post I had noticed my pup doing the same and took the vets last night who emptied a lot of gunk out of her glands.

she is a lot more comfortable now

Cheers