Hi

I adopted a black cocker spaniel bitch (7yrs old) from a rescue home at the beginning of this year.  Other than a few health problems that we now have sorted she is perfect.  However, over time she has developed a strange habit of rubbing herself against bushes in the garden (this is where is started) and she simply moves her back backwards and forwards so the bush is literally tickling her skin and moves her head with the motion and sticks her tongue in and out whilst doing it.  It has progressed and if we told her to stop outside she would come in the house and do it along the bottom of the curtains, against washing if its hanging on clothes horse, under the coffee table in the lounge and under the chair in our office.  She has been to vets many times regarding this and and as far as they are concerned it is not skin related as her skin looks fine and ruled out other complaints that we were having her treated for.  They say it is a neurosis thing and she is just  abit 'strange' but it is becoming a pain because sometimes she wakes up for the toilet in the middle of the night, which isnt uncommon and rather than running out and doing her buiness she goes straight to the bush and does her other business?

Has any one experienced similar habits?

I have a dog who scratches herself on bushes and coffee tables occasionally.  She has always done it and it may have started when she had itchy skin but continued because she enjoyed the sensation and/or it became a habit.  It doesn't particularly bother me so I've never attempted to stop her from doing it.

It sounds like she likes the feel of it. And it may be that she likes it so much that it has become a neurosis of some sort...like obsessive compulsive disorder. (I always think everything is that. I have OCD about OCD) LOL. If it's not hurting anything, what the heck? But if it's bothering you a lot, all you can probably do is ask a vet if they think it's OCD and there are drugs to help with neurons and synapses etc in the brain...beta blockers. Also you can try distracting her to be interested in something else. I wouldn't scold her for it though as it may make her more nervous. Maybe this activity has some kind of calming effect for her. It's not rubbing her skin raw or anything, is it? Maybe someone will have a better idea here.

Carrie

Well....Sally and I must have posted at exactly the same time. I didn't see hers before I put mine up. But, I tend to agree. If it's not making anyone miserable, I guess I'd just leave it alone, unless she's doing it so much that it's to the exclusion of anything else...like if it's taking up her whole day.

Hi Carrie,

I agree she definately is enjoying the sensation!

We have never scolded her for it only moved her on sometimes if she has been there a long time.  The word 'walkies' always distracts her - perhaps I will leave her to it.  I was just concerned incase there was anything more to it.  This is a really great idea to get other opinions and advice.

Thanks