I have a 4month old mixed breed dog. At about 2.5 months of age, he started to aggressively chase his own tail if he got mad. If I took something he shouldnt have out of his mouth for example he would go into this "fit" for quite a while. Scared me at first, but now I just walk away. He looks like he's going after his own tail and if he got a hold of it would bite it off. Other than this behaviour, he seems fine. What can I do and how "normal" is this?
If your dog is behaving normally otherwise (no undue aggession or growling) ... then I think there is nothing to worry about ... you puppy is probably just playing ...
It's often referred to as "5 minute madness" ... when dogs just go a little "gila" for a few minutes ... and they do something quite inexplicable like chasing their tails ... going round and round ...
Our dogs sometimes just run up and down the garden as if they are chasing something - when there is nothing there to chase ... quite normal ... and the doggie usually grows out of it ... It's fun to watch ...
some tail chasing are genetic hyper active like your pup I think he feels bore when this behaviour happen, was he in the cage or run loose what breed x with what breed?
It only happens when he gets angry. He's not bored as he and my other dog play all day long. Its also not simply chasing his tail...its growling, biting and very aggressive behaviour. The vet has him on prozac but its not stopping this behaviour. He is a mixed small breed. He is crate trained.
when kinki is about 3 months old, she too like to chase her tail . sometimes she also tends to bark when she sees a housefly or frog jumping around the garden. she also scared of cats.
but as she grow older and now she's 6 months old. she do not chase her tail anymore. maybe she's bored about the game already. andshe's not afraid of cat anymore, she'll chase them away as soon as she saw them.
and now she do not bark at those frogs, but starting to KILL them. poor frog.. all died. :/
Pacco de Mongrel ~ Come and join us for a doggie jungle trekking @ Bukit Gasing every Saturday morning ~
Hi...like what surchinmy said it's true. They go mental for a while. My pup also chases his tail aggresively. I find it cute and funny. The first time Dome chased his tail , my hubby said he has a serious sickness. I was so worried. Then my hubby said it's called 'bodoh-ism'. Hehehe.Anyway the whole thing is funny lah.