How do you break an obsessive dog's behavior?
Madalyn Johns
2025-07-21 10:03:36
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: 15
First, schedule a vet visit to rule out any underlying medical causes. Once your dog has gotten a clean bill of health there are several actions you can take to mitigate OCD behaviors. Learn what your dog’s triggers are and work to reduce and eventually eliminate his exposure. Keep his routine predicable from day to day and remove any known stressors. Choose an activity that your dog enjoys and start increasing his daily exercise. Not only can exercise lower any anxiety that might be playing a part, but it can release endorphins assisting in relaxation. Keep his brain happy and enrich his days by giving him puzzle toys or food-dispensing toys and games. Work on training with your dog for five to ten minutes a day. Teach him behaviors that are incompatible with his OCD behaviors. For example, if he chases his tail or spins, get him outside to play fetch or work on “sit” or “down.” Reward him with praise and a high-value treat for not continuing to spin.
Albert Schimmel
2025-07-21 09:58:58
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: 8
Dogs often develop these compulsive behaviours to cope with stress, anxiety, or a lack of exercise, mental stimulation or nutrition. We, as owners, need to ensure that we don’t encourage compulsive behaviours by laughing and cheering on behaviours that look or sound cute in puppyhood, but which can become unwanted and unhealthy as the dog grows. Some particular examples include… never play light or laser-chasing games with your puppy, don’t encourage him to bite his own feet, and don’t praise him for barking at nothing at the stage when he is finding his voice. Whatever the reason for the behaviour, it is advisable to react quickly, before the behaviour and resultant damage becomes chronic. With the help of your Bark Buster trainer, you will be able to put in place some behaviour modification to help stop the compulsive behaviour. Early intervention is important.