Watching your dog chase their tail can seem funny at a first glance, but there’s usually an explanation behind this behaviour. Sometimes, it’s down to simple playfulness, but other times it can indicate something more serious.
If your dog’s tail chasing is only occasional, there’s probably nothing to worry about. But if it’s intense, frequent or combined with signs of stress or pain, it could be linked to an underlying health issue.
Puppies love exploring the world around them, and that includes investigating their tail. In puppies, tail chasing is often an exploratory, playful behaviour and isn’t anything to worry about. Usually, they’ll start exploring something else and grow out of this behaviour relatively quickly.
In adult dogs, tail chasing is more likely to indicate an issue that might need investigation or vet advice.
Dogs chase their tails for many reasons. Here are some of the most common:
Some extremely energetic breeds, such as Border Collies, might occasionally chase their tails when they’re feeling playful. This is typically short-lived and might happen when they’re particularly excited – for example, before going for a walk.
This kind of tail-chasing is typically more common in younger dogs, but if it continues into adulthood or becomes a regular, intense activity, it’s worth speaking to your vet.
Dogs are smart, and it doesn’t take them long to learn what kind of behaviour gets a reaction. If you’ve laughed or given your dog extra attention after a ‘dog chasing tail episode’, they may repeat the behaviour to try and get your attention in the future.
Even a negative reaction, such as getting told off, is still a reaction, which may encourage your dog to keep chasing their tail.
If dogs don’t get enough physical or mental stimulation, they may become bored and find ways to keep themselves entertained. For some dogs, this might include barking, howling or chewing things they shouldn't. Others may chase their tails as a way to stop feeling bored and burn off some energy.
If you’ve suddenly noticed your dog starts chasing their tail, it could be linked to a medical condition such as:
In situations that make them feel stressed or anxious, some dogs may chase their tail. Repetitive behaviours like this can offer relief from a stressful situation, so try to notice if your dog’s tail chasing is linked to a specific event – for example, loud noises or the addition of a new pet.
Tail chasing due to canine compulsive disorder (CCD) can look similar to the kinds of repetitive behaviours some dogs carry out when stressed or anxious. But in the case of CCD, there’s no environmental trigger.
In addition to tail chasing, dogs with CCD may pace, spin or lick obsessively. It’s often extremely hard to interrupt the behaviour, and they may start chasing their tail again immediately, even if you’ve provided a distraction.
Sometimes, this kind of tail chasing includes biting or snapping at the tail, which can lead to injuries and infection.
It’s thought that some breeds may be more likely to suffer from CCD, which means they may be more likely to chase their tails. These breeds include:
The first step is to work out why your dog is chasing their tail before trying to remove the trigger.
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