Curing Compulsions in Dogs

[lizbud]

Here's a link to an interesting article on dog behavior in
today's Indy Star. (I thought it was interesting)


http://indystar.com/print/articles/6...-9936-047.html

[ramanth]

thanks for sharing the link, Liz.

I personally think Kia is neurotic. LOL!

[lizbud]

Ramanth,

Perhaps some dogs develop a lot of the same neuroses
as humans.LOL. Liz.

[Crikit]

Oh I'll have to look at that when I get a chance...though I think Winter is more OCD or ADD then Neroutic, of course she is a border collie so that could be the answer for her

[ownerof3dogs]

I think that my dog Zeus(who is part BC) has OCD or something. He is always nervous..he walks around wining. And he doesn't stop. He's been doing that since he was 8 weeks old. He now is almost 6 yo. But just within the last year he has started to do this tongue thing. He keeps sticking it out like he has peanut butter stuck to the roof of his mouth. He'll do this for a few min. or so. If you tell him to stop it or hold his mouth shut it just make it worse and he does it faster and longer. He also will lick his feet for hours.

I don't know what you can do about this other then drugs-which I don't want to do to him. So for know we just live it and try to distract him with his toys.

[lizbud]

ownerof3dogs,

If Zeus is BC, you have one of the most high energy type
dogs there is. That can be a good thing ot not depending
on what his daily life is like. I think that breed needs to have
a "job", needs to being doing something almost all the time.

Have you ever looked up the symptoms on a dog behavior
type website? Gosh, there are tons of them & you can believe
what they say or not, at least it might help you get a different
slant on what his problem might be. Our instructor at puppy
class said that lip licking was a sign of nervousness. ?
He's a very good looking dog. Do you have any other pics?

[ownerof3dogs]

Lizbud,

I totally agree with you. ALL dogs need a job. I think that part of the problem is that I've been ill with cronic Lyme disease and havn't been able to exercise him like I used to. We used to go to Agiliy classes and he LOVED that. He was very good. And our yard is very small and he has to be tied out when he has to go to the bathroom because he HATES out neighbors pitbull and they get into fights.We have a fence but Zeus can jump 8 foot fences easily. So I guess the problem is me! But even when he got alot of exercise he has always been a very anxiuos(sp?)dog and has very bad seperation anxiety.

Thanks, he really is very handsome
Here some more pics

[Cincy'sMom]

Interesting article...thanks Liz!

We always tease my friend that her lab has OCD becuase she does. Maybe it's true Shadow will bark if something in the house has been rearranged and she didn't see it happen. She will also stare into corners like she sees something, esp. when we are working onthe haunted house. Gets a little creepy sometimes!

[lizbud]

ownerof3dogs,

I'm so sorry that you've been ill.Isn't that the disease
that saps your strength? I hope with time & and help of
a good Doctor, you are able to overcome this.

Zeus is really a great looking dog & seems to be blessed
with good health. I think he's trying his best to cope with
circumstanses he has no control over in his life. I really hope
your health improves & you can get back to Agility training
and other things you both enjoy doing. Very best of luck to
you on this. Thanks for the pictures. I especially liked the one
with the tennis ball in his mouth. He looks like he's rarein'
to GO!!!

[weaselmouse]

Wow. Maybe Phoebe is OC... This is just great - first me, and now my dog. Good grief.