There are dogs that develop compulsive behaviors for various reasons. These behaviors can become not only annoying, but also detrimental to the health of the dog and their loved ones. That is why it is not only necessary to try to prevent these behaviors, but also to know how to recognize them and apply a treatment so that the dog stops having this compulsive behavior.
Compulsive behaviors come from some experience or even some illness, but we must be clear that it is a problem for the dog that can affect its health in the long term, so they must be treated as soon as they are recognized. A visit to the vet is essential, but working with a canine trainer who recognizes the origin of the behavior and can suppress it can also be valued.
PREMIUM QUALITY
Compulsive behaviors in dogs can be of different types depending on how it manifests this behavior. Triggers can also be different for each dog. These types of behavior help us to be able to recognize if our dog has this behavior and thus try to start treating it to prevent it from going to more.
Compulsive barking behaviors. It is true that there are dogs that bark a lot, but the truth is that this barking can become a problem when they do it uncontrollably. It is usual and normal for dogs to bark to express their happiness, to warn that they have heard a strange noise or things like that. But if a dog barks constantly and nonstop, this is a compulsive behavior that he has developed. The difference is that when compulsive the dog barks constantly and for no reason.
Compulsive behaviors with your mouth. In many dogs it can be observed that they constantly bite things, or lick their paws all the time or scratch with their mouth. This may be due to some joint pain problem, so they lick each other for relief. However, if this is ruled out, we may be dealing with compulsive behavior in our dog.
Compulsive behaviors with movements. We all know a dog that chases its tail endlessly, but there are other behaviors, such as having tremors or making repetitive movements. It is difficult to determine when this is a behavior that is done in a compulsive way, but the truth is that by observing the dog on a daily basis we can realize when a behavior is not normal.
Compulsive behaviors that lead to self-harm. There are many dogs that have compulsive behaviors that lead to injury. They bite their legs or tail until they injure themselves, without being able to stop. This is a serious problem, because these dogs can develop aggressive behaviors. That is why the treatment must be immediate to know the causes.
Origin of compulsive behavior
The origins of compulsive behavior can be very varied. This behavior it may come from some trauma that the dog has passed, such as abandonment or abuse. It happens a lot with adopted dogs, since we do not know what kind of life they have previously led. These traumas can lead to many behaviors that make the dog unbalanced, such as excessive fear of everyday things, aggressive behaviors or the aforementioned compulsive behaviors. In these cases, you should always talk to an expert in animal behavior to get the guidelines with which to work with the dog.
El stress, frustration and excess energy That it is not spent can be another reason why the dog has this type of behavior. That energy must be expended and the dog feels frustration at not being able to do so, which is why it has these behaviors, from biting to barking or moving constantly. However, experts also say that there may be some relationship between some dog breeds such as the German Shepherd and compulsive behaviors, with some genetic component that makes them more prone to these problems.
Compulsive behaviors can be prevented
In dogs that have led normal lives, compulsive behaviors can be prevented in some way. Having a fully balanced dog consists of teaching him some discipline, following a daily routine and doing physical exercise. Today there are many dogs that hardly do exercise and that is why they develop different problems. Their owners should know that daily exercise is necessary for a dog, which will be happier wasting its energy.
All the routines and discipline They give the dog stability, so it is important to do a simple daily training with treats to teach him in a positive way. These rewards or punishments should not be given when the dog engages in compulsive behavior. You have to know how to use them so that they behave in a balanced way.
Transmission
The treatment of compulsive behavior involves knowing its origin. Know if the dog has had any previous trauma, if it has any health problems or an excess of energy. In each case, you must act differently. Is important to consult a veterinarian, because they can tell us if these problems are due to a health problem or if it is a behavior problem.
In the first case, they will give us a treatment to see if the dog improves. There are times when drugs are given to the dog to calm these behaviors, although it is always better to try to change its behavior little by little with the help of professionals. In the second case, you always have to consult with a dog trainer or professional in canine behavior. It is important that the professional know these types of problems and how to treat them, since wrong training can lead to more stress on the dog. The owner must be actively involved in the healing of the dog, to be able to work with him on a daily basis, so that compulsive behaviors are avoided and creating a much more balanced relationship. The mix of these professionals is what can give us the solution when it comes to curing our dog.