This page is dedicated to Khi and all the poor innocent dogs that have the behavior problem called OCD/Obessive Compulsive Disorder or
CCB/Canine Compulsive Behavior.

I got Kiley when he was very young and knew from the start this dog had a problem. Of the many Shepherds I'd had over the years I knew his behavior was of a different nature than the dogs I have owned and loved. Kiley was very anti-social and very hard to handle and as he got older he became worse. He started the tail-chasing when he was just a year old, and this started a whole new world for me.

All the vets in my area, who after several attempts of trying different drugs gave up on the dog completely. He was a very aggressive 80 pound dog and I don't blame them at all for the feelings they had for Khi. My time and efforts were spent for him to find something to help him stop spinning.

I found a vet that did acupuncture and she was very devoted to Kiley and I. She tried all that she knew and even with the aggression he showed her she still stuck by us. Needless to say she is still my vet today.

All the pills in the world and all the alternative medicines helped just slightly but nothing was able to make him stop spinning. The only alternative I had was either mood altering drugs or having him put down. After talking with the Pharmacist (who came to know me very well because of constant consulting)and having him tell me if the dog showed aggression he would not recommend these types of drugs for Khi. I spoke with my vet about this then I made the only choice I really had and that was to have him put to sleep. I also have a neice who is a Pharmacist,
and she also warned me of the side effects of these drugs.

This is being told for those out there who are dealing with a behavior problem in their dogs that is similar. There are very few people who can even begin to understand what you are going through, the constant spinning, the constant turmoil in your life. All the people, the breeders, the trainers, telling you it's all your fault, when you know you have done nothing to your animal to make them have this obsession. It's not because the dog has a
"high drive" or needs excercise. Khi had 63 acres to run on and he chose to chase his tail. He was by no means a stupid dog either, he was sharp as a tack. He just couldn't help himself. Sometimes he would look at me for help, and until you have been there and have seen the look in that animals eyes, you have no idea what they are going through.

What is OCD?

"OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It is a disorder which causes an individual to do things repeatedly. Symptoms and behaviors associated with OCD are wide and varied. The primary thing they have in common is they are generally unwanted behaviors and/or thoughts that occur several times a day. Symptoms, if untreated, may progress to the point of taking up all of a sufferer's waking hours. "

This is the definition given for people who suffer from this problem. Not many people even give this a thought for an animal that is suffering from the same symptoms. I had contacted a lady by the name of Alice Moon-Fannelli, PhD, from Tufts University and learned there are people out there who are researching this problem in our animals, but they are few and far between. I was lucky enough to find this information on
Canine Compulsive Behavior.
I only wish there was more out there for people who own dogs that have this problem.

SOME HELPFUL LINKS:

Clomipramine Treatment

Tail Chasing in Dogs

Obsessive-compulsive disorders and Sterotypies

Tail Chasing

Hope for Habitual Tail Chasing

Canine Compulsive Behavior

Tail Chasing,Shadow Chasing,Fly Chasing

Purdue veterinarian studies compulsive behavior in dogs

Medicating Misbehavior in Dogs

While looking for links to give to you on the truth of this problem, I found this Quote: Neuroses and other emotional reactions: Problems in this category are overcome by a combination of behavior modification and prescription medications. A Veterinarian with a strong knowledge of animal behavior and familiarity with psychiatric medications - like Dr. Cole - is essential for dogs experiencing these problems.
*Tail chasing and shadow chasing*
There was a list of other problems this woman claims to cure. I'd like to speak with her or write an email to her to see what her healing rate has been. How many dogs has she "cured" of tail chasing? How many drugs did the dog have to take and what kind of life did it have? But.. there was no way to reach her.

More links will be added as I find them. This is important and people should be aware of this problem. As I was searching for these links I was totally amazed at the amount of people posting questions to bulletin boards asking for help for their dogs that chased their tails. And the answers to all of them were the same. Exercise, playtime, chew toys, etc. These normal remedies of behavior control do not apply to these types of dogs. I tried them all, and then some. For a year and a half, I searched for an answer.

The bottom line is this: If you have a dog that has this crazy abnormal behavior - don't give up and by all means don't think it's your fault! There are some horrible things happening to our dogs and I don't know if it's just poor breeding or perhaps something in our dog foods. I don't know. I do know this. Life is way to short to spend our time worrying over something we cannot control. Don't allow yourself to be a victim of this, and don't let your beloved pet be a victim either!

BUYERS BEWARE / BREEDERS BE AWARE!!

Please do not send me your hate mail because my opinion differs from yours. Yes you can keep your dog on medication, if you have the money and the desire to do so. I don't think this kind of behavior should be encouraged, even with the drugs. We are saving the lifes of animals that nature would have culled at birth. God never intended for us to live in misery or to be kept in debt over an animal. He gave them to us for work, food, companions and for them to serve us, not for us to serve them. We must keep in mind that God is to be our priority. In My Opinion, I would not harbor a dog of this nature again. I would not take the risk of someone getting severly hurt by an animal that flips out from drugs. There again In MY Opinion, do you really want to line the pockets of those that read the same book that you can read? I suppose I could even be called an animal behaviourist because of the many years I have had with dogs. And remember, even some of the best people in the world only get "temporary" relief from the drugs. Let's not forget the recent tragedy of what a woman in Texas did to her own children. Yes, she was medicated also, but the drugs didn't save her children either. I really don't believe she honestly wanted to kill her children, do you? You never know how an inbalanced mind will react on meds or not, so best to not take that chance when dealing with an animal.

Having Khi put to sleep was one of the most difficult decisions I have ever had to make. He was young and "looked" healthy, but I knew that God was guiding me. He gave me Khi to learn from and indeed I did learn. I let him go by giving him back to God, and in doing so, I was blessed with another GSD, Ezekiel, and was told to
Remember Me Always.
Most of our communicaton is made up of words. They give form to our ideas and are expressions of our feelings. Words can confuse us or clarify our thoughts. They have great power to inflict pain or offer comfort. Some words become outdated and useless when we discover knew knowledge. We cannot always trust other's words for guidance and help. We need the Word of God to make our way clear and our paths straight. Each of us is dependent on God's Word for wisdom, power, and love. We need to search the Bible to know what is right and wrong - to find truth and to know about the universe and the God who created all things. The Bible is God's guidebook to keep us on track as we travel through life. This is again, MY OPINION. I hope you find the guidance you need to do what is necessary for you. God bless you and keep you always.

Unselfish and noble actions are the most radiant pages in the biography of souls.
*David Thomas

*January 14, 04*

I have recently been notified of an egroup that is devoted to all of the dogs that chase their tails, amd other canine compulsive disorders such as light/shadow chasing, pica, acral lick dermatitis, sudden Onset Aggression (SOA) which is also sometimes referred to as rage syndrome. Other neurological problems not necessarily behavior-associated, such as epilepsy, are also discussed. Please, I encourage you to join this group. It doesn't matter if you own a pet with neurological disorders, or had one. There are more people than I ever dreamed of that have been given this challenge in life. To learn, to cry, to let go of old feelings of guilt, whatever your reason.. Please join this group. It will help to know you are not the only one.

GO TO TOP OF PAGE · STORIES FROM THE HEART