My dog is compulsive: chasing shadows, spinning, barking. How to help?

Dogs can develop obsessive compulsive behavior just like humans can and this may be the issue with Rex. Less common would be a neurological abnormality or pain in the leg. OCD is a complex behavior and there is not one simple treatment. I recommend to read books about behavior disorders in dogs as that will give you more insight. I also recommend to make an appointment with your veterinarian who will check Rex over for any pain or neurological disorders. To aid with the behavior, the doctor may prescribe medication but it is unlikely to help in its own. These dogs need daily hard exercise, a job to do and then diversion when they start to exhibit the behavior. A trainer may be the best person to contact after the vet to teach you diversion techniques. i hope you find this helpful and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Poor Biscotti! Light-chasing can be a compulsive behavior in some dogs - when they become focused on a light, they stare at it and chase it obsessively and may be very hard to distract or engage in some other activity. They have no control over this behavior, just like a person with OCD - and just like OCD in humans, this problem is best treated in person by a professional. I would recommend making an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Biscotti in person and make a definite diagnosis of the problem. He/she will put together a detailed training and management plan to work on the problem, and may also prescribe medication to help. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

Hi there. This behavior is actually a common compulsive behavior in Miniature Schauzers, and is thought to have a genetic basis in some affected dogs. It sounds like your veterinarian has done a good job of ruling out an obvious medical issue that could be contributing, such as constipation, spinal pain, dermatitis, anal gland issues, etc. You might consider talking to your vet about a trial course of an anti-inflammatory medication such as prednisone and/or a medication for neuropathic pain such as gabapentin if these things have not been tried yet - some dogs will respond favorably to these meds, even without a specific diagnosis. If there is no response to medical therapy and no evidence of a physical problem can be found, then the problem is likely behavioral. In that case, I would recommend seeing a veterinary behaviorist for a full evaluation and treatment plan, as these issues can be challenging to treat without expert help. Most dogs with compulsive behavior issues will require a detailed training and management plan as well as medication to see significant improvement. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

I am sorry to hear about your dog. I would recommend asking your veterinarian if there is a veterinary behaviorist near you, or consulting https://www.dacvb.org/search/custom.asp?id=4709 to find a veterinary behaviorist who may be able to help you. These vets are specially trained in behavior issues of this type and may use a combination of specialized training/behavior modification as well as medications if deemed necessary.

Poor Rascal! It sounds like he's very fearful of many things outside, which is why he barks at them. This problem is usually very treatable, but you really need to work with a professional who can give you some hands-on guidance in how to help him with his fear - it sounds like he may also be a good candidate for anti-anxiety medication, at least in the short-term. Your best option would be to make an appointment with a veterinary behaviorist who can evaluate Rascal in person and help you put together a detailed plan to help him. This plan would normally include recommendations on how to help manage him so that he isn't put in situations that are scary and overwhelming for him, training techniques to help with his fear by teaching him to associate good things with the things he's currently afraid of, and possibly medication as discussed above. You can search for a board-certified veterinary behaviorist in your area here: www.dacvb.org

You have described an obsessive compulsive disorder (aka: stereotypy). You are not likely to change this behavior but you could always consult with a professional dog trainer if you wan to attempt to redirect the behavior which may help to minimize it. ( https://www.sfspca.org/sites/default/files/dog_behavior_repetitive-behavior.pdf )

The tuffed hair is interesting and the fact that he is restless. I would be suspicious of fleas, skin mites or perhaps allergies causing him to be itchy and that's why he won;t settle down. I recommend to have him examined by the veterinarian to get the most accurate and fastest diagnosis. They can also provide medication like Apoquel or Cytopoint to help with itching quickly. I hope this helps.