Bad Habits

Why do we love pets when their behaviours can sometimes be so annoying?

Let's talk about the solutions to problem behaviours.

The Kelvinator Masticator

The first case is that of 'Skippy - the Kelvinator Masticator'. Skippy, a Fox Terrier, spent most of his waking hours chewing the door of the refrigerator in the kitchen. This strange behaviour was a Compulsive Disorder - a condition that I see more in terriers than any other breed. Compulsive disorders are behaviours that occur repeatedly and which are often harmful to the animals involved. While chewing refrigerators is unusual, a more common obsession in pets is circling and tail chasing.

Compulsions are usually seen in dogs that are over excitable or hyperactive. Dogs like this almost never rest. The compulsions often start because the dogs need 'brain fodder'. These dogs are too active for their own good and when nothing else satisfies their needs, the dogs' tails are always hanging around.

Solutions for tail-chasing, circling and fridge-chewing dogs, and other compulsive disorders, always involve providing other activities to give the brain some 'work'. Boredom is the greatest evil for such dogs. Obedience training and any form of aerobic exercise that involves some brain challenge, such as 'fetch' and 'hide and seek', are vital.

Distraction should also be tried. Immediately the dog starts its compulsive behaviour, give it something else to do instead. However, you can forget punishment because the dog is not in a mental state where it will understand what the punishment is for.

While the above techniques are vital, a better response is achieved if medication is used. New types of medications are now available which are often effective at reducing these compulsions but they must be combined with some form of training to modify the pet's behaviour.

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