Grow Your Own Magazine

Or more accurately tail chasing and biting!

My six month old German Shepherd pup is forever chasing her tail and has recently taken to grabbing it and hanging on whilst she spins around.

Anyone had any dealings with CCD? as if that's what it is I was wondering what I can do about it?
I've got a week off work now so intend taking her on some long walks to bond a bit with her and hopefully tire her out!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Dont know anything about ccd in dogs, but we had a dog that used to do that and she ended up burning her tail in the parrafin heater shows how long ago that was.

Sorry mate don't do dogs.

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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you,but the greatness comes when you are really tested,when you take,some knocks,some disappointments;because only if youv'e been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

Hard one Snadger. There could be many reasons. Is the dog bored, under exercised or anxious about something. Or did it do it as a pup and get the behaviour rewarded by attention and laughter. Sorry, my psychology degree didn't cover German Shepheards, but these things can be general. Or maybe a trait bred into the breed.
One way or another, I don't think it's about the dog saying how happy I am.
Hopefully your week together will help. Have you spoken to your local vet. They can be good.

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From each according to his ability, to each according to his needs.

At 6 months old, your dog is still a pup, it is just playing, it will probably do this for another 6 months yet. It is only a problem if it damages its tail, then you will need to look at ways to stop it.
He/She would probably benefit from another dog to chase/play with, do you know anyone with a sprightly dog for yours to spend an hour a day with?
Mind you, I am no expert

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http://clairescraftandgarden.blogspot.com/

Sorry but I am a great believer in the fact that dogs should be licenced at a ridicoulous amount maybe £1000 a year.

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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you,but the greatness comes when you are really tested,when you take,some knocks,some disappointments;because only if youv'e been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

I agree, Claire, It's a puppy thing. If there's no better stimulation then they create their own. All the WT pups do it at first, although now docking is outlawed, they can catch their tail, which they couldn't very easily before.
Snadger, make sure your dog has toys to play with to stop it getting bored. Long walks are great but it's company they need at that age. Imagine a human child by itself with no other children to play with. Socialisation with other dogs is very important, have you considered puppy socialisation classes, it would only take a couple of hours a week.

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Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself !

why?

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http://clairescraftandgarden.blogspot.com/

I could see that £1000 license fee would cut down the number of owned dogs but how would responsible owners benefit? Or maybe you are saying that no dog owners are responsible citizens?

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http://www.weltaf.co.uk/
Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself !

snadger

i have owned GSD's for 17 years - in my opinion the best breed in the world - anyhow your thread has made me sad as we lost Rosey in October 2007 and i havent got over her yet, but her roses are growing well and about to bloom, so i know she is still with me!! anyway, GSD's do have some strange habits, does she play with toys?

We were shown at ring class club to get our GSD interested in toys rather than their body lol!! but, unfortunately Rosey never played with toys and loved to chew her feet!! Have you ever thought about getting her a friend, two GSD's together are lovely, we have had 4 in total and in pairs as they can get quite bored and keep each company, my other 3 loved chasing a ball rather than their tail, but also dont forget she wont "grow up" until she is at least 2, so perhaps this is her way of having fun.

Give her a lovely belly rub from me!

SS

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Gardening - A labour of love that begins with daybreak and ends with backache!
http://clarkiesveggieblog.blogspot.com/

my dog still chases her tail, she's 11 this year and jack russell cross brillo pad, the cat whos now 18 monts old and my new kitten both chase their tails, and the cats chase each others , and the dogs tail ...... they have loads of toys, and the dog spends most of her time in the garden, and has plenty of walks ......... but tails appear to be fun

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No i'm not saying that.
Round here our local council employ dog wardens and men on little machines to clear up dog mess,and I just think that the money could go towards the cost.
Mind you maybe cats should be licenced then people might think twice about owning one and/or having them neutered!

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The greatness comes not when things go always good for you,but the greatness comes when you are really tested,when you take,some knocks,some disappointments;because only if youv'e been in the deepest valley can you ever know how magnificent it is to be on the highest mountain.

Thanks for the replies! Unfortunately I can't get another GS however much I'd like to because of my tenancy agreement only allowing one!

I've always had GS(probably about six over the years) but this is the first one to show these syptoms. I hope it is only a puppy 'thing' but if it isn't I'd like to nip it in the bud.

She is indoors with my OH all day so isn't short of human company and gets long walks with me twice a day!

I've googled it and it mentions seretonin levels and medication. I would rather not go down this road.

Maybe I should rename her Monk, after the fictional cop with compulsive disorder probs!

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

How about a lovely pic of her Snadger, i would go weak at the knees ha ha ! (the dog not you ha ha )

i do know lots of dogs that chase their tales, if she is chewing her bottom after she has the tale then this could be a vitamin deficiency, so perhaps get her some vit drops.

If she is itching the end of her tail, on her back, take a good look at her skin, apparently GSD's can suffer from Ezcema (doggy form), unfortunately, Rosey did and we only found out when she was 8!!! (darn vets).

Apart from that I bet she is gorgeous and you are making me want another!

SS

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Gardening - A labour of love that begins with daybreak and ends with backache!
http://clarkiesveggieblog.blogspot.com/

Don't get me wrong, I've got nothing against vets, they do a good job, but if you have a problem with your pet that isn't life threatening, first stop should be you breed club/association for first hand advice. Lots of people with years of experience in that breed.

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http://www.weltaf.co.uk/
Why keep a dog when you can bark yourself !

According to my GSD book, for any 'unacceptable' behaviour, you should use the "distract, command, reward" technique, which involves doing something to instantly distract your dog from whatever it's doing - this can range from calling it's name or a loud clap of the hands, to squirting the dog with water. As soon as you have it's attention, you give it a command, such as "sit" or "here", then when the dog obeys the command, you immediately reward it, either with praise or a treat, or it's favourite toy or game.

Cloud my lovely, if you don't like dogs, perhaps you should avoid a thread about them?

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Sarah

“Tell me one last thing,” said Harry. “Is this real? Or has this been happening inside my head?”
“Of course it is happening inside your head, Harry, but why on earth should that mean that it is not real?”

we used to have a GS when i was young & I remember as a pup she'd do the same,we just put it down to her way of playing(just imagine the fun you could have with a tail!~no rude comments!)we also had a sheltie who'd,every time she came on heat,hijack all our slippers & for 2weeks they were her babies!!she'd carefully carry them round with her,sleep with them...looking back i sometimes think we should have let her have proper pups but she seemed happy enough with the slippers&we didn't have the turmoil of finding new homes for a litter of pups~just reclaimed our slippers once senile moment had passed!

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the fates lead him who will;him who won't they drag.

Happiness is not having what you want,but wanting what you have.xx

my poor rosey died due to the vet not giving her the anesthetic for older dogs (she was 8 1/2), she didnt make it through the anesthetic, even though the op itself was successful, so on the morning she was poorly i didnt have a clue that she needed an op, on the same day she had the op and at 5pm i was told that she hadnt made it, but that the op was successful!!

Not only was i heartbroken but also £800 poorer, when they gave her a 90% of being great and a few more years, i didnt get to say goodbye to her and i am still heartbroken by that, she was the best dog in the world ever.....the money didnt matter but the fact that i wouldnt have put her through the pain had they have told me how bad it was!

i miss her terribly and sitting here in bloody tears now - soppy sod i am!!!

SS

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Gardening - A labour of love that begins with daybreak and ends with backache!
http://clarkiesveggieblog.blogspot.com/

A similar story to my beautiful German Shepherd Kes. She was 9 years old, in perfect condition yet died the day after an hysterectomy operation. Vet wouldn't come out to see her and she was too ill to try and get back in the car and take to the vet. She died in my arms in her favourite place at the end of my bed. Needless to say I've changed the vet I use!
Like you I miss her terribly and wrongly expect the pup to live up to all that she was!
I visit her regularily where I buried her (sometimes taking the pup for inspiration) in a wooded copse about half a mile from home.

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My Majesty made for him a garden anew in order
to present to him vegetables and all beautiful flowers.- Offerings of Thutmose III to Amon-Ra (1500 BCE)

Funny enough, Rosey needed a hysterectomy as well and then they found the BIG C there as well.. Rosey is at the top of my garden and her rose bushes called "simply the best" are about to bloom, which makes me happier.

I have found the breeder who bred rosey and I am gonna try and get a pup from the same breeding, hopefully next year, as a surprise for Mr Squashy, he will love that I know he would, all being well, i dont think any dog could ever beat Rosey though, arent GSD's the best dogs in the world, not all what people expect.

Good luck with her Snadger, i am sure she will live up to your expectations and if not surpass them totally x

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Gardening - A labour of love that begins with daybreak and ends with backache!
http://clarkiesveggieblog.blogspot.com/