My sister’s Border Collie, Oscar, loves to play fetch with her teenage boys. He’ll bring me his squeaky toy, a plastic pig, to throw. He’ll fetch, exhibiting ordinary dog behavior, but then do something bizarre like leap up at the instant pot to get a whiff of the steam. As comical as it is to see him in action, it’s dangerous. He has to be watched closely. He’ll pounce at his shadow on the wall and chase it on the driveway. While it’s entertaining, is it healthy?

A quick search on Google brought up a full page of results about dogs chasing shadows and lights. Oscar’s behavior, it turns out, is not unique. The first result, The Wildest, a website, featured an article by Karen B. London, PhD, a Certified Applied Animal Behaviorist and Certified Professional Dog Trainer. According to her, shadow chasing is typical in herding or working dogs. Dog breeds like Oscar and my dog, Bourbon, a Catahoula Aussie mix, are the get-up-and-go type. They’re exuberant and bred for work, seeking constant stimulation or a task. They’re quickly bored otherwise and prone to unusual behavior.

In Bourbon’s case, it’s an occasional tail chase or licking the bedroom wall. He doesn’t always do it, but the latter is unusual. I redirect him, and he stops. In the yard, he fences the other dogs in, keeping them together and chasing them onto the patio. He has a strong herding instinct. Oscar is the only dog in his family, which I imagine feels like he is an only child. Left alone while the family works and attends school makes a long day for any dog, much less dogs like Bourbon and Oscar, who need constant mental enrichment to keep from getting bored. Bourbon is a live wire when he sees me in the afternoon.

Chasing shadows and lights for too long and other abnormal behaviors that are out of context can morph from a bad habit to a compulsive disorder similar to obsessive-compulsive disorder in humans, which is challenging to treat. Distraction from the behavior helps in some cases. Regular exercise and other forms of enrichment might reduce the behavior if it hasn’t progressed to compulsive behavior. Engage the dog in activity, but don’t encourage the behavior. London suggests putting up drapes to keep light from entering the windows and casting shadows, which may ease the urge to chase them. Found at https://www.thewildest.com/dog-behavior/behavior-unhealthy-obsessions-dogs

Bourbon’s tail-chasing has always seemed to be his way of telling me, “Hey, Mom, I’m so happy to see you. Scratch behind my ears, will you?” He only chases his tail when after I arrive home from work.

All of the dogs are vying for my attention on weekday afternoons. They want hugs and back rubs. They’re aiming for the door onto the patio, clawing at it to go out and chase one another or play fetch. The rope comes out of the bin for a game of tug-of-war, and supper is put on hold if it gets cooked. Everyone is a live wire. It’s a typical afternoon greeting. The rowdiness and the chaos are reserved for me like they’ve all been holding their breath, and now they’re letting loose. Then, it all ends abruptly when my husband comes home. It’s not for lack of energy on their part. Everyone has tried on a new hat, a new role. It reminds me of maintaining my composure at work, my professionalism, and my filter in place until I pull out onto the interstate for home. That’s when it all slips, and I’m allowed to relax and air my thoughts to a confidant.

The dogs clam up when my husband’s around. It’s as if they know my attention has been forced to shift away from them.

Tail-chasing is Bourbon’s way of letting loose, letting his filter slip, and having fun, or is it? Could it be a cause for concern? What about Oscar’s shadow-chasing behavior? When is it time to worry about the unusual behavior?

Before I go into detail or share my research, please remember that I am a pet parent, not a pet expert. Please take a look at my disclaimer below.

DISCLAIMER

I am not a veterinarian or pet expert. I am a pet parent and dog lover, sharing a personal pet experience with research. If you suspect your dog is ill or has a behavioral issue, consult a veterinarian.

When is it time to worry?

When the dog’s behavior starts to get in the way of his everyday life, it’s cause for concern. The behavior is problematic if he can’t seem to take a break, rest, or eat. It could also be medical-related. It’s not the behavior itself, but the extent of it. How much of his life is encompassed, repeating the same behavior? If the behavior has worsened, it’s time to visit the veterinarian. If the behavior has caused bodily harm, seek help right away.

In humans, obsessive-compulsive disorder disrupts everyday life. It’s like living life on a hamster wheel. Life is on repeat; the compulsions take over, disrupting everything from getting up and making it to work on time in the morning to how you deal with relationships. For dogs, it may not be easy to distinguish. A veterinarian can point you in the right direction and clarify whether the behavior is disrupting the dog’s life.

Bourbon will stop chasing his tail if I distract him. Usually, rubbing the fur on his back or scratching behind his ears will calm him and lessen the excitement that could turn tail-chasing into a compulsion. He’s an easily excited dog, so not all his quirky behaviors surprise me. He takes medication for epilepsy to reduce the seizures caused by the excitability in his brain. He’s been known to lick the wall in my bedroom, but not to the extent that he can’t seem to resist. He stops with a bit of redirection and engages in typical dog behavior.

Below, I’ve listed the frequent behaviors or “common compulsions” according to the VCA Animal Hospital Website lists. I’ve paraphrased and described most of the terms to avoid the professionals’ medical jargon.

Frequent compulsive behaviors

• “Acral licking” or licking of the extremities that can lead to skin irritation

• “Flank sucking” or taking the area of skin behind the chest in front of the legs into the mouth and holding it for a while

• Nonstop walking back and forth

• Barking that seems unending. Barking that sounds like it has a pattern to it.

• Running after their shadow

• Frequent stopping and standing in one position or gazing at an object or person for an extended period

• Drinking too much

• Licking or chewing on objects

• Opening and closing the mouth frequently like he’s trying to catch flying insects

• Harmful or dangerous behavior

  Found at https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/compulsive-disorders-in-dogs

Uncontrolled paw licking is similar to frequent hand washing in people with obsessive-compulsive disorder. While constant hand washing in humans may stem from an extreme fear of contamination and excess ruminating over germs and disease, it’s unclear whether or not dogs think as humans do.

The American Kennel Club calls the behavior “Canine Compulsive Disorder or CCD,” not recognizing it as an obsessive disorder. Found at https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-dog-behavior

The Merck Manual that many veterinarians refer to states otherwise, “They (dogs) perceive and experience concern; therefore, obsessive-compulsive has also been used to describe this disorder in dogs.” Found at https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/normal-social-behavior-and-behavioral-problems-of-domestic-animals/behavioral-problems-of-dogs

What will the Veterinarian do?

Veterinarians will perform a physical and mental exam. Conditions that affect your dog’s health can lead to compulsive behavior. If the dog doesn’t have health related issues, the vet will examine the dog’s mental health and behavior. What other signs does he exhibit that point to a possible mental health issue?

Treatment for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in dogs or Canine compulsive disorder is similar to the treatment for humans. Medication is often prescribed to lessen anxiety and alleviate symptoms that cause compulsive behaviors. Behavioral changes or “behavioral modification” through training are often combined for effective treatment. Found at https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails

CCD and OCD-type behavior are more common in certain breeds. For example, tail-chasing and shadow-chasing are common in herding breeds like Bourbon, part Australian Shepherd, and Oscar, a purebred Border Collie. Distraction with toys, exercise, or another activity might do the trick and help to reduce and eventually eliminate some of the bizarre behavior, depending on how far it has progressed.

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References:

Farmer, V., DVM (2023, September 5). Compulsive Behavior in Dogs. Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.webmd.com/pets/dogs/why-do-dogs-chase-their-tails

Landsberg, G. M., BSc, DVM, MRCVS, DACVB, DECAWBM,, & Denenberg, S., DVM, DACVB, Dip. ECAWBM (Behaviour), MACVSc (Behaviour), (n.d.). Behavioral Problem of Dogs. Merck Manual Veterinary Manual. Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.merckvetmanual.com/behavior/normal-social-behavior-and-behavioral-problems-of-domestic-animals/behavioral-problems-of-dogs

Lindell, E., VDM, DACVB, Horowitz, D., DVM, DACVB , & Landsberg, G., DVM, DACVB, DECAWBM (n.d.). Compulsive Disorders in Dogs. Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/compulsive-disorders-in-dogs

London, K. B., PhD, CAAB, CPDT-KAd (2021, July 15). “Why Is My Dog Obsessed With Chasing Shadows?”. Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.thewildest.com/dog-behavior/behavior-unhealthy-obsessions-dogs

Meyers, H. (2023, December 29). OCD in Dogs: Can it Happen? Retrieved February 17, 2024, from https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/obsessive-compulsive-disorder-dog-behavior