Obsessive Disorders in Dogs
All too often I see dogs going nuts over something. Someone I know has a dog that is crazy about rocks. This dog is by definition, obsessed with rocks. Balls come in a close second, but rocks are his drug of choice. His obsession has cost his owners a few vet visits from ripped toe nails, torn pads, inflamed blisters and burst blisters. His obsession with rocks is also cute to his owners. His owners actually throw rocks for him, encouraging his obsessive behavior. A chipped tooth is the near future I think.
When I see him with a rock, it is like looking at a crack head with his fix. He's gone crazy and listens to nothing and no one. He only hears, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock, rock inside that furry brain. When dogs get like this, they are unreachable without elevated verbal demands and most often a stern physical touch. Her dog gets so focused and obsessed over the rock that he would run right into the highway and get hit, because he can see nothing but the rock. Tunnel vision, on crack.
The behaviors are not good for the dog. It is literally like a crack head with a bad crack habit. The dog's obsessive state of mind is unhealthy. It causes stress on the dog. Stress causes health problems and more stress. Eventually the dog is in distress and cannot calm down. Her dog shakes all the time, and he is super freaked out about people touching him. Just reaching for him causes him to twitch and run away. He is always a nervous wreck when I see them. I see them everyday.
It saddens me that his owner thinks his distress is funny. I wish she would let me help him, but in her ignorance, she thinks he is having fun. She has no idea that she is promoting an unhealthy state of mind for her dog to be in, all the time. I feel so sorry for her dog.
Stopping the Obsessive Behavior
First, you must teach the dog a rule. No obsessing over stuff. No matter what the object is, it is not okay to obsess over it. So when the dog sees it, naturally they will become alert and focused on that object. This is when we must set the rule. The moment we see his eyes, ears and body language become alert. We must stop his train of thought right there. We tell the dog 'no' or 'leave it' with a firm voice. When they look away from it, we praise and give the dog a treat. Let the dog go back to being a dog. If the dog shows interest in the object of obsession, we give the dog a firm poke in the side and use a firm tone of voice to say 'no' or 'leave it'.
Remember, when addressing unwanted behavior we must be firm and consistent. We cannot let them get away with it at all. Once they understand the rule and know that you will enforce it every time, the unwanted behavior stops. It is all about telling the dog when they are misbehaving and praising them when they are behaving. We cannot let the dog get away with it today and enforce it tomorrow. We must enforce it every time we see it until the behavior stops. Otherwise the dog does not take us seriously and will continue to obsess.
Changing a dog' behavior takes a lot of patience and consistency. Stick with it and that unwanted behavior will go away. You will have a happier dog for it. Trust me.
Later Gaters!