Dogs can make great additions to a family and provide unparalleled companionship. Caring for a dog takes more than just making sure it has food and water. Understanding your dog's behavior is key to providing a healthy and happy environment. Some dogs engage in self-mutilating behavior, such as chewing on tails or paws. You must identify and address the source of the behavior to stop it before the dog does permanent damage to itself.
Things You'll Need
- Leash
- Toys
- Neck cone
- Access to a veterinarian
Instructions
Identifying the Cause
Observe the behavior of your dog. Look for any causes of anxiety or stress, and for signs of boredom. Some working dog breeds, such as Australian shepherds or German shepherds, can mutilate themselves if bored.
Assess the severity of the chewing. Examine the area being chewed, looking for irritants or injury that might be causing your dog discomfort. If your dog has had a medical procedure on the area, it might be chewing because of discomfort as the area heals. If the chewing is causing an open wound, consult with your veterinarian to treat the site and avoid infection.
Change your dog's routine if the chewing appears to be caused by boredom or anxiety. Changes in the environment, such as closing windows or doors to muffle a noise that might generate anxiety, can help reduce the destructive behavior. If the behavior is due to boredom, provide stimuli to your dog through toys or "work." Read "Tips" below for specifics.
Determine if a change in activity level affects your dog's tail chewing. If it has no effect, use a cone to physically prevent the chewing. Because the cone is a temporary solution, consult with your veterinarian to see if there may be viable medical options (such as anti-anxiety medications) to remedy the behavior.