If you have a dog that is tail-chasing, showing signs of
another canine compulsive disorder, or suspect your dog may be
exhibiting symptoms of sudden onset aggression, the best thing you
can do is consult with a veterinary behaviorist. While a trainer
may be able to help to some extent (see 'Other Resources', below) a
behaviorist is a better choice for dealing with these types of
disorders and a veterinary behaviorist will be able to rule out
other medical issues as well as prescribe medication if he or she
feels it is warranted. Dr. Moon-Fanelli at the Tufts
Behavioral Clinic is probably the best resource to consult on
Bull Terrier tail chasing, the clinic is in Massachusetts but
consultation is also available through the Tufts PETFAX service.
Her contact information, and links to the Behavioral Clinic and
PETFAX sites can be found here. Keeping a daily log of your dog's
behavior is very helpful. Note when any strange behavior occurred
and anything you can think of that may have been connected to it.
Over time, the log can help identify things that are acting as
'triggers' for the behavior and will be very useful to the
behaviorist. Have a checkup done with your regular veterinarian
to make sure there are no medical issues that may be causing the
problems; for instance, impacted anal sacs can cause tail chasing,
and pain from an unseen injury can cause what seems to be
unprovoked aggression. If possible, contact your dog's
breeder and try to keep them informed of how things progress; they
have a right to know what is going on with a pup they bred, and
they need to know if there is a potential problem in the
gene pool they are working with. An ethical breeder
will welcome your coming to them for help-- they may even have
encountered the situation before and be able to offer their
experience and assistance in addition to moral support. The following links will help explain what a veterinary
behaviorist is, and what they do.
What Can a Veterinary Behaviorist Do For My Dog? -
Petplace.com article by Dr. Nicholas Dodman.
What is a Veterinary Behaviorist? -
Petfinder.org article by Dr. Amy Marder, V.M.D., VP Behavioral Medicine & CAS
Who Should Treat Your Pet’s Behavioral Problem? -
Vetcentric article by Tracy Vogel describing the differences between an animal trainer, a certified applied animal behaviorist, and a veterinary behaviorist. Also
the following is a list of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists; several of them are also veterinarians:
Directory of Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists
Directory of individuals that have been professionally certified by the Animal Behavior Society as Applied or Associate Applied Animal Behaviorists.
Other Resources
It may be also helpful to join the Bull
Terrier Neurological Disorders group. The group is open to all
owners, not just those with Bull Terriers. While none of us
are qualified to give professional advice, we can lend our support,
share information, and help in any way we can. Our Recommended
Reading page suggests a number of books that may be helpful
for those dealing with various behavioral issues. Since compulsive disorders are
anxiety-based, it is important to reduce stress wherever possible
for the dog, and to provide fair, consistent training in a positive
manner. Here are a few links to help get started in the right
direction with this.
Flying Dog Press
- Suzanne Clothier's web site. Information on her book, video, seminars as well as a great collection of articles.
Positively Bull Terriers -
Yahoo! Group devoted to training Bull Terriers using positive methods.
The sad reality is that not every story has a happy ending, and
not every dog can be helped. In a discussion about the decision to
euthanize a few months back on the Bull Terrier Neurological
Disorders group, one of our members, Shari Mann, perhaps put it
best, and gave permission to quote part of her post here:
"Because of family situations and considerations of
safety, and considerations of cost, and utter confusion and
pain, it is sometimes necessary for people to have to euthanize
their afflicted pets. Sometimes those pets are just too
threatening to have around with children or elderly parents; it
is a danger to them and not a good choice to make on their
behalf. It also not possible for many people to
spend 24 / 7 with their afflicted dogs, they must work daily,
care for the family, and the thousand other things that are
required of us humans in daily life. There are budgetary
constraints as well; not everyone can afford experts in the
field, and even if they make that effort, it does not always
work. People don't necessarily have a clue what to do,
where to go for help. The average vet is just not
conversant with these issues."
Sometimes the kindest thing to do is to end an animal's
suffering, and sometimes it is the only viable option available. Another
purpose of the group is to help those who have been in this
situation to heal and find some piece of mind. The following articles from the Pet
Loss Grief Support site may also be of some comfort: Dealing
with the Guilt - Excellent advice on how to overcome the
terrible guilt so many of us feel after losing a beloved pet under
difficult circumstances. Grief
and Pet Loss
- A thoughtful and comprehensive article by Margaret Muns DVM
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