A dog that is obsessed with the same behavior or play, is it a simple preference or a problem?
Hello. The person in charge of one of the bears is Bear. Today, I would like to talk about a problem that guardians encounter more often than you might think. This is a dog that repeats one action or play over and over
.
For example, this is the case.
- As soon as he sees the ball, he asks me to throw it endlessly.
- Excessive obsession with just one toy.
- Keep chasing your tail.
- Constantly licks feet or legs.
- Continues to chase shadow or light.
- When excited, they spin in the same direction.
- Repeat the same behavior when a specific sound or stimulus appears.
At first, the guardian thinks this way.
“My puppy really likes playing with the ball.”
“I think this toy is his favorite.”
“He’s trying to catch his tail so cute.”
“Maybe he’s bored, right?”
But as time passes, things get a little weird. Even though I can’t stop, I can’t hear you when I call, and my body seems tired, I keep going. If you don’t allow them to do so, they may bark or become anxious, and their actions may take priority over eating, walking, or resting. The caregiver’s reaction may lead to obsession.
From this point on, it may be viewed as an obsession or repetitive behavior problem, rather than a simple preference.
- Not all repetitive behaviors are the problem
- Difference between liking and obsession
- Typical aspects of repetitive behavior
- Why does this behavior occur?
- Common mistakes made by guardians
- Checklist to determine whether it is an obsession
- How to reduce obsession with playing ball
- If hospital consultation is required
Not all repetitive behavior is a problem
I’ll tell you something important first. Just because a dog repeats the same behavior does not necessarily mean it is a problem behavior.
Puppies naturally learn through repetition and play repeatedly. Fetching a ball, tugging, sniffing, chewing a toy, and looking forward to a walk routine are natural behaviors.
The question is not whether you like the behavior. The key iswhether you can get yourself out of that behavior
To put it simply in human bear terms, it is like this.
Favorite Dog says “It’s fun! Let’s do it again!” That’s about it.
Obsessed Puppyis closer to “I can’t bear it if I don’t do this.”
Like and obsession are different
Let’s take playing ball as an example.
A dog that likes to play with a ball will run happily when you throw a ball to it. After playing a few times, they take a break, drink water, and smell different smells. When the guardian says “Stop,” there is some degree of conversion, even if it is regrettable.
But a dog obsessed with a ball is different.
- The moment you see the ball, your eyes change.
- My body becomes stiff and my breathing becomes heavy.
- Difficulty seeing other stimuli.
- Barks or jumps at you to throw it.
- Sometimes they lunge at you as if biting your hand.
- Even if you put the ball away, you keep looking for it and cannot give up.
- Even if you get tired, you don’t stop and repeat until you get hurt.
In these conditions, play may not be a stress reliever, but rather a switch to increase excitement.
Typical aspects of repetitive behavior
- Chasing your tail
- Twirl
- Wandering around in the same place
- Excessive foot licking
- Suck on certain objects
- Chasing light or shadow
- Action as if trying to catch an invisible bug
- Repetitive barking
- Excessive obsession with a specific toy or ball
What is important here is the intensity and context rather than the type of action. Doing it once or twice might be okay. However, if it occurs frequently, for a long time, strongly, or is difficult to stop, it needs to be checked.
Why does this behavior occur?
Repetitive behavior or obsession does not occur for just one reason. There are five major causes.
1. Excessive excitement
Children with high energy and difficulty controlling their emotions find it difficult to stop on their own once they start playing. In particular, ball throwing, tugging, and games involving fast movements can greatly increase excitement.
2. Anxiety and Stress
When your dog is anxious, he may try to calm himself down by repeating the same behavior. However, if the behavior is repeated, it can become a habit.
3. Frustration
When you cannot do what you want to do, when you see a stimulus but cannot access it, or when you have a lot of energy but no way to release it, you may fall into repetitive behavior.
4. Guardian’s unintentional reinforcement
If you continue to respond every time your dog performs a certain behavior, your dog may learn that that behavior is a way to get you going.
“Ah, if you bark and push, the ball game begins.”
5. Pain or illness
Especially if the dog keeps licking or biting a specific area, or if repetitive behavior suddenly occurs, it may not be a simple training issue.
Important
Paw licking, body licking, tail biting, and biting may be associated with skin problems, pain, allergies, and nervous system problems. If it starts suddenly or an injury occurs, check at the hospital first before training.
The most common mistakes parents make
This is the most common mistake that guardians make when exhibiting repetitive behavior. It is thinking that it will be solved if you ask more
For example, to a dog that is obsessed with balls, think, “It’s because he has a lot of energy,” and throw more balls.
However, some children do not become calm just because you throw them a lot of balls. Rather, the excitement circuit for the ball becomes stronger.
To put it simply, it does not become exercise, but becomes like an addiction.
To put it in human bear terms, your body is tired, but your head is more alert.
These children are unable to rest even after coming home and continue to search for balls, carry toys in their mouths, or ask their guardians to play.
What is needed at this time is not more intense play, but a balance of play that raises excitement and activities that lower excitement
Checklist to check if you are obsessed
- Once the behavior begins, it does not respond well even when the guardian calls.
- Even if the body gets tired, it cannot stop on its own.
- If you do not allow them to do that behavior, they will bark excessively or become anxious.
- Whether eating, resting, or walking, that action takes priority over other activities.
- Continues to search for a particular toy or stimulus even if it is removed.
- The body becomes stiff or the eyes become excessively focused during action.
- Repeated actions cause injury or damage to the skin.
- The more the guardian tries to stop the behavior, the worse it gets.
- Every day revolves around that action.
- It suddenly appears new or has recently become more intense.
Especially numbers 7 and 10 are important.
If you have a wound on your body or a sudden increase in repetitive behavior, you need to check at the hospital before training.
How can I reduce my obsession with playing ball?
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Playing ball itself is not bad. The problem is when ball games are played in a way that only raises excitement endlessly.
If your dog is obsessed with the ball, you should change the rules of ball play rather than taking the ball away completely.
1. The beginning and end are determined by the guardian
Do not start play when your puppy is barking, jumping, or pushing you. The play should begin at the moment of calm waiting.
2. Don’t just keep throwing it
After one or two throws, you should mix in brief conditioning actions such as waiting, eye contact, hand touch, and moving the mat.
3. There must be a finishing routine after play
Excitement should be reduced by drinking water, nose work, chewing, and resting on the mat.
4. Don’t always leave the ball where you can see it
For an obsessive child, keeping the ball in sight is like keeping a switch on.
Play is also training
It should not just be a time to tire you out, but an exercise in controlling your excitement.
How should we view obsession with toys?
Some dogs become overly attached to certain stuffed animals, balls, blankets, or cushions. It always carries its bite, and when someone comes near it, it growls, hides, and tries not to be taken away.
At this time, the situation may get worse if the guardian forcibly takes it away, saying, “I am the leader, so I have to take it from you.”
“When people come, what is mine is taken away.”
“So, I have to bite faster and protect it more tightly.”
In this case, exchange training comes first rather than getting rid of the item.
Rather than saying, “Give it to me,” you should say, “If you give me this, something better will come out.”
Be more careful about tail chasing, circling, and shadow chasing
Tail chasing looks cute at first. However, if it continues repeatedly, is difficult to stop, causes injuries by biting its tail, or comes automatically whenever it gets excited, you should be careful.
The same goes for chasing shadows or light. You must be especially careful when playing laser pointer.
Dogs cannot catch light. Playing with constant chasing after an object that cannot be caught can create frustration and obsession in some dogs.
I do not recommend laser pointer play to dogs.
Plays that require them to keep chasing a light that they cannot catch can create repetitive behaviors and obsessions in some dogs.
The key to reducing repetitive behavior is not ‘stopping it’
Many guardians do this to stop repetitive behaviors.
“Don’t do it!”
“Stop!”
“No!”
“Why are you doing that again!”
However, if the dog is already immersed, these words do not apply well.
The key to reducing repetitive behavior is not to stop the behavior after it explodes, but to change the flow before engaging in that behavior
Rather than stopping when you’ve already reached 100, you should change direction at 30 or 40.
The first thing a guardian should do is keep records
- When to do it
- Where to do it
- What do you see and then start
- How long
- How the guardian reacted
- Does the dog calm down after finishing
- Are there any signs of injury or pain in the body?
If you write this down, you will see a pattern.
For example, I thought the child was obsessed with the ball, but in reality, it may only get worse right after the guardian comes home from work. Then the problem may not be the ball but the excitement routine after the guardian returns home.
I thought foot licking was a habit, but it can get worse after going on certain walks. Then you may suspect skin irritation, allergies, or pain.
Life routine to reduce obsession
1. Make your daily routine predictable
If meal, walk, play, and rest times are too irregular, sensitive children may become more anxious.
2. It’s not just exciting play
Repetition of fast games such as throwing a ball or tugging can make it difficult to control excitement. It should include nose work, slow walking, chewing, and mat rest.
3. Keep the guardian’s response consistent
If the owner reacts immediately whenever the dog exhibits clingy behavior, the behavior may become stronger.
4. Teach alternative behaviors in advance
Instead of just repeating “Stop,” you should create actions to do instead, such as going to the mat, touching your hand, searching with your nose, sitting and waiting, or biting into something to chew.
What guardians should never do
- Do not forcibly take things away. Forcibly taking away toys or objects from a child who is obsessed with them can increase defensiveness.
- Don’t hang up while getting angry. If anxiety is the basis for repetitive behavior, scolding can create even more anxiety.
- Do not let the child get tired until they get tired. For a child who is obsessed with playing with a ball, throwing the ball endlessly may not solve the problem but rather make it worse.
- Do not view painful behavior as just a training issue. Paw licking, body licking, tail biting and biting in certain areas can be associated with health issues.
- Don’t suddenly ban everything Abruptly and completely cutting off the object of their obsession may make some children more anxious.
If hospital consultation is required
- Lick or bite to the point that it hurts the body.
- Bite the tail, causing bleeding or hair loss.
- Repetitive behavior suddenly occurred.
- Keeps chasing or trying to bite something invisible
- The spinning behavior is severe and difficult to stop.
- Appears unconscious during repetitive actions.
- No response at all when called.
- After an action, you collapse from exhaustion or your breathing is excessively rough.
- Water, food intake, bowel movements, and sleeping patterns also changed.
In these cases, skin, pain, nervous system, digestive, hormonal, and anxiety problems may also occur.
Training must be done on a healthy body.
Access order recommended by Human Bear
- Check for health problems first.
For licking specific areas, tail biting, or sudden changes in behavior, check at the hospital first. - Write down the circumstances in which the behavior occurs.
See when, where, and what triggers it. - Rather than blindly taking away the object of your obsession, control how you expose it.
Decide how you will manage the ball, toy, light, specific sound, or specific location. - Create alternative behaviors
Requires behaviors such as mat, nose work, hand touch, waiting, chewing, and scent seeking. - Create a routine to reduce excitement.
Rather than ending immediately after playing, training should include the calming process as well. - Make the guardian’s response consistent.
If you react today, get angry tomorrow, and ignore the day after tomorrow, your dog will become more confused.
Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
Q1. Is it a problem that my dog likes to play with a ball?
No. The fact that you like playing ball itself is not the problem. The problem is that when they see the ball, they can’t stop themselves, they get overly excited, and they can’t calm down even after the play is over.
Q2. Should I stop playing ball altogether?
You do not necessarily have to cut it off. However, in cases where the obsession is severe, the guardian must set the rules for the time, frequency, and start and end of ball play.
Q3. Isn’t chasing your tail a cute behavior?
Sometimes being short can seem like a joke. However, if it repeats often, is difficult to stop, causes injuries by biting its tail, or comes out automatically whenever it gets excited, you need to be careful.
Q4. Is constant licking of feet a behavioral problem?
It can be a behavioral problem, but it can also be related to skin problems, allergies, or pain. If you keep licking a specific area or if there is redness, scarring, or hair loss, check with a hospital first.
Q5. Does obsessive behavior decrease when you scold it?
In most cases, scolding is not a good solution. If anxiety or excitement is the basis for repetitive behavior, scolding can actually make the problem worse.
Conclusion
Just because a dog repeats an action or play does not necessarily mean it is a problem.
However, if you can’t stop the behavior, become anxious, get hurt, or your daily life is shaken, it shouldn’t be seen as just a preference.
“I’m so excited right now.”
“I’m anxious.”
“I don’t know what to do.”
“I don’t know what else to do.”
“I might feel uncomfortable.”
In times like this, what the guardian should do is not forcefully take the child and scold him.
First, look at the cause, record the situation, check health, reduce excitement, and provide alternative actions.
Liking and being obsessed are different.
Favorites make dogs happy, but obsessions make them unable to escape.
Our role is not to deprive dogs of what they like, but to help them enjoy what they like in a healthy way.
That’s real training
References
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Behavior Problems of Dogs
- Merck Veterinary Manual – Glossary of Behavioral Terms for Veterinary Medicine
- VCA Hospitals – Compulsive Disorders in Dogs
- VCA Hospitals – Compulsive, Stereotypic and Displacement Disorders