What is Canine Compulsive Disorder?

As Bark Busters dog trainers and therapists, we are often called in for difficult cases. Many of us have worked with blind and deaf dogs with much success. It's amazing how dogs can use their other senses to navigate their worlds! Occasionally, though, we run into some really tough cases where the dog's behaviour seems to go beyond the norm. We've recently seen several dogs with what is known as Canine Compulsive Disorder, or CCD.

CCD is similar to Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) in humans in that the dog repeats a behaviour so much or to such an extreme that it seems abnormal. It is not called OCD in dogs, because obsessive thoughts occur in humans, whereas we don't know what a dog is thinking.

Examples of CCD in dogs include:

• Tail chasing
• Compulsive licking
• Flank or blanket sucking
• Light or shadow chasing
• Fly snapping
• Persistent barking at nothing
• Pica (rock eating)
• Toy or object fixation
• Excessive drinking or eating
• Hallucinations

Certain breeds are more prone to this disorder:

• Flank sucking and lick granulomas: Doberman, Great Dane, German Shepherd, Labrador
• Fly snapping: Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, German Shepherd, Springer Spaniel
• Hallucinations: German Shepherd, Dalmatian
• Pica: Retriever breeds
• Shadow chasing: Collie, Old English Sheepdog, Fox Terrier, Rottweiler, Schnauzer, Golden Retriever
• Tail chasing: Bull terriers, German Shepherd, Border Collie

To humans these dogs can appear a bit crazy! But, in reality the dog has learned to use the compulsion to deal with stress, anxiety or lack of exercise. These cases can be particularly challenging if they are combined with other behaviours such as dog or people aggression.

The first thing to do is to make sure your dog has been seen by a veterinarian as many of these problems can also be caused by physical problems including neurologic, endocrine, gastrointestinal, and orthopaedic disorders. When compulsive behaviours are treated early and quickly the outcomes are much better than if you wait until the behaviours become chronic.

A poor diet, lack of exercise, playing light or laser games, and a stressful environment can also contribute to these behaviours. Over time, compulsive behaviours progress and can get worse, so don't ignore these behaviours. Bark Busters trainers can help you determine what behavioural modifications can be made to help you manage your dog's CCD.

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