posted
Can dogs have it? Our dog is a fox terrier, and I know terriers tend to be hyper, blah, blah, blah. He actually is a lovely and well-behaved dog, and incredibly intelligent. However, he's a wee bit obsessed with his tennis balls. He will literally play fetch for over an hour with no breaks. When you tell him no, he stalks you by following you around the house with the ball in his mouth and dropping it every 2 seconds until he finally gives up. Sometimes he actually falls asleep with a tennis ball in his mouth. So, either he has OCD, or he is just a total weirdo.
quote:Obsessive Compulsive Disorder in dogs, also called OCD, is a behavior that seems out of context, odd, and directed towards objects, be it the dog himself, or an inanimate object such as a food dish, or wheeled things like cars, bikes, or strollers.
OCD often manifests itself in dogs who are stressed, anxious, or bored, and can be a very maddening experience for the owner. These behaviors can often result in destruction of items, yards, angry neighbours, and seemingly uncontrollable aggression. Obsessive digging, continuous biting at their own feet, barking at nothing, attacking inanimate objects, all are symptoms of OCD.
posted
Thanks for the info. Well, according to that article, I guess it's not OCD. He's not anxious at all, just a happy-go-lucky dog. So that means he's a weirdo, which I suppose fits in nicely with our family.
posted
I had a lab that loved to chase a stick. Any stick. And if you threw it somewhere she couldn't get it (like on the roof) she'd stand there for a minute making sure it wasn't coming down, and then go find a new stick.
She'd fetch it for as long as you'd throw it...once I decided to find out if she'd ever get bored with it...she wore me out...and DH, and Dan...and was still wanting us to throw the thing.
OTOH, she was in top physical condition...all that running kept her in very good shape.
Personally, though, I always thought she was a little nuts.
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posted
Boon, your dog sounds like mine. If we're outside and a tennis ball isn't available, then he finds a stick. Sure he's healthy, but I'm worried about the massive bicep muscle I'm getting from all the throwing.
posted
It might be partially boredom but my dog Jake does the exact same thing. The most disturbing way from being aroused from sleep (short of a fire) is to have a slobbery wet tennis ball shoved in the nape of your neck.
I think it is like a child, or even adult. We all have our favorite activities we enjoy, and some we like more than others. Many dogs have neural pathways where this is just one of the things they like to do.
Of course we've just taken to hiding all his tennis balls when he gets too annoying. He normally figures out where they are within a couple days.
posted
Every fetching dog I've seen does that. So, either your dog doesn't have OCD, or every dog in the world does.
And I'd just like to say that, if I ever learn to play an instrument and start a band (and I won't), I'm going to name it "Doggie OCD".
Posts: 2292 | Registered: Aug 2003
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posted
Sally, one of my dogs was like this but unfortunately she's too old (14 in August) and tired to play very long now. Its scary to think she's not going to be here for long. So appreciate them while you can.
Space opera - big biceps means no flabby underarms - be grateful - and get throwing with the other arm too or your'll look lopsided.
I got my other dog Barney in 2002 when a friend died and he's the same age as Sally but a mongrel and has much more energy. He didn't know how to play when we got him and learned chasing balls, sticks play fighting etc. from Sally. Just shows you can teach an old dog new tricks.
Posts: 394 | Registered: Feb 2004
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