Dealing with the Obessive Compulsive Dog

[SunCzarina]

So Otto has a new compulsion. The squirrels that live in the blue spruce in the backyard neighbor's yard.

Every morning this week, he comes inside, eats his breakfast then stands in the kitchen window barking like a fool at these squirrels. Sometimes I don't even see them, not sure if he does either. Maybe he's barking at lumps of snow stuck in the tree or birds rustling the branches.

I could understand if the squirrels were in our yard but they rarely are (smart squirrels). Noooo he's barking at squirrels in a tree 5 feet behind our fence.

I tell him to stop, sometimes physically remove him from the window but then 2 minutes later, he starts back up. I'm trying to eat, get the kids to eat and get them off to school - don't really have time to deal with his OCD.

Not that this is his only obsession. The ball is easy and normal, throw it or kick it and he's happy.

The driveway spot is not normal and he's been doing that as long as I can remember. When the sun hits the glass on the screendoor in the afternoon, it reflects a spot on the driveway. Move the door, the spot goes across the driveway. Otto chases it. Otto sits and waits for it when the sun is out. He'll do it for an hour if one of my kid stands there giggling opening and closing the door. Not much I can do about it - tried taping paper over the glass. It stopped the spot but the wind took it away a few days later and left me with goop to pick off the door. So now I just ignore it. Otto and his silly spot.

The squirrel thing is new and I'd like to stop it. Any ideas other than putting up mini blinds in the kitchen (he'll wreck them)

[StGeorgeK9]

what about a pull shade?

[Mandalay]

Can you maybe cover the window with that clear clingy stuff. Like contact paper, but it is mostly clear. To let the light in, but keep him from seeing out. We used to have it in our shower at the other house (for some reason there was a window about chest level in the shower).

[elisabeth_00117]

Squirrels..... Grr!!!

[Chantell]

Try some window tint

[aubie]

Yep, some sort of shade or something to block his view?

[WiscTiger]

I try not to let any of my dogs get into OCD type behaviors, chasing reflections, shadows, chasing tail, etc. Once these behaviors start they are really hard to stop.

If I had too much on my plate at given times then I would just crate the dog and work on redirecting the unwanted behavior to something acceptable when I was able to do so.

I would also train the kids to stop opening and closing the door to move the reflection. What would happen if your dog raced out the driveway because a car went by and the windows caused a reflection?

Ignoring a problem isn't addressing it. DeeDee will become OCD about licking her leg, when she is running and playing she will some how nick her back leg. Then she licks and licks and licks. If I am with her all the time I can redirect, but the minute I am not looking she is at it again. So I wrap her leg so she leaves it alone, this last time it was healed but when I would leave her leg unwrapped she was licking it again. It took two months of having a wrap on her leg for her to finally leave it alone when it isn't wrapped.

The more and longer they do the OCD behavior the longer it takes to break the cycle.

Val

[kshort]

The shade might work for a while, but he'll just find something else. Sammy is very OCD also. When we first got him, my husband opened the back door in the garage to go out in the yard. A light beam went across the concrete garage floor. It took months to break him of watching for the beam and running around the floor. Then he fixated on the lights above my kitchen sink. Would just stare at them. Finally broke him of that by distracting him before he started staring. Now he feels like he has to let out a few huge barks (and I mean this dog has the loudest bark I've ever head) when he goes out for his last potty at night. Then he runs to the far end of the yard and lets out another loud bark, then he pees. THEN he starts chasing the flashlight because I need it to see if 18 year old Murphy has squatted and done her business. Now we're working on that problem...

I think OCD dogs are always going to find something to be focused on. Best of luck with Otto!

[littledmc17]

I have nothing for you!
wish i did Big Cuz is obsessed with him ball
and if you take it away he gets something else to play with

I am so Happy Brady has never been prey driven except for peter rabbit when we have been walking

what about wooden Blinds harder to wreck??

[lucymom]

Um, Jenn?? Did you not get the memo??? This is direct from the Burueau of Dogland Security--SQUIRRELS ARE AGENTS OF EVIL BENT ON DESTROYING THE EARTH AND MUST BE NEAUTRALIZED!!!!

Upon the creation of the United Nations in Post World War II world, nation's leaders made a then-secret agreement that dogs would be formally deputized to carry out the duties they had already been carrying out throughout the ages with no compensation--codename Operation DEATHNUTS.

See, squirrels hide their nefarious doings by sitting there in trees, happily chomping on nuts. DON"T BE FOOLED--they are planning harm to you and your loved ones.

So, please, don't discourage this behavior--THE FATE OF THE PLANET DEPENDS UPON THIS!

The driveway spot??I'll get back to you on that, unless he thinks it's an alien landing beacon.

Zuzu can go a little OCD at times and I used to think it was cute when she ran around the dining room chasing the reflected sparkles from some mirror chips on a hangy thing I have. I have to stick her outside during the hours the sun hits just right, or distract her with a sweaky. Frankly, she's crated while I'm at work and the sparkles are right there, taunting her, I don't know how she deals with it.

Does Otto like squeakies? Will it distract him? A game of tug? Dismantling your front door (okay, not practical.)

Shall I just take my useless reply and end it here before I get slapped?? I think so.....