If You Have Dogs, This Might Concern You

Compulsive Behavior

You may feel as though you are living with a four-legged fanatic if your dog appears to be obsessed with a toy, shadow-chasing, or engaging in any other repeated behavior. When a dog's behavior changes from being excited to being fixated, it seems as though they are trapped in a cycle and are only thinking about that one item. It's similar to binge-watching a TV show with their dogs, but without the snacks and shocking endings.

You don't have to force your dog to live a life of repetition. Redirecting that laser-like attention toward more constructive endeavors can be greatly aided by behavioral therapy. See it as a kind of canine mindfulness retreat where your dog discovers that they enjoy multiple activities instead of just one and learns to broaden their interests. Therefore, if it seems like your dog is stuck in a never-ending loop of preoccupation, don't worry; with the correct help, they can learn to relax and divide their attention more equally.