our 4 month old pup started to chase his tail 2 weeks ago..i thought it might just be a stage but am very worried about it turning into more.
HE is VERY active. so i play fetch with him everyday for about 20 mins (stop before he gets too wiped out) and also take him on long walks and to the beach to play fetch in the water. I only take him to the beach 2-3 times a week but walk and fetch and tug everyday. but even after a good hike on the way home he will still spin around my legs and go for his tail. He doesn't chew his tail, he just chases it, grabs it, and starts alllll over...again and again.
my other problem is he whines...a lot. all day. in his pen if he sees me playing with my daughter, if he has to go potty, if he just wants attention, and if he is trying to get me to play with him. he pushes me by a high pitch bark and whine. everyday...all day. with a few hours of break time in the afternoon and at night when we are sleeping. If he is frustrated with me for telling him no he will bark at me, if he is frustrated cause he can't chase his tail due to a short leash he will bark at it...now i am much more patient than my hubby...but he is started to get extreamly tired of this behavior. I have a video of what he sounds like when he barks while he does his bite work. i would really love ANY help on how to maybe curv this constant barking...and the tail chasing thing to stop would be great too.

any advice?

My 4 mo old GSD also is chasing his tail and like your pup, doesn't chew on it but just holds it. I usually try to redirect his attention to something else so I don't make a big deal out of the tail chasing and maybe make it worse. Usually it works pretty well. He also does it a little in his crate but I just ignore it and he generally settles down and quits. If I walk a little faster on leash and try to keep him engaged the tail thing doesn't happen - if you haven't tried this you might see if it helps in your case.

My pup will get excited and barky when I am outside and he's in his kennel but I ignore him and he settles. Are you doing any obedience with him yet? I find that when I take my pup out to new places or work on teaching new things he settles more easily - I think that mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.

PLEASE read and re-read Aaron's post, because to be annoyed with this puppy who is overloaded with frustrated unreleased energy is 100% unfair. I know your husband doesn't realize it, or didn't, but I'm telling you.

Starting tail-chasing is a big red-flag warning that you aren't coming close to the structured exercise and training the dog needs (every single day). Next step is often self-destructive (even more than tail-chasing) or object-destructive.

Whining and barking for long periods, tail-chasing -- appropriately tired (well exercised) dogs don't do these things.

Also, you're marker training, right? I'm concerned too that he might be getting any kind of corrections that he doesn't understand (and I agree that it can be very mild, even just verbal -- if he doesn't understand it, he is living with ongoing anxiety, on top of overflowing energy).

I'm glad you posted and asked.

 Quote: Barbara Inman

I find that when I take my pup out to new places or work on teaching new things he settles more easily - I think that mental exercise is just as important as physical exercise.

i am sitting here trying desperatly to figure out if i am stressing him out in any way...everything i do with him is positive and he isn't ever corrected for anything other than by useing the word "no" and if he continues to persist I calmly place him in his crate. But i will make a considerate effort to monitor my actions when i am trining and playig with him..and also try to read his body language better just in case it is due to stress.
Just making sure though...hours of obedience? or hours of exercise? Or both? I was also under the impression that i shouldn't over due obediance with a young pup. every other day for 5-10 mins is what i have been doing so far. So i should up the time limit and the daily ob?
ty so much for the advice...i was under the impression also not to run him to the point of a hanging toung due to his young age. i really appreciate you saying it's ok! i will for sure keep on a schedual of wearing his little butt out twice a day. and i'll use the sandy beach as much as i possible can.

I guess i am just confused on the lengeth of exercise and ob i should be doing with him. what kind of schedual would you percieve to be best?

OOF!

Good catch.

That should have read that he needs hours of EXERCISE a day.
One or two 15 minute marker sessions with a reasonable break in between is enough in the obedience.

I'm talking about things like this, for normal puppy behavior.

His vocalizations afterward in BOTH instances make it readily apparent that he was confused and likely afraid of the corrections.

 Quote: stephanie bishop

start saying the word "out" and then slipping his lower lip over his teeth gently till he lets go.

 Quote: stephanie bishop

EVERY time he goes for my St. I stand between them both (calmly and assertively) snap my finger, and say "No" (which he understands the meaning of) and he will stop, back up, and bark at me. ... i grabbed him by his cheeks and firmly and CALMLY said NO. set him back down and guess what..he barked at me again waited a few more secs and was back to his maughty buisiness.

GSDs are VERY prone to OCD /obsessive comnpulsive disorder. ig: tail chasing & spinning are the most common followed by self mutulation. If not stopped ASAP it WILL be almost UNSTOPABLE! Many dogs to the point that the dog is useless,neurotic & crazy.

I'd also be making him work for all of his food via feeding him with treat dipensing toys or stuffing his food in kongs and freezing it. Just another way to exercise him a bit and make him use that little brain of his.