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Does my dog have OCD?

I was wondering if my dog has OCD.

He is almost 12 months old, and a mix of Bordie Collie and something else we do not know. As a pup he was teased by the next door neighbours and now all he does during the day whilst we are at work is run up and down the fence line. It gets worse when there are children on the other side of the fence. We have taught him not to bark, so all is does is run up and down.

Do you recommend we see a vet ? It seems to occur only when at home, not in other environments.

Running a fence line is not a common stereotypy or Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD). Your dog's behavior is more likely what is called a "displacement behavior." The fact that your dog is part Border Collie makes this even more likely.

As I'm sure you know, different breeds have different exercise needs and require different levels of mental stimulation. Border Collies are a breed that need both a VERY large amount of daily exercise daily and a lot of mental stimulation. They need "a job" to keep them busy, and challenges to overcome. They do not do well in environments where they are left alone for long periods or where they cannot be active for most of the day.

Displacement behavior occurs when a dog is prohibited from performing a task or behavior that it want to perform. The dog lets out its frustration by pouring that energy into a different behavior which is many cases is somehow associated with the original behavior that cannot be carried out.

For example, in displaced aggression, a dog that has is prevented from fighting with another dog may sometimes bite its owner's hand. Although the dog would otherwsie never do this, by stopping the dog fight, the owner has prevented one behavior, and the dog has to "take it out" on someone, so it snaps at the owner. The reaction is reflexive and not intentional. At the time it bites its owner, it has no idea it is doing so.

Problem behaviors such as digging and fence running are often the result of displacement. In simple terms, the dog cannot do what its temperament and genes are telling it to do, so it gets both frustrated and bored. It has to do something to relieve the pressure, and so it runs or digs or barks.

Now your dog has Border Collie genes, and these genes are telling it several things: 1) Herd something! Round them up! Collect them. Move them! 2) Be alert and active and ready to respond to any command or problem. Be ready to learn new behaviors and commands. 3) Exercise and exercise--keep moving! 4) Think! Figure out the solution to this problem. Win this game. Outwit your opponent.

All of these things would be very strong instincts in a pure bred Border Collie, and your mix has inherited these to some extent. So you have a dog that is very intense, that needs a job to occupy it, that needs to be doing and running and herding and exercising its body and mind all day long.

I don't know the details of how often the dog is exercised and played with, or how much of the time it is at home alone, but from the fence running, the dog is clearly indicating that it is not getting enough opportunity to be as active mentally and physically. Think of the amount of fence running on any given day as a measure of how frustrated and bored your BC mix is.

Some of the things I would do to try to reduce the stress level of this dog and decrease the fence running behavior would be...

1) Try to double the amount of time you walk or exercise the dog each day. IF you can jog, run with the dog for part of its "walks."

2) Get the dog involved in a sport or activity such as agility or catching Frisbees, and practice this daily.

3) Train the dog as much as you have time for. Train it to do anything and everything: Tricks, standing on its hind legs, playing dead, fetching things, running though obstacles, and so on. There is a saying that a half hour of training burns more energy and requires more mental effort than a half hour of execise or walking. What you should be trying to do is exhaust this dog by the end of every day! (The more Border Collie it has in it, the harder that will be. It may be impossible. But you want to tire this dog out as much as you can.)

3) Do your best to fill the fenced-in yard and the dog's indoor environment with puzzles and mental stimulation. You can leave stuffed Kongs around, or hide rawhide or other treats around the yard. You can hang toys from string so the dog as to jump to get them. (Use only very thin string that will break easily for safety!) Maybe you can build some ramps or wooden beams in the yard for the dog to play on? A dog like this needs a lot of interactive toys that are alternated daily so it does not end up doing the same things every day.

4) Instead of feeding meals from a bowl, make obtaining the meal a challenge as often as you can. For example, here in America they make rawhide in the shape of shoes. Once or twice a week, I stuff my dogs' meals into a couple of these rawhide shoes. It takes much more effort and time to eat the food and the shoe--about 30 minutes as opposed to gobbling down a meal from a bowl in a minute oir less. And this pleasing to the dog.

There are many ways you can make meals "complicated" and time consuming for a dog--and this is good because in the wild a dog would be spending many hours and a great deal of energy hunting and stalking and killing its prey. For a dog, the hunt is as rewarding as the eating! When we feed a dog kibble or other prepared foods in a bowl, think how boring and unchallenging that must be for them!

You can make meals hard to get in many ways. Place the food inside a cardboard box and tape it shut. You'll have a floor full of cardboard to pick up, but you'll also have a more satisfied dog. You can also "broadcasting" a meal. Go outside and toss the food in every direction across the lawn so the dog has to hunt for the pieces. This might be a good way to present breakfast if you feed one right before you leave for work in the morning.

But mealtime is only a portion of the day. You need to fill as much of this dog's day as you can. Some other possibilities might be to have a friend, relative, or neighbor come over during the day to walk or play with the dog if you work and no one is home. If possible, take the dog with you when you go places when it is possible. If you have a friend who onws a dog that your dog likes, try leaving your dog with your friend's dog at her house one day, and then invite your friends dog to stay at your house another day.

Many dogs need a calm environment and a daily routine, but Border Collie's thrive on the opposite--on constant excitement and surprises. So your goal should be to greatly increase the amount of exercise, training, human contact, playtime, and excitement in this dog's life.

If this is difficult because you do not have the time or resources, then there are two possible alternatives that may make the dog more comfortable. One would be to get a second dog--but you would want this second dog to also be a very active dog. This may help, or it may double your problem!

A final possibility would be to find a veterinarian who is willing to prescribe mood stabilizing drugs for your dog--drugs such as amitriptilyine, Prozac, Paxil or Clomipramine are popular choice here in America. These are not tranquilizing drugs. They are the same medications that are given to humans who suffer from serious depression or anxiety problems. They bring about a feeling of well-being without sedation.

The problem is that many traditional vets have little experience with "behavioral medicine," and may have never used these drugs with animals before. These drugs fall under one of two catagories: SSRI's (Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitors) or TCA's (Tri-Cyclic Antidepressants). Amitriptilyine is the most commly used TCA. The SSRI's are stronger and usually more effective than TCA's, and have fewer side effects, but they are also more expensive than the older TCA drugs.

If you cannot get a prescription for one of these medication, you could try some over-the-counter supplements that may have some positive effect. Try a daily dose of 500--1000 mg of 5-HTP and the same amount of GABA. These are supplements that affect the same neurotransmitters in the brain as Prozac and other SSRI's, although in a much less dramatic way.

Glycine is another supplement that may help, along with the amino acids Taurine and Theanine. You could also try Melatonin (3-6 mgs/day). In the evenings, a capsule or two of Valarian may also encourage restful sleep.

If your human responsibilities or home environment limit how much excitement you can build into this dog's life, an SSRI would be the best alternative. It may bridge the gap and allow your dog to be more comfortable in its current environment. This should lower the dog's level of frustration and stress, and therefore greatly decrease or eliminate the fence running.

Regards,

Barry McDonald -DogSense-

Copyright © 2005 Barry McDonald