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A puppy biting tails can be for a number of reasons. In this article, we\u2019ll tail (!!) you all about it by covering:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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- Why do puppies bite their tails?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What can you do if your puppy is biting their tail?<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- How to stop your puppy from biting their tail with prevention tips and tricks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You can also reach out to the puppy training coaches<\/a> in the Zigzag app<\/a>. Download a free trial today and have your puppy questions answered in real time!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/tamara-bellis-E8LxrpUjW7Q-unsplash-1024x681.jpg\")
Photo by Tamara Bellis<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Why is my puppy biting tails?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s likely that there\u2019s a reason behind your puppy biting or chewing at their tail. It\u2019s usually not because of nothing. Most of the time, it\u2019s simply a part of growing up, but other times it might give you a little concern:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Puppies bite their tail because of fleas, ticks or worms<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
We\u2019ve talked to you before about worms in puppies<\/a>. And yes, this means there might be a possibility that your puppy may be chewing their tail due to a parasitic infection. Fleas love to live around a puppy’s bottom and ticks too, as they can hide in their fur. Sick little things. It\u2019s also nice and close to the ground for them to jump on your puppy. We know, it\u2019s gross. But if your puppy is chewing the fur around their bottom or their tail, it\u2019s a good time to check whether they\u2019re up to date on all flea, worm and tick medications and give them a thorough going over.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
2. Puppies bite their tails because it\u2019s fun<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Tails are basically like an extra limb, right? Well, these extra limbs don’t just show when your puppy is happy or excited, they also tend to mysteriously wag things off the shelves! So, beware of your puppy’s tail wagging!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
3. Puppies bite their tail because it\u2019s actually their bum that\u2019s troubling them<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It’s going to get weird here. Dogs have a set of glands on either side of their bumhole. These glands contain a scent that sends all kinds of information about your puppy and is why dogs smell each other’s bottoms. Usually, the sacs are emptied when your dog goes to the bathroom, but they can sometimes become blocked, which can get quite painful. Another clue is your puppy scooting along the floor – they\u2019re just trying to empty their glands. When this happens, instead of taking a video, it\u2019s worth seeing a vet if you think it might be this, as if left unchecked, they can get very sore and even burst. Grim and sore!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
4. A puppy biting tails could be because they know it gets your attention<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you give them a round of applause and praise every time they chew on their tail, your puppy will learn that doing so makes you happy – which is what they want most in the world. Once they connect the dots like this, they\u2019ll chew on it more!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5. Puppies chew at their tails when they\u2019re stressed or bored<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your puppy starts chewing their tail when you leave them, crate them, or when they\u2019re bored, it might be an indication that they need more company or mental stimulation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s a bit raw to hear, but this kind of self-mutilation ticks a few boxes in a dog\u2019s mind. It\u2019s not something you want to become a habit at all, so if it happens mostly when they\u2019re left alone, it can be a sign that all is not well, and perhaps your puppy isn\u2019t so keen on their crate after all.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
6. Your puppy might be chewing their tail due to allergies or intolerances<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Allergies and intolerances can be due to environmental or food-based causes and can make your puppy\u2019s skin irritated, making them want to itch and bite at their skin, including their tail or bottom. Did you change your washing powder? Might it otherwise be the protein in your puppy\u2019s food? Take note of what it might be – it\u2019s always a possibility that your puppy might be reacting to it. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
7. Your puppy has created a hot or sore spot from tail chewing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some puppies will lick or chew at their tails so much that they create a sore patch. Then it becomes an endless vicious circle of them licking it more because it\u2019s sore, and because it\u2019s sore, they lick it more. They can then end up with hot spots forming and attracting nasty bacteria into it, which can cause a secondary infection. It\u2019s actually quite a common occurrence, but you\u2019ll want to see your vet about this to help them out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As you can see, there are a few reasons why your puppy might be biting their tail, but there can be other reasons too. Maybe their tail tastes like ham to them\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, and if your puppy starts biting beyond their tail biting, you might find our article on how to stop puppy biting you<\/a> quite helpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/michael-kucharski-01aLdlB9nNk-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Michael Kucharski<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n What can I do about my puppy biting their tail?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hopefully, you\u2019ve figured out the reasons why your puppy might be biting their tail. From there, you can move on to seeing whether it\u2019s necessary to consult your vet to rule out any medical problems or whether you can look at environmental changes to avoid itchy episodes. You can also try raising your puppy\u2019s mental stimulation to keep boredom out of the radar during the day, as well as helping to lower stress. Hey, you could even do that for yourself too – it\u2019ll keep you from biting your own nails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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\nHelp lower your stress levels with our app!<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Consult a Vet about your puppy\u2019s tail chewing<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re debating on calling your vet or not, take note that any sudden change in your puppy\u2019s behavior is worth it. It might be linked to a medical problem that can be addressed and therefore avoided – big time. Problems with anal glands, hot spots and parasites are all things your vet can help with and – and we\u2019re sure you don’t want to escalate. We\u2019re sure your vet will do everything for your puppy to stay happy and healthy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/a>Increase your puppy\u2019s mental exercise<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Bored puppies will seek out their own fun, and that can include chewing on their tail. Our article on puppy training games has an incredibly long list of games and activities to play with your puppy to stretch their brains, like using puzzle toys and stuffed Kongs to deliver their food and keep them out of trouble. There\u2019s no need for long walks! These can often make young pups overtired and feel a bit weary, which makes the tail chewing come back.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Oh, but make sure not to replace walks completely with games though – fun outings are the golden key for socialization and helping them become confident in the big world they\u2019re about to face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Get your puppy to chew something other than their tails<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Puppies need to chew a lot. Plain and simple, that\u2019s just part of their job description. As young ones, they\u2019re teething<\/a> for what feels like an eternity and sometimes, the closest thing to them is their tail. To divert them from making a chew toy out of their tail, redirect them onto an actual toy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"Puppy](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/03\/marcus-wallis-4zfacTKyZ7w-unsplash-1024x768.jpg\")
Photo by Marcus Wallis<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ve made it to the tail end of the article. We hope we\u2019ve answered all your questions about your puppy biting tails, but if you have more questions, feel free to reach out to our team of puppy coaches<\/a> inside the Zigzag app<\/a>. They\u2019ve definitely got all the answers and an extra tip here and there.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"