Frank Herholdt
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As reported in this NBCNews story, researchers say tail-chasing in dogs could be related to OCD tendencies in human beings.
A dog that runs in circles chasing its tail suffers from a condition that isn't so different from a person who washes his or her hands compulsively, indicates a new study.
For humans, this symptom is a sign of obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is defined by recurrent, persistent thoughts, such as excessive fears of germs, and repetitive, ritualized behaviors, such as checking and rechecking locks repeatedly.
Do you have a dog that chases its tail?
My Australian shepherd Pilgrim would often do that, but neither of the border collies I have now have found that to be a particularly amusing activity. One of them, however, will obsessively watch moving shadows on the ground. So she's probably well within the doggie OCD category.