Why do dogs chase their tails?

Asked by: Anonymous

Sometimes it’s a side effect of hunting behaviour in an animal too dim to work out that the tail always escapes. But tail chasing can become obsessional. Bored dogs that don’t get enough exercise may use it to get their owner’s attention – even angry attention can be rewarding. Others, especially terriers, may have inherited it. There are many dogs taking antidepressants to control their compulsive tail chasing.

Read more:

• Why do dogs tilt their head when you speak to them?
• Do guide dogs know that their master is blind?

Subscribe to BBC Focus magazine for fascinating new Q&As every month and follow @sciencefocusQA on Twitter for your daily dose of fun science facts.