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Tail Biting in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

Tail Biting in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

Haley Young

June 29, 2024

Dog Training

Tail Biting in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know thumbnail

Does your dog chew on their own tail? It seems like a weird thing to do. Why would they hurt their own body? What compels them to tear out their fur, leave behind sore spots, or even draw blood?

Strange as it seems, tail biting is actually a pretty common behavior in pet dogs—but it's definitely cause for concern. Common doesn't mean "good." It just means you're in good company as you work to address the problem.

Here’s what you need to know about the potential causes of your dog’s chewing and, most importantly, what you can do to help! Read on for:

The difference between tail biting and tail chasing

Common causes of tail biting in dogs

How to treat a tail biting injury

How to prevent your dog from biting their tail in the first place

1) Tail biting versus tail chasing

Tail biting and tail chasing often overlap. Many dogs who chase their tails do so because they’re trying to catch it in order to chew on an itch or irritated patch of skin!

The difference is that some occasional tail chasing can be harmless. This is especially true in young puppies who are still learning about their bodies. Excessive tail biting, though, is almost always a problem pet parents need to address.

Normal, harmless tail chasing might look like:

Your young dog occasionally becoming interested in their own tail

Your adolescent or adult dog engaging in short bursts of tail chasing during the zoomies

Maladaptive tail biting looks like your dog:

Engaging in frequent and intense chewing behavior

Causing physical self harm

Becoming fixated on their tail even in the presence of other distractions

2) Why is your dog biting their tail?

Tail biting has multiple potential causes. Here are some of the most common culprits if you catch your canine chewing on their own hind end.

Dogs might bite their tails if they’re trying to scratch itchy skin

One of the best ways a canine has to scratch an itch? Using their teeth!

Your dog might look like they’re trying to eat their tail—when they’re actually trying their hardest to alleviate physical discomfort. This itchiness can be caused by a few things.

Tail biting might be due to a skin allergy

Allergies in dogs cause itching due to an overactive immune response to certain substances.

When a dog comes into contact with an allergen, their immune system reacts as if it were a threat. This allergic reaction triggers the release of chemicals in the body that lead to inflammation. And inflammation often leads to itching! Sometimes secondary infections can occur, too.

Pollen, dust mites, and flea saliva are examples of environmental allergies. Certain types of protein, like chicken, are common food allergies.

Dogs might bite their tails in an attempt to alleviate hot spot discomfort

Hot spots, also known as acute moist dermatitis, are a specific type of skin irritation that can cause intense itching in dogs. Hot spots are typically localized areas of inflamed, infected, and moist skin.

While allergies can sometimes contribute to the development of hot spots, they can have other underlying causes as well. Too much undercoat, for example, can also contribute to hot spots if your pup's skin isn't able to breathe.

Poor grooming can be itchy

Matted hair can make your dog uncomfortable around their tail.

External or internal parasites might make your dog’s hind end itch

Some pests (like flea bites and ticks on their skin or intestinal parasites in their digestive tracts) can make your pet itchy.

Anal glands can cause tail biting issues for some dogs

If your dog tries to bite their own tail, it could also be possible that their anal glands are inflamed or irritated. They might be trying to express them.

Think itchiness is at play? Contact your vet!

If you catch your dog chewing on their tail, hind end, or any other part of their body, it’s a good idea to get in touch with your veterinarian. A full checkup never hurts, especially when you’re not sure what to make of a new behavior you’re noticing!

Your vet team will help you identify and address any medical issues at play.

Boredom might be a cause of tail biting in dogs

Boredom is one of the most common negative motivations for tail biting in adult dogs. Insufficient physical activity and mental stimulation can result in a slew of behavioral problems in our pets!

Destructive behaviors like chewing on household objects are most common—but biting their own body parts is also on the list. It’s a way to release pent-up energy that doesn’t require any external input (like toys or environmental distractions).

Tail biting can be a displacement behavior for stress and anxiety

When dogs are stressed, they may engage in self-directed behaviors as a way to cope or alleviate their anxiety. Tail-biting can be a self-soothing mechanism for some dogs—it can provide temporary distraction or relief from their discomfort.

This can quickly turn into a compulsive behavior if left untreated (much like other repetitive behaviors such as chewing on household objects or chasing after light reflections).

a nervous dog lies in his dog bed in a living room

3) How to treat a tail biting injury

If your dog:

bites their tail to the point of bleeding,

has created a sensitive spot by tearing out fur,

appears to have injured one of their tail bones,

or shows other signs of physical harm

a vet visit is in order. Call your dog's healthcare team right away! The presence of blood is never something to take lightly.

Your veterinarian will be able to help you clean the area. They'll assess whether you need a more robust bandage or even a round of antibiotics (oral medication or some topical creams) to clear up potential infection.

4) How to prevent your dog from biting their tail

The best way to keep your dog from biting their tail? Provide them with appropriate fulfillment—and address any underlying health or behavioral problems!

Identify the cause of your dog’s tail biting

If you think your dog’s tail biting is an issue—it disrupts their daily activities, causes injury, or makes you worried that something deeper is wrong—it’s a good idea to revisit the causes listed above. Try to figure out what might be going on.

Your veterinarian can be a huge asset here. Even if you aren't sure your dog's tail biting is caused by an underlying health problem, it's a good idea to check. Your vet team will help you identify and treat any acute medical conditions that might be contributing to your furry companion's behavior. Preventative medications and other treatments can do wonders for things like chronic skin infections, allergic reactions, parasites, and more.

Address any underlying problems

If your dog is physically healthy but still biting their tail excessively, consider if they get enough enrichment. Could they be bored or looking for your attention? If so, make an effort to engage in more fulfilling activities with them.

Our Comprehensive Guide to Enrichment Activities compiles everything you need to know about fulfilling your dog's needs in our modern human world!

Work with a trusted dog trainer

If you’re worried about your dog’s mental health or struggling to work through their tail biting on your own, reach out to a force free trainer. They’re here to help! A canine professional will be able to develop an individualized treatment plan to get you and your pup back on the right track.

Trainer Review of this Article

There is so much misinformation out there, and we want to make sure we only provide the highest quality information to our community. We have all of our articles reviewed by qualified, positive-only trainers.

This is the trainer that reviewed this article:

Hallie Wells
Owner-Lumos Dog Training, Atlanta, GA
Certified Professional Professional Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA)
Fear Free Certified Professional (FFCP)
Applied Animal Behavior Analysts (UW-AABA)

Haley Young

June 29, 2024

Dog Training

Haley Young

About the author

Haley is a self-proclaimed dog nerd and full-time freelance writer. She's passionate about connecting with fellow pet lovers through training and lifestyle content — learning from professional trainers, animal cognition researchers, and other experts along the way. Haley travels the country full time with her rescue dog, a shy blue heeler, and loves conquering new situation as a team. Dog-friendly national parks, hiking trails, and Sniffspots have become favorite places across the country! When she isn't writing or playing an intense game of tug with her cattle dog, you can find her reading books (her favorite author is late ethologist Frans de Waal), listening to a range of animal-related podcasts, and having conversations about (you guessed it) the many ways other creatures impact our lives.

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Tail Biting in Dogs: Everything You Need to Know

1) Tail biting versus tail chasing

2) Why is your dog biting their tail?

Dogs might bite their tails if they’re trying to scratch itchy skin

Tail biting might be due to a skin allergy

Dogs might bite their tails in an attempt to alleviate hot spot discomfort

Poor grooming can be itchy

External or internal parasites might make your dog’s hind end itch

Anal glands can cause tail biting issues for some dogs

Think itchiness is at play? Contact your vet!

Boredom might be a cause of tail biting in dogs

Tail biting can be a displacement behavior for stress and anxiety

3) How to treat a tail biting injury

4) How to prevent your dog from biting their tail

Identify the cause of your dog’s tail biting

Address any underlying problems

Work with a trusted dog trainer

Trainer Review of this Article

Haley Young

About Sniffspot

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