Abnormal repetitive behaviours

1 September 2026

Reasons behind repetitive behaviour in dogs such as licking of surfaces can be due to a host of reasons. As a behaviourist it is my job to work out why it’s occuring!



Differentials for this behaviour can include: 


  • Irritable bowel syndrome
  • Gastric foreign body
  • Dental disease
  • GI diseases
  • Conflict, stress and anxiety
  • Frustration (because they want to access something but can’t – obviously this could endanger them or what they want to access in some cases)


(Véronique Bécuwe-Bonnet, et.al., 2012)


In the case of medical challenges the behaviour may still remain afterwards as it has been rehearsed. Changing the emotional response and training something else is important. But training alone will not get to the root cause of a problem. One person once told me their family member taught a dog to lay down - through punishment based methods who was biting their tail.. other possible issues were not considered.. that's a big welfare concern for that poor dog.


Diaries so you can monitor where and when (patterns) and what is around (triggers) when your dog offers this behaviour may give you an insight to why they are doing this behaviour. Also can you interrupt it calmly. For example if a dog is bored or something intense has worried them – they may offer the behaviour then. I’ve heard people on the tv saying that dogs do it for attention and just egnore it – this is dangerous and very simplistic – a dog may be doing this for a host of reasons, also they may do it when they’re not around a caregiver – therefore it’s not for attention.


Compulsive behaviour can be rewarding as dopamine is released (Denenberg, Small Animal Veterinary Psychiatry 2020).


If you need help please reach out.

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