Solving Behaviour Problems: Daxi's Story

Sometimes vet referrals can be very challenging. Angie’s dog Daxi, a Wire Haired Dachshund, had worn down a large circle in the concrete patio outside her back door. To demonstrate how this happened, Angie opened the door and let the dog out. Instantly he ran over to the circle and started to run. Round and round and round, as if he was on a treadmill. She tried calling him or trying to get hold of him but he just ran until he got tired.

This is the type of behaviour that frequently requires specific medication in order to calm the animal down and interrupt the cycle, but Angie was very reluctant to use them. So I went outside and smeared my secret weapon of ham and cheese spread across the rut that he had worn into the concrete. We let him out and he ran along the circle, hesitated briefly as he smelt the cheese spread but then kept on running. So I spread some more on another part of the circle and this time he slowed down to sniff it and then ran on. I put some more down in yet another part of the circle and this time he slowed down to stop and investigate it more thoroughly. We put him back inside and this time I added more cheese spread and then made a little trail that led into the small garden area at the back. This time he ran out to the circle and slowed down, stopped at each cheese point to lick it and then followed the track into the garden.

We took him inside and this time I scattered some his meal and some treats and chews in the garden area. He ran out to sniff where the cheese had been and then followed the trail into the garden and spent the rest of the session searching for the food, after which he came inside for a sleep. Basically this little hunting breed (Dachshunds were bred to hunt badgers by digging them out of the ground) needed to use his nose and brain to feel happy, so Angie set up a mystery search adventure playground for him.

Daxi dancing

Now he happily trots into the garden and busies himself searching in a calm and focused way and no longer wears his feet raw on the concrete.