Spinning Katrina rescue PB

[kitt63]

I'm fostering a young PB rescued after Katrina, and she's had some skin issues and some tail chewing issues and now she's spinning, one direction then the other, and snapping at her tail (no longer chewing it, though). I've done some research, and she doesn't appear to have a neurological disorder---she is attentive to what's going on and can be stopped (albeit temporarily) by clapping, hooting, hugging.... She's doing it periodically throughout the day. All day. She has 4 other dogs to play with, and I'm home (work at home) most of the time. She has a large yard. I've tried walks and fetching, and neither seems to mitigate the behavior.

Anyone have any other behavioral modification things to try??? I prefer micromanagement to medication.

Kitt

[Luigi]

We started with basic obedience, and it needs to be done over and over. While clapping and such does work, you are not making her think. To sit, she needs to stop and think and then sit, taking her mind off of things. So teaching her other commands and/or tricks might work.

Another outlet is play, get two of the same toy, and play fetch with her, as soon as she has the first one back to you, throw the other. It's also a great way to teach her out. Keep her exercised, an exercised dog is a tired dog and will likely decrease the spinning.

A crate is another way for her to have a time out and to have as a space for her to relax in. We call it the magic place, because Dexter will stop barking and spinning and settle in his crate.

Watch her diet. Don't feed her a high protein diet. This is what I have been told. We feed Natur's Variety kibble with Merrick canned mixed in. For treats, he gets apples, freeze dried liver, peanut butter and cheese.
I was looking for you on this one! : )

It's our resident spinning expert!!

Good luck guys . . .