The subject of obsessive behaviour occurs again and again - and we're often asked if the Amichien Bonding process can help. I've been told about dogs doing things from the sublime to the ridiculous. From tail-chasing to wall-licking, or as I once recall on a consultation, staring at a tree waiting for leaves to fall (true, I saw it with my own eyes).

We can speculate until the cows come home as to why the dog has chosen whatever quirk it has, but as usual it is what the owner does about it that is key.

Firstly, ask yourself - does this behaviour get my attention? This is the most common reason for a dog's 'obsession'.

I remember visiting one family and being told in hushed tones "You wait until the blue hedgehog makes an appearance". Initially I was afraid of being confronted by a monstrous version of Sonic or something, but as it turned out the hedgehog in question was a favourite toy that the dog, after failing to get our attention with other behaviours, placed in the middle of us all and watched with it's nose pressed against the toy for 45 minutes. Finally it gave up. Usually it would have worked for the dog.

Secondly, obsessive behaviour can be used by the dog as a stress relief from a responsibility it cannot cope with i.e. leader of it's pack in a world it doesn't understand.

The answer to this is to remove the stress by becoming the leader using Dog Listener techniques founded on the Amichien Bonding process. In either case, the good news is to follow the process and the dog will calm down.

By the way, if anyone has a dog (or knows one) that has a more bizarre behaviour trait than the leaf watcher then why not share it with us?    Click on the Add Comments  below and tell us about it.  Tony