And for young dogs, tail-chasing can be totally normal. Puppies often nip at their tails as soon as they realize, "Hey! I have a tail!" But while occasional tail chasing can be a harmless sign of ...

So what does it mean if your dog chases its tail? While some reasons are more benign than others, the behavior can signal larger health concerns, says Alt. On a base level, it's normal for dogs to ...

Laura is an assistant editor for The Scientist. She earned her PhD in biomedical sciences from Rush University by studying how circadian rhythms and alcohol affect the gut. View full profile. Learn ...

Of course, we want our pups to be happy from head to tail, but what does happiness look like in dogs? Dog behavior is complex ...

An curved arrow pointing right. A dog chasing its tail may be a sign of a direr issue. Like humans, dogs can suffer from a form of obsessive-compulsive disorder, called canine compulsive disorder.

If your dog is wagging its tail, they might be expressing happiness, according to Dr. Aya Alt, the medical director of the VCA Broadway Hospital and Pet Center. On the other hand, if your dog is ...