This is a great time for your pets and family to develop and enforce hygienic habits. All Rights Reserved. You know where that tongue has been. Book a vet. Posts you might like. To tell, take your dog for a walk or a trip to the dog park and see if it subsides. This might just be the most drastic of the suggestions, but it is effective. Totally safe and non-toxic, bitter spray tastes yucky to dogs and discourages licking.
A veterinary exam can help determine if there are health problems contributing to the problem. Your email address will not be published. Why do dogs lick? How do you make it stop? Ignore your dog When you think about it, dogs often lick because they get attention.
Put something in their mouth Dogs sometimes lick simply because they want something to do. Get some exercise As I mentioned before, dogs are sometimes just looking for something to do. This live telephone service connects you with a professional trainer who will offer unlimited, individualized advice on everything from behavioral issues to CGC prep to getting started in dog sports. Compare Breeds Compare up to 5 different breeds side by side.
Dog Name Finder Browse our extensive library of dog names for inspiration. Find out the best and worst foods for your dog and which to avoid. Additional Resources AKC. Clubs Offering: Training Classes. Back To Why does my dog By Mary Robins Oct 21, 3 Minutes.
Oct 21, 3 Minutes. Obsessive licking may be a sign of underlying issues, including anxiety, boredom, or fear. Trick training is an effective way to redirect problem licking in a positive way. Dogs lick things. They lick themselves, they lick each other, they lick their toys, and they lick us. Licking is a pretty normal behavior in dogs — but why? There are a few different reasons why a dog may lick, including:. Some dogs, especially puppies, lick their humans as an instinctive request for food.
Pups normally lick their parents to ask for food or attention, so they do the same with you, their human caretakers. All dogs also lick themselves to keep clean.
In the vast majority of situations, this is a healthy and normal behavior. Many dogs will also lick themselves as a way to calm down and self-soothe.
Pay attention to when your dog seems to drop everything to lick — is he actually relaxed and cleaning himself, or is he stressed and using licking as a way to calm himself? Occasionally, dogs will compulsively lick themselves to the point of removing fur or creating sores. These dogs need to see a veterinary behaviorist. Read more about compulsive lickers below. Other dogs lick their lips as a way to reduce social tension. These dogs may be nervous or trying to de-escalate a stressful situation.
This tongue flick is a common signal that they want to diffuse tension or calm themselves. Self-calming licking behavior is similar to when a human takes a deep breath and smiles — they are at once calming themselves and showing others that they are not a threat.
Some dogs are compulsive lickers. These dogs are the ones that will sit and lick your jeans or forearms for as long as you allow them. They may also lick sofas , themselves, the floor, or just about anything else.
These dogs may be stressed out or may have compulsive tendencies. These dogs have taken what is a normal behavior and taken it to abnormal levels, and may need special help. Veterinarians are starting to classify this as canine compulsive disorder. Dogs that lick spills on the floor or even the upholstry might also be motivated by delicious tastes.
Licking can also be a plain old sign of affection. Last night after being reuinited after a two-week separation, my border collie kept giving me gentle licks on the hand. This sort of licking is common during calm cuddle-time with your pup. I understand that. Some dogs fit into more than one of these categories. My own foster dog, Sasha, just licked me when I returned from the gym. Even better, take a video of your dog licking and show it to your vet or dog behaviorist. Keep in mind, though, that licking is natural and you likely will never get your dog to completely stop licking!
If your dog tends to lick you after runs and this grosses you out, try to towel off and then shower right away. Give your dog a stuffed Kong to keep her busy with something else tasty. Talk to your vet about calming chews and behavior medication. In the meantime, give your dog more Kongs and appropriate things to lick. Take her on more long, decompression-type walks in nature. Use calming caps , Thundershirts , Zyklene chewable tablets , window film and anything else that might help give your pup a break from what stresses her out.
Again, situational medication such as during thunderstorms might be your best bet here. Truly compulsive lickers may need to see a vet, a reputable trainer, or a veterinary behaviorist. They have taken the normal behavior of cleaning, licking to release social tension, or licking to ask for food to an unhealthy extreme. These dogs may lick through carpet, they may give themselves sores. Some dogs just seem to love licking their people.
If you find yourself being licked slobbery while trying to relax after work, give your dog something better to do! Again, stuffed Kongs are my go-to response for this. You can also simply stand up and walk away — quietly, no fuss — if your dog licks you. Scolding or swatting often makes this problem worse , because then your dog wants to appease you and in dog language, licking is appeasing.
Scolding or swatting often makes this problem worse, because then your dog wants to appease you and in dog language, licking is appeasing. The reason I love Kongs for licking problems in dogs is because Kongs let your dogs lick something appropriate.
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