It is difficult for humans to identify with the habit of dogs licking one another in greeting. We don’t do it. Our tongues come in handy for things like ice-cream eating, and sucking that last dollop of peanut butter off the knife. People would never welcome a visitor into their home by giving them a long, lingering lick on the cheek. I would not. Perhaps some would if they were brought up in an environment to embrace a different set of social standards.
Dogs use their tongues to explore the world. A dog’s tongue is as important to him as our eyes and hands are to us. I’m sure you may have notices, but dogs have no hands. Their tongues is a multi-purpose utility tool, They used it to taste things, and to explore the presence of new people and animals.
They us their tongues to express submissiveness. By licking they let you know that your companionship and friendship is valued.
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Natural Behavior
Licking is a completely natural behavior for dogs. Most of the time, dogs licking isn’t something to worry about. A dogs lick from a warm, moist tongue on your hand or ankle is tolerable. It can actually be pretty adorable when your dog licks your ankle. You should train you dog not to overdo it. But who wants to always worry about the smothering capacities of a 100-pound male Rottweiler’s tongue. It is when our dogs take things too far with constant licking is when the problems can begin.
It’s not pleasant to be persecuted in your own home by a far-reaching, agile, mobile, and slobbery tongue. There are some dogs that just won’t give it get a moment’s rest. The will follow you all over the house bedroom to hallway licking anywhere that flesh is exposed and available. At this point your dogs licking has become a major issue. This is even worse with larger dogs.
The taller the dog, the more places on you that an be licked and explored. It can be a shocking experience when a dogs wet tongue is unexpectedly exploring your private places while you stretch to retrieve something on that top shelf.
Clothing
Plenty of dogs won’t restrict themselves to your skin alone. Dog owners can attest to the always-visible consistency of dog saliva on your clothing. Whether your outfit is black, white, or any shade in between, there’s nothing like a viscous patch of dog slobber on a freshly-laundered hemline. There is nothing like dog slobber to advertise your dog ownership status to the world at large. Once it’s dried, it’s there ’til the next laundry day. The physical evidence of a dog’s friendship is like egg white on your clothes. It’s there, it’s dried on, and it’s not coming off until a combination of suds, hot water, and vigorous effort is applied. And all this is because your dog wants to say “I love you”!
But there’s often a bit more to it than just plain affection. As with all animal behavior, the logic behind licking is usually more complex and subtle than you might think. Your dogs behavior can have multiple meanings depending on circumstance, state of mind, and the other behaviors being exhibited at the same time. We can rationalize until the cows come home (or until your dog stops licking – whichever comes first) as to why your dog’s licking you.
The truth is that such generalizations aren’t always 100% true and accurate. It’s partly up to you to determine the reasoning behind the actions. Because you know your dog better than anyone else, you’re the ideal candidate for the job.
Reason for your dogs licking
The surrounding mood will generally be stress-free and happy. When he licks you on the shoulder or ear from his vantage-point in the backseat as you’re driving him to the park. If he lathers your hands and wrists with goodwill and devotion when you return home from a hard day at the office. “Puppy love” is the most common cause of licking. Your dog loves you. There isn’t anything to worry about, and it’s simple to ‘cure’ him of the habit if the behavior is a problem for you. It is often very easy to get to the reason for your dogs licking
Another not-infrequent reason for repetitive, owner-targeted licking is that your dog’s feeling anxious and stressed. Are there are things happening in your dog’s life to cause him unhappiness or tension? Dogs will often show it through obsessive-compulsive behaviors. Dogs licking is a pretty common manifestation of these. Some dogs will lick themselves, others will lick you, it’s really a case of individual preference
It shouldn’t be too hard for you to pinpoint the cause of your dog’s less-than-relaxed behavior. Is he getting enough attention and mental stimulation, or is he cooped up inside for long hours each day by himself?
Are you causing the licking behavior?
Does he get enough exercise and outdoors time for sniffing, exploration, and general exuberant tomfoolery? Are you paying him enough of attention when you’re at home, or do you hurriedly greet him before rushing off to your next commitment? These are all things that you need to consider, before adapting your lifestyle to address the issue accordingly.
Depending on the circumstances surrounding the licking, and the overall quality of your dog’s life, you may need to make some adjustments. Make adjustments of your own to ensure that, when the licking does stop, it’s because you’ve treated the cause, not the symptoms. If you don’t self adjust, you’re just trying to take away a valuable outlet for his negative emotions. This is unrealistic and unfair to your dog.
Perhaps you need to come home more often during the day. Perhaps you need to get up half an hour earlier in the morning and give him a more substantial pre-work walk. Exercise varies from dog to dog. As a general rule of thumb, most dogs function best and are more relaxed with an hour and a half’s exercise every day.
Sending a Message
When you want to get the point across that his licking is getting a bit too much for you, a simple change in your body language will convey your message loud and clear. All you need to do is withdraw the outward display of your affection for him to understand that, actually, you don’t like it. You don like it when he covers your skin in a composite of saliva, dog-food particulate matter, scraps of debris from his fur, and general oral-cavity detritus.
In plain English, this means that you just have to turn yourself away from him. When he starts to lick, get up and move away instantly. Make sure your face and eyes are dramatically averted from him, face in the complete opposite direction. Preface this with a revolted-sounding “No!” If you prefer say, “No lick!”. You can use whatever comes naturally. Just keep the phrase short and easily-identifiable so your dog quickly learns to recognize it. At this point, he’ll probably get up and follow you. Wait for him to do so. The licking should start again soon. When it does, repeat the process. Withdraw all signs of affection from him again. Turn away, get up and leave, and don’t pay him any attention or talk to him, apart from another “No!” in a disgusted, I-can’t-believe-you-haven’t-got-the-message-yet tone of voice.
It’s likely that your dog will be persistent. He’s not to be easily deterred; you’re the undisputed centerpiece of his life, after all, and he needs to let you know this whenever the opportunity should present itself. You just need to outmatch him in persistency. Be consistent with your actions, and the message will sink in.
Don’t feel that you have to shout or react negatively – the simple withdrawal of your love (or the appearance of this, anyway) is quite enough.
A Word of Warning
Some people really like it when dogs lick them, even if the dog concerned is not their own. If visitors to your house (or admiring passersby on the street) greet your dog and allow him to lick them, you’ll need to intervene or else they’ll undo all your good work. It’s best if you can explain ahead of time that you’re training him not to lick, and then explain the appropriate response for them to take if he should start to lick them. This way, you can be sure that your dog’s not going to be corrupted into unwanted behaviors again – and that he’ll learn to express his affection in other, more desirable ways.
Conclusion
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For more information on licking and other problematic dog behaviors … You’ll probably want to check out Secrets to Dog Training. It’s a comprehensive, A-Z manual for the responsible dog owner, and deals with just about every canine behavior and training technique under the sun, from aggression to digging to whining to dog whispering to obedience work. You can visit the Secrets to Dog Training site by clicking on the link below:
http://www.kingdomofpets.com/dogobediencetraining/?aff=jlmjdsite&type=nohop
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