How To Stop Dogs From Licking
When our dogs give us a big, slobbery, affectionate kiss their brain releases endorphins. Some dogs are so addicted to that feeling of pleasure our salty skin gives them that it starts to annoy us. If you are a dog parent who gets treated like a popsicle on a hot summer’s day, there is a way to train your dog to stop licking you so much.
Positive reinforcement dog trainer Victoria Stilwell recommends ignoring the licking. When your dog licks you, simply get up and walk away into another room. Keep at this until your dog realizes that the action of licking you results in you going away. Once your dog learns that licking equals no attention, they will break the habit.
Why Dogs Lick People
All dog parents have received kisses from their pooch at one point or another. So why do dogs lick us all the time?
Are they giving us a grateful sign of affection for feeding them and picking up their poop, or do we just taste delicious? The answer is yes to all of the above.
Dogs lick us because they are showing us they love us, but they also lick us because we’re pretty tasty. We are human margaritas: Our dogs absolutely love our salty sweat. This is a common dog behavior that releases pleasurable endorphins for them in the same way our brains release those “feel-good” chemicals when we complete a solid workout or eat our favorite food.
Is licking private parts ever acceptable?
In the canine world, a moderate degree of licking is part of normal grooming behavior. For example, a male or female dog may lick the genital area after urinating as a means of cleaning the area. When this is the case, licking is only related to elimination and is not persistent. Just a quick swipe of the area takes care of business.
It’s not as common for dogs to lick the anal area after eliminating; however, if the stool is sticky or watery, the dog may feel the need to tidy up a bit. Normal, firm bowel movements are not usually followed by licking.
Why Do Dogs Lick Their Private Areas? (Explained and Answered)
Dogs lick. It’s what they do! Dogs lick themselves, they lick other dogs, and they lick their humans. Dog licking is a common behavior that is not always an immediate cause for concern, but it is important to know what types of licking behavior raise a red flag.
In this post, we’ll start by laying out the basics of why dogs lick followed by when dog licking could be indicative of an underlying issue.
If you wonder why your fur baby licks so much, it’s important to interpret their behavior with a grain of salt. Your veterinarian is the best person to identify if licking is due to a medical or behavioral issue.