Dog Licking

Dog licking is one common and normal dog behavior.  Dogs greet their owners by licking them or lick themselves as one of their many bad habits. That’s why it is important to prevent dog licking, particularly if your dog is doing it excessively to himself.

Dog licking may be caused by a lot of reasons. It may be due to an itchy feeling brought about by allergies to food, pollen, mold, house dust mites, insect bites, plants, or hundreds of other irritants. Some dogs on the other hand, lick excessively when they are simply bored or stressed. 

Dog Licking Prevention Steps

1. Look closely for fleas. If you find ticks or fleas on your dog, then give him a bath with a flea shampoo. Also treat your home and yard with an insecticide spray that will kill eggs, larvae, and adult fleas. Itching has to go away to stop dog licking. 

2. Examine and change his diet. Dogs tend to be allergic to certain foods. So try giving your dog different food if he is developing allergies with the current one. Also, make sure your pet is not getting food from somewhere else like in the garbage. 

3. Refocus his attention. Another simple yet effective technique you can use to stop dog licking is to divert his attention. When he starts to lick his paws, or your face, or anything at all, try to catch his attention and throw a toy for him to fetch. You can also give him something to chew on. This will alleviate licking caused by boredom and stress. 

Additional Stop Dog Licking Steps

4. Increase his exercise. Some dogs tend to lick excessively because they have a lot of energy. So get you pooch’s paws moving. If he is tired then he has less energy to lick. 

5. Protect his skin. When a dog licks himself too much for a long time, it is possible to have a damaged skin. The resulting sores that can lead to serious infection. Bandage the area or fit your dog with a cone collar to prevent him from licking, giving the affected area a chance to heal.

6. Just say “no”. Dogs want attention, whether it is from good or bad behavior. So if your dog is overdoing the licking, say "no!" firmly.  However do not yell at your pet. Just turn and walk away.  Ignore him for a couple of minutes and let her approach you again.  If she starts licking again, then repeat your actions.  He will quickly learn that licking won’t get your attention.

Dog training techniques can be adhered to in order to curb any dog licking. As it is perfectly normal for a dog to express his affection in this manner, excessive licking is a behavior that must be modified to prevent more serious health problems stemming from dog licking.

• Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by MasterCard This week in Golf featured the Arnold Palmer Invitational, presented by MasterCard. The tournament was held at the Bay Hill Club and Lodge, located in Orlando Florida. The purse for...
• My Wedding Plans My Wedding, from the beginning...  A few years ago, I was blessed to meet  the man of my dreams and best friend, Adrian.  Now, I am happy to announce that we will be getting...

No related posts.