Licking Problem

[cathya]

I have a new foster male older pup (about 8 months). He is constantly licking me when I pat him (and when I don't) and also licking my other dogs all the time. I am guessing it may be an anxiety issue but not sure how to stop it. He's a gentle natured boy and seems happy since he's settled in, gets on very well with my other dogs (no disputes so far) and the licking was there right from when I picked him up so am guessing it's not the new environment. Any suggestions are welcome.

[BMAK]

There is an episode on cesar millan about this with a malt constantly licking her arm while patting, but have heard it can be an affectionate sign/submissive/demanding/ownership behaviour.. so not sure what to think? I know my dogs will lick me while im patting them damanding me to continue if i stop (i hate lickers) i stop patting them remove my arm and ignore them, some times i will walk away or tell them no and they stop.

But if your not keen on it, a firm NO and stop patting the dog, pat him only whe he is calm and relaxed and not demanding you to continue may learn patting come when im calm and not asking for attention.

Then again being a foster dog it could be a sign of smething else?

[Starkehre]

I feel your pain c.b.

One of my bitches is a compulsive licker. I believe it to be affection based. Now, I would not mind if I did not break out in a somewhat severe attack of eczema each time. And it seems to be the 2 places that dogs get your first with a loving lick is either the inner arm or the neck... my 2 most sensitive parts.

Anyway, it has taken me 6 years to teach Dyzney not to lick me when I pat her, and this is a multi titled dog that is very smart and a quick learner I see her struggle with it, and if I am not looking or concentrating elsewhere, she will still get a "quickie" in if she can, as she walks by or whatever. She knows she is not supposed to do it but seems she really can hardly help herself and prefers to cop the consequence than missing out on that quick lick. Drives me nuts.

The command she understands is "no lick".

And the really cool thing about it is that I have also then taught her the command to "lick", so she really does understand the word lick and what it means. The "lick" command comes into play when I want her to lick something rather than grab it, and she gets it. Very cool to see.

I digress sorry, anyway, my point is that you can teach them not to lick, but it is really hard particularly when they are so compelled to do it.

Good luck

[whiskedaway]

My girl is a licker too and like Dyzney I'm pretty sure it's affection based. She won't lick people unless she really really likes them. She has a command for licking "kiss kiss" and this has helped us to get her to realise there's a time and a place for licking. She's still a pup (10 months) so sometimes she gets a bit over-excited and we get a kiss frenzy, but she's heaps better.

[persephone]

I get frustrated with licky dogs .... it annoys me.

I tend to pat a dog who gets licky from behind... never do face to face stuff if I can avoid it , and always use as little voice as possible..keeping it slow and low.It can be slowed/stopped .

A pup licking your other dogs.. esp. if he is focussing on head/muzzzle is saying " hey, I'm little, cute, and mean no harm " or stuff similar to that, I think

[cathya]

I get frustrated with licky dogs .... it annoys me.

I tend to pat a dog who gets licky from behind... never do face to face stuff if I can avoid it , and always use as little voice as possible..keeping it slow and low.It can be slowed/stopped .

A pup licking your other dogs.. esp. if he is focussing on head/muzzzle is saying " hey, I'm little, cute, and mean no harm " or stuff similar to that, I think

Thanks so much everyone - I will work on those things. Glad to hear though that it is possibly an affection thing rather than an anxiety thing. He is a smart little boy and has a lot of character and if I can teach him not to lick so much it will help with rehoming I'm sure. Thanks again.

[sas]

My last foster was like this and she did settle down which some guidence.

It can be alot to do with anxiety so you may want to look into Jan Fennel methods of ignoring the dog to take the pressure off.

[sallyandtex]

Hey, Sally 14month Kelpie still licks. Its affection/submisive, and does it only to older/dominant dogs...and us! BUT I have taught her "NO kisses", and she knows I don't like it, but husband still happy to let her!

At the park I also let her know not to if the other dogs don't like it, she responds for a little while LOL but if i keep saying no she gets the point.

I think your pup will grow out of it, or you can partially train her out of it.