How to Train Your Dog to Not Lick Everything

There are many for reasons your dog may be licking everything around. Some dogs like the texture of something smooth such as the front of your refrigerator or a concrete floor. Some dogs obsessively lick their beds, their toys, their paws, and even their owners. Not only can it be quite annoying having your dog lick everything in your house, but it could also cause some health concerns for you as well as for your dog. There may be medical reasons your dog licks everything in sight from nausea to obsessive-compulsive disorders as well as gastrointestinal disorders. Be sure to talk to your veterinarian if you think there is a concern regarding your dog's health. Otherwise, you might want to look at retraining your dog, so he is not a compulsive licker.

Training your dog away from bad habits and compulsive behavior requires a lot of patience and rewards for positive behaviors. You may never understand why your dog compulsively licks everything, but you can recognize and reward him when he is not licking everything. You could also retrain to make your dog more comfortable if he is suffering from something such as fear, separation anxiety, or even stress. Outside of diagnosing medical reasons for the obsessive licking of everything in your house, you are going to need some time to figure out what may be causing your dog to lick everything and stop the behavior. 

You will require patience, dedication to figuring out what may be causing your dog to lick everything, treats for good behavior, and lots of positive love and attention for your pup. Look at redirecting behavior and offering alternatives to licking. If your dog licks when is he bored, he will need entertainment and exercise to burn off energy. If he has a medical condition, you can help by observing obsessive behaviors and noting habits for your veterinarian.