How to Train Your Dog to Not Lick Everything

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How to Train Your Dog to Not Lick Everything

Hard

2-4 Months

Behavior

Introduction

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.

Defining Tasks

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.

Getting Started

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.

The Attack Boredom Method

Most Recommended

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Step

Boredom

Your dog may be licking everything in sight because he is utterly bored.

Step

Puzzle toy

Offer your dog a treat filled puzzle toy or a treat toy requiring your dog to spend some time finding and reaching the treat.

Step

Licking

Your dog should be spending time licking the treat puzzle to work his way towards the treat.

Step

Notice

Every time you see your dog obsessively licking an object such as his bed or your floor, offer him a treat puzzle with a small treat.

Step

Toys

If you leave your dog for extended periods of time, be sure to offer him other toys so he is well entertained while you are away.

The Stress and Anxiety Method

Effective

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Step

Anxiety

Your dog could potentially be bored, or he could also be dealing with anxiety and stress.

Step

Excess energy

A good way to deal with anxiety and stress is to run off excess energy. Be sure to exercise your dog daily. Taking your dog for a long walk or run, playing fetch, or having your dog swim burns off excess energy so when you not around your dog, he is likely to be resting rather than dealing with anxiety and stress.

Step

Relax

Help your dog to relax by sitting with him and rubbing behind his ears, along his face, and along his stomach. With a gentle voice and a soothing touch, your dog will calm.

Step

Pent-up energy

Anxiety is often caused by pent-up energy, not enough exercise, and the yearning for attention.

Step

Exercise

Once your dog is getting enough exercise, enough rest, and the attention he requires from you, the hope is he becomes more balanced and is able to stop the obsessive-compulsive behavior such as incessant licking.

Step

Licking

If you catch your dog licking after you have started an initial exercise and relaxation routine, sit with your dog and calm him gently with a soft voice and a gentle massage.

Step

Reward

Reward your dog for good behavior and spend time nurturing him to calm any fears.

The Paw Licking Method

Effective

0 Votes

Step

Allergies

If your dog is licking because of potential allergies, you may want to see your veterinarian for allergy testing and treatment.

Step

Observe skin

Look over your dog’s skin very carefully to see if he has something like a thorn or burr stuck in his skin or fur.

Step

Between paw pads

Check the space between your dog’s paw pads for sores, damage from licking, and yeast infections.

Step

Sores

Your dog will continue to lick a sore you may not even see until it is bloody and raw.

Step

Veterinarian

If you find sores, have your veterinarian check your pup out for infections.

Step

Wrap paw

Until the sores heal, you may want to wrap your dog's paws or hot spots.

Written by Stephanie Plummer

Published: 01/01/2018, edited: 01/08/2021

Success Stories and Training Questions

Training Questions and Answers

Question

Moose

Chiweenie

5 Months

-1 found helpful

Question

-1 found helpful

Moose

Chiweenie

5 Months

Moose has been licking our couch, our floor, even me, and I can’t stop him from licking. And I don’t know what to do to make him stop. I need somebody to help me.

10 months, 1 week ago

Moose's Owner

Caitlin Crittenden

Dog Trainer

1126 Dog owners recommended

Hello Riley, I start by teaching the Leave It command and Out command. Out - which means leave the area: https://www.petful.com/behaviors/how-to-teach-a-dog-the-out-command/ Leave It method: https://wagwalking.com/training/train-a-shih-tzu-puppy-to-not-bite I would also give pup a dog food stuffed chew toy. It sounds like pup may be licking as a way to entertain himself or as an obsessive compulsive disorder. I would interrupt the licking using your obedience commands, then provide pup with something else to do with his mouth, like a dog food stuffed chew toy. Best of luck training, Caitlin Crittenden

10 months, 1 week ago

I am moose’s owner

10 months, 1 week ago

Moose's Owner