He’s gorgeous and he’s cute but your dog does have some bizarre habits. For example, you’ve just stepped out of the bath after a lovely long soak. You head to your bedroom to get changed but on the way you encounter your canine friend. Who, goes straight for your feet and starts licking them. Your lovely clean feet now have the odd dog hair protruding from them and smell interesting, to say the least. It isn’t the first time he’s gone to lick your feet and you know it won’t be the last. It’s most awkward when a guest takes their shoes off and his way of saying hello is to pounce on their feet.
Training him not to lick feet will save you having to wash your feet numerous times throughout the day. It will make guests feel more comfortable and it will save your dog from whatever unpleasant bacteria are carried around on feet.
Thankfully, training your dog not to lick feet is definitely achievable. You’ll need to take a number of steps to deter him in the first place. You’ll also have to use a variety of tactics to distract him when the temptation hits. You can then use food and toys to focus his attention toward more productive avenues. If he’s a puppy he should be a fast learner and you may see results in just a week. If he’s older and the habit has been forming for many years then you’ll need resilience, because this could take up to a month to fully kick.
Succeed with this training and your feet will be saved from the smell of dog breath. You’ll also find this type of training makes it easier to stamp out other unwanted behaviors.
Before you get to work you’ll need a few bits. Get your hands on a deterrence collar and some food puzzles. Both will play a key part in the methods below.
You’ll also need a stockpile of mouth-watering treats and a few toys to keep him occupied. Apart from that you just need to set aside 10 minutes each day for training. You’ll also need patience and some soap to keep those feet clean after training sessions.
Once you’ve got all that you’re ready to get to work!