Introduction
Your puppy likes to lick. What may have started out as a cute behavior has gotten out of control. Every time there is skin in sight, your pup is licking you. And, even worse, they are licking your guests as well. While some people don't mind a few puppy kisses, not everyone likes to get a tongue bath whenever they are around your dog. Without some form of intervention, this same behavior will likely carry with your pup into adulthood, when licking becomes a lot less adorable.
Defining Tasks
Dogs lick for all kinds of reasons. It is an instinctual behavior that starts in early puppydom. Puppies lick their mother to encourage her to feed them. It is also a way to show submission, so your dog can show they recognize you as their master. A lick now and again is no big deal, but if licking becomes constant you should takes steps to train your puppy to not lick. Since this behavior is natural, it will take a few weeks to see results, especially if your puppy is used to getting positive attention for licking. Be patient and more importantly, be consistent. The only way you can teach your pup not to lick is if everyone in your dog's life agrees to the rules.
Getting Started
A good place to start is identifying when your puppy is most prone to licking. If they seem to be compulsively licking themselves or you, there may be a deeper issue at play. It doesn't hurt to speak to your vet about obsessive licking. As with many other behaviors, you can train your puppy not to lick by rewarding the behaviors you want and not giving a reward for inappropriate ones. The reward for not licking can be a treat, a toy, or simple affection, depending on what works best for your pup.