Have you ever wondered, “Why is my dog licking compulsively?” There are a number of reasons why dogs lick certain objects, themselves or people excessively. Maybe your dog is nervous, scared, in pain or simply bored. By licking excessively, your dog is most likely trying to calm himself down.
Licking can certainly be a healthy stress reliever, but obsessive licking only increases anxiety and makes the problem worse. In addition, compulsive licking can be an indication of an underlying problem such as allergies, infections, or pain.
How do you teach your dog to stop licking you?
“If you want your dog to stop licking you, do your best to ignore the behavior; Get up slowly and go into another room behind a closed door if you have to,” says Dr. Coates. If your dog stops licking, be sure to give him plenty of praise and attention for listening so he doesn’t repeat the behavior in the future.
“Over time, the licking should go away as your dog realizes that it’s not rewarding them,” says Dr. Coates. “Talk to your vet if you think your dog’s licking may be related to a medical problem or behavioral disorder.” Now that you can answer the question: “What does it mean when a dog licks you?” Learn about the secrets your dog wishes you knew. Plus, learn the answer to this dog behavior question: Do dogs cry?
How to stop a dog from licking your face
As Blackwell says, as long as you don’t have any open wounds, there is no harm in letting your dog lick your face However, understandably, some people don’t like being covered in dog poop.
However uncomfortable you may find it, it is important to avoid punishing your pet. “Some people may react badly and tell their dog after being licked. But this is unlikely to make the dog feel good – the lick is greeting them,” says Blackwell.
Habit
Your dog may simply be licking too much out of habit. In cases like this, it may help to focus his attention on other things while he is licking.2
A dog may also lick you simply because she likes the way you taste.1Try to look for connections that might point for this to be the case, like if she licks you after you’ve been cooking or exercising.
We taste good
It might sound disgusting but for a dog our skin can be a world of smells and tastes. Whether it’s the leftovers from what we had for lunch, the smell of everyone else on the train home or simply the natural taste of our skin, some dogs can’t get enough!
Regardless of the cause of the licking, most people will respond positively to a big sloppy kiss. Whether you yell and wave your hands, or hug your dog with extra ear scratches and cuddles, we tend to respond in ways that dogs enjoy. Animals are attuned to our responses, and over time these positive responses will encourage licking as a greeting.