How to make your dog stop licking

The nature of dogs determines their tendency to lick almost everything: their owners, other quadrupeds, their fur, and their food.

But, while occasionally licking saliva from your pet dog is a cute love, this behavior can become annoying – and unhygienic.

Dr. Jerry Klein, chief veterinary officer of the American Kennel Club (AKC), warned that although most licking is harmless, owners should be aware that this is only an occasional sign of serious problems.

“Always look for the root cause and seek the advice of a veterinarian,” he told Weekly newspaper.

“Occasional licking of paws is normal and is part of the dog’s self-grooming process.

“Dogs may lick or chew their paws because of injuries, skin problems, the environment, parasites or food allergies, and boredom or anxiety.

“If the licking starts very suddenly and only occurs on one paw, check the paw to check for cuts, such as cuts, torn nails, growths, thorns, or ice balls stuck between the mats.

Dr. Klein added that skin conditions, parasitic infections, and food allergies can also cause dogs to overly lick, which should be treated by a veterinarian.

“If your veterinarian has tested and confirmed that licking is not due to any of these reasons, then it may be due to behavioral problems such as boredom or anxiety. These problems are more difficult to determine and require further evaluation.”

Although the exact reason why most healthy dogs like to lick is still a mystery, animal experts have some important techniques to suppress excessive drooling tongue movements.

Here are some tried and tested techniques to prevent your pet from licking you.

1. Ignore the dog’s lick

When the dog starts to lick you, just walk away and immediately stop all attention, especially eye contact.

If this annoying behavior continues without the owner’s attention, the licking should start to disappear soon.

2. Insert a substitute in the dog’s mouth

Redirect the dog’s desire to lick the owner by providing things such as chewy toys or bones as oral substitutes.

Such substitutes should keep the dog entertained and focused by giving the dog something more suitable for licking.

3. Exercise the dog

Enjoying long walks should reduce the dog’s stress level, which may reduce the animal’s urge to lick its owner.

This technique is believed to be particularly effective for dogs that seem to lick due to nerve impulses.

4. Clean yourself

Taking a long bath or shower immediately after sweating with your dog for a long time can not only effectively keep yourself clean.

Washing the salt from the skin should prevent dogs from seeing their owners as a delicious object to lick.

5. Change the smell of your body

Some smells, such as taste, are more attractive to dogs, so updating your musk may help dissuade your dog’s tongue from paying attention.

One suggestion is to try to replace your usual shower gel or scent with something that your dog might find less appealing.

6. Reward a well-behaved dog

When they begin to noticeably reduce excessive licking, give them some well-deserved attention.

The reward should occur immediately after the dog’s desired behavior in order to intuitively generate positive associations.

7. Train your dog to lick commands

Strict training helps teach the dog to lick only when the owner initiates it.

A good way to start is to choose a keyword to start licking, and then apply a little peanut butter to your hands to stimulate the lick-but only if the dog is not aggressive towards the food.

Then an end command can be issued, and if the dog stops licking, even for a short time, it should be rewarded a little bit.

8. Be consistent with the dog

When you want your dog to stop licking, make a full commitment to stop this behavior completely.

Consistency is the key to this prompt, which means that the owner should always avoid praising their dog for licking and then scolding them for the same behavior at another time, as this will only confuse the creature.

9. Use bittering agents on dogs

The use of bittering agents is considered an effective way to deter dogs from licking.

The bitter spray is safe and non-toxic, and the dog smells very disgusting, so licking should be stopped immediately.

10. Use pheromone to soothe the dog

This is also considered an effective technique to treat dogs’ compulsive licking behavior.

Specific pheromones can replicate the pheromones naturally released by lactating female dogs, which can calm a dog who is prone to anxiety or pain.