A Guide on How to Stop a Dog From Licking Too Much

One thing that dogs love doing is licking someone as a greeting. Dog licking can become a bad habit and even excessive in nature. A lot of people don’t like being licked by a dog, and when it’s done excessively, there’s a chance the dog could have a behavioral problem. Thankfully, it can be cured.   

Here are some tips for how to stop dog licking. 

Is your dog causing problems with excessive licking?  Although licking by itself is a normal behavior, it can sometimes be a bad habit.  In this article, you’ll learn why they lick, and what you can do to stop your dog from doing so.   

Licking really is a natural behavior for canines. 

Licking is a way for canines to communicate with one another.  As such, they think they must do the same with you.  In the wild, dogs will lick their pack leader after he returns from an absence.  This greeting is a ritual that helps establish the pack social order.  Your dog will engage in this same ritual whenever you get up in the morning or come home in the evening.  It may or may not turn into a dog licking problem.  Either way, you should allow your dog to lick your hands so that he or she can be reassured that nothing has changed. 

Dog licking is also a way for your doggie to express affection for you.  This is how he tells you that he is happy to see you and be around you.  So, it’s okay to allow your dog a normal outlet for his affection, but never let him overdo it, or it can become a very bad habit. 

Sometimes your dog may lick excessively because he’s stressed out about something.  Licking you or himself can become an obsessive habit.  Licking himself too frequently can lead to hair loss.  You obviously need to try to figure out what is causing him such stress so that you can stop your dog from licking. 

Your doggie could also be licking a lot due to allergies and itchiness. One way you can tell is by looking at his feet.  If the pads look raw and irritated, then allergies and the elements are probably causing him problems.  This usually happens in winter months, during which ice and snow can cause problems.  Fleas and skin allergies can obviously cause problems too, which can lead to excessive licking.  An older dog may even be in pain from arthritis.  It’s always a wise idea to take your dog to the vest to help with dog licking problems. 

There’s always a possibility that you accidentally trained or encouraged your dog to lick you a lot by giving him attention whenever he does it.  Your attention is very important to a dog, and he or she will do whatever it takes to get more of it! 

So, how can you stop it? 

If you’ve ruled out emotional and/or medical problems, you can stop excessive licking in other ways. You can allow your dog to only engage in his greeting rituals, but if he tries to overdo it, say “no licking!” firmly and walk away. Don’t give him any attention at all. He’ll probably be persistent, but you need to be even more persistent. Eventually, he’ll get the idea, and in time, you’ll be able to get your dog to stop licking so much.

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By Danny Taylor