How much licking?
Discussion
We have two dogs - a three year old male staffie (un-neutered) and a three month old female english bull terrier.
Clyde, the staffie, is somewhat OCD about his licking. He sure likes to lick.
His licking of people has been curbed, for the main part, after lots of hard work.
The licking of other dogs, though; less so. He particularly likes to lick the... ahem... <polite cough> genetalia of the other dog.
I know dogs like to sniff and possibly lick each other to gather the essential doggy information about each other, but, when they're playing, every time pup rolls over to capitulate, he gives her regions a rather thorough going over with his tongue.
How much licking is normal? Is it something that I can stop altogether without being needlessly cruel, or should he be allowed the constant licking?
I know it's probably a daft question, but his licking of her really does turn my stomach... but, even so, I don't want to be un-necessarily curbing something if it's relatively normal?
I think it's just that I'm dubious that anything about her, information-wise, will have changed to the extent that he'd need to re-lick her, in the 20 seconds since he last licked her. You know?
/ramble.
Thoughts appreciated.
Clyde, the staffie, is somewhat OCD about his licking. He sure likes to lick.
His licking of people has been curbed, for the main part, after lots of hard work.
The licking of other dogs, though; less so. He particularly likes to lick the... ahem... <polite cough> genetalia of the other dog.
I know dogs like to sniff and possibly lick each other to gather the essential doggy information about each other, but, when they're playing, every time pup rolls over to capitulate, he gives her regions a rather thorough going over with his tongue.
How much licking is normal? Is it something that I can stop altogether without being needlessly cruel, or should he be allowed the constant licking?
I know it's probably a daft question, but his licking of her really does turn my stomach... but, even so, I don't want to be un-necessarily curbing something if it's relatively normal?
I think it's just that I'm dubious that anything about her, information-wise, will have changed to the extent that he'd need to re-lick her, in the 20 seconds since he last licked her. You know?
/ramble.
Thoughts appreciated.
My main concern would be his licking could eventually inflame her skin esp as she's a youngster and cause an infection to develop, I think it sunds a bit excessive and I would start breaking the habit, I would be tempted to attempt a complete ban on it as much as is possible. So as soon as it looks like he's going to go in for the lick, distract him!
No telling off needed just various distraction methods, don't use the same distraction because if he's a bright dog he may learn to behave like that gives him a reward, I'm not an expert in behaviour but it may be worth only giving him food based rewards if you distracted him before he got to lick her, otherwise use toys, games, play.
I don't think you're wrong to want to curb it and if you try with no joy it would not be unreasonable to seek professional advice. She may in her own time become reluctant to let him esp when she has her first season but thats prob a few months off yet!
No telling off needed just various distraction methods, don't use the same distraction because if he's a bright dog he may learn to behave like that gives him a reward, I'm not an expert in behaviour but it may be worth only giving him food based rewards if you distracted him before he got to lick her, otherwise use toys, games, play.
I don't think you're wrong to want to curb it and if you try with no joy it would not be unreasonable to seek professional advice. She may in her own time become reluctant to let him esp when she has her first season but thats prob a few months off yet!
Our Millie is the lickiest dog Ive ever known. If she's sat next to you she will lick your hand until you move it, and then she will either move to gain access to the hand or just settle down and lick her own feet. She'll lick Milo's ears and eyes as well as having a chew on his ears.
Toyless - yes, Clyde used to lick any available bit of skin as well. It's not a good habit! He'd go absolutely mental with new people, as well..
Bex - sound advice as always!
Good to hear I'm not being heartless with the cease and desist... there shall be no more licking of unmentionables!
Cheers for the advice
Bex - sound advice as always!
Good to hear I'm not being heartless with the cease and desist... there shall be no more licking of unmentionables! Cheers for the advice
One thing I meant to say is try not to get too stressed about it, there's a good chance he'll settle in time and get bored! But just in case he is becoming obsessive there is nothing wrong in discouraging him!
My cat used to be a bit obsessed with licking our arms, he got quite bad with it so we had to reduce how much he was allowed (funnily enough he is licking my arm now as I type!)
My cat used to be a bit obsessed with licking our arms, he got quite bad with it so we had to reduce how much he was allowed (funnily enough he is licking my arm now as I type!)
h. Seriously.awww what a gorgeous pic!
well this would drive me nuts , I know dogs lick etc but it would annoy me if he constantly did it, so I would probably try to use a distraction, a squeaky or favorite toy and a quick play when he goes to do it, and try and break the habit! but I realise your not always going to be there, but for me it would be worth a try!!
well this would drive me nuts , I know dogs lick etc but it would annoy me if he constantly did it, so I would probably try to use a distraction, a squeaky or favorite toy and a quick play when he goes to do it, and try and break the habit! but I realise your not always going to be there, but for me it would be worth a try!!
MC, I think she knows it.
She rolls over far too frequently.
Seriously though; it's gross.
And Bex, cheers for the second input. But knowing Clyde, it's obsessive licking, and he won't quit it.
...he still licks the OH's mum's dog's winky when they're together, three years on.
And the OH went out for a walk with a mate and his dog once, and couldn't get a photo of the two dogs together that showed Clyde's head, what with it being under the other dog. Constantly.
She rolls over far too frequently.
Seriously though; it's gross.
And Bex, cheers for the second input. But knowing Clyde, it's obsessive licking, and he won't quit it.
...he still licks the OH's mum's dog's winky when they're together, three years on.
And the OH went out for a walk with a mate and his dog once, and couldn't get a photo of the two dogs together that showed Clyde's head, what with it being under the other dog. Constantly.
Licking in dogs is an activity that releases the 'happy endorphins'. Basically licking makes a dog happy.
In our case our young Irish Setter who likes to lick our other dogs got carried away on a holiday when he and the older English Setter where spending several hours in the back of the car together. The English Setter at this point released that being licked made him happy - so the English developed an obsession licking himself. This was mainly on his legs.
Eventually all four legs ended up sore and bleeding. After trying all sorts we had to resort to all legs being bound in vet bandage to protect them. The front are better and now the subject of 'normal' licking.
He would still lick the back legs and these are kept bandaged as a precaution - he doesn't mind the bandage on. However, another problem has now set in. He has developed a pollen (hay fever) allergy in old age. The downside of this is that he wants to lick his legs !! Therefore we have to minimise activity near plants at the present and give Piriton tablets.
The Irish Setter especially likes to lick when one of the other dogs has been missing - vets trip / groomers etc - and they come back into the house. All parts of the body get licked, but the back is the wettest place when he has finished.
In our case our young Irish Setter who likes to lick our other dogs got carried away on a holiday when he and the older English Setter where spending several hours in the back of the car together. The English Setter at this point released that being licked made him happy - so the English developed an obsession licking himself. This was mainly on his legs.
Eventually all four legs ended up sore and bleeding. After trying all sorts we had to resort to all legs being bound in vet bandage to protect them. The front are better and now the subject of 'normal' licking.
He would still lick the back legs and these are kept bandaged as a precaution - he doesn't mind the bandage on. However, another problem has now set in. He has developed a pollen (hay fever) allergy in old age. The downside of this is that he wants to lick his legs !! Therefore we have to minimise activity near plants at the present and give Piriton tablets.
The Irish Setter especially likes to lick when one of the other dogs has been missing - vets trip / groomers etc - and they come back into the house. All parts of the body get licked, but the back is the wettest place when he has finished.
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