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Canine Licking

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Licking is a natural behaviour which usually  begins in puppyhood as a way of exploring, and is generally used by the more submissive types of dog.  Licking is a submissive social signal, allowing dogs to show deference to dominant "pack members".  It is also a form of greeting, dogs lick other dog's faces and mouths when they greet each other to indicate friendliness.  Licking is also used as a social bonding exercise, similar to primate social grooming and stroking. This can indicate intimacy. Such licking is longer and slower, in comparison to the brief licking of faces during a greeting.

There are occasions when licking is beneficial. Puppies lick their litter mates as a social bonding function as well as for grooming. They also lick their mother as a way of soliciting feedings when they are weaned, so a young dog may lick to request its dinner.  When a puppy first comes into this world, the mother will lick him clean to remove all natal debris. The licking also helps puppies breathe and it stimulates bowel movements.  There is no evidence to suggest that excessive licking at birth by the mother would result in puppies developing a licking habit that could cause health problems later on.

Some dogs lick as a substitute for puppy mouthing behaviour.  They have learn't not to put their teeth on people, so they lick instead to occupy their mouth.  When dogs lick our faces we as humans are actually flattered by the puppies display of affection and encourage the behaviour by not discouraging it.  Because we read it as a display of affection, we usually respond by returning the affection in the form of soothing words and gentle strokes.  If we are not careful, we are in danger of turning a submissive gesture into a dominant gesture.  Because we respond so readily, we can quickly teach the rapidly developing young dog that it is an ideal way of gaining our attention.  In the same way, a young child is a little horror can turn on the cute baby talk and quickly achieve an ahhh! response from a maternal person.

We need to establish whether the behaviour is attention seeking or a submissive gesture.  A simple way of doing this is to ask yourself the question: "Does my dog lick me when I am doing something else, or does the licking occur after I have spoken to or stroked the dog?"  In other words, which one of you initiates the interaction?  If it is a submissive display, a less dominant form of greeting should be used by you.  Crouching down to praise is less dominant than leaning over.  Stroking the side of the cheeks and gently patting the flanks is less dominant than stroking the head, neck and shoulders.  It also helps to reduce the amount of physical contact for a short while and substitute verbal praise instead.  If the licking is initiated by the dog, it is almost certainly attention seeking and the danger is that it could be turned to the dogs advantage in the constant battle for pecking order.

Teach the kiss command. For dogs who are rather exuberant in licking us humans this is an excellent technique that limits licking while providing an acceptable outlet for the urge. At the same time you'll teach your dog to be a charming hostess. Follow these steps:

  1. Tell your dog to sit.
  2. Present your hand, and say, Kiss.
  3. Let your dog lick your hand no more than three times the three-lick rule and then immediately pull your hand away and praise your dog with, Good kiss!
  4. When willing guests come by, ask them to present their hand and command a kiss.
  5. Always interrupt after three licks.
Increase touch when your dog isn't licking. A great way to dispose your dog to refrain from licking is to lavish your dog with other types of physical affection, such as body massages or coat-brushing sessions. Discover ways your dog likes to be touched and use them to reward for time spent not licking. You want your dog to learn that they get more attention for not licking than for licking.

Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM states "Many canines will lick for a multitude of reasons: obsessive/compulsion disorder, anxiety, boredom, investigatory behaviour, positive feed-back (via pleasurable stimulation of the vomer organ), greeting behaviour and establishment of social pecking order"

Although a normal behaviour, some dogs will lick themselves to the point of excess, creating hot spots and very sore skin.  Incessant licking becomes a learned behaviour and it is believed that some dogs gain some pleasure from the exercise.  These bad habits can be a nightmare for many owners as it appears that the dog is self-harming in some way.  It is not normal and the problem should be tackled before the dog causes hair loss, skin lesions or acral lick dermatitis.   Many breeds may have a genetic predisposition for certain compulsive disorders.  A dog that is susceptible to one type of oral compulsive behaviour may be at risk for other anxiety-related behaviours.  In addition, some dogs are born with a shy or fearful temperament, which can predispose them to anxiety-related behaviours when faced with frustrating or conflicting experiences.

Owners should not punish their dogs as punishment can be an large source of conflict and anxiety for pets.  If you are overattentive, try withholding your petting and praise for those times when your dog responds to some direction by you. Tell your dog to sit, then praise and pet him. Give him attention only when you are acting as his leader and after he follows your lead. This will build his security and improve your relationship.  Increase the frequency of  the training sessions.  It is widely believed that 10 minutes of mental stimulation is worth half an hours exercise in the park.  A dog that uses its brain more often to perform basic commands like Sit, Down, Stand, Come, Fetch etc. will be less inclined to self mutilate.  Many dogs could benefit from obedience classes.  A refresher course on basic commands can help your dog to control himself when he really wants to lick.  If you are neglectful and do not spend enough time with your dog, increase your dogs activity time. Take him for  more walks. Exercise works miracles on dogs that have turned upon themselves by chewing or licking by decreasing stress levels.

Another simple technique you can use to stop excessive licking in dogs is to divert his attention. When he starts licking, catch his attention and throw a ball for him to fetch.  He will soon forget about licking because he's having more fun playing ball !  You can also divert attention with a favourite chew toy. When your dog tries to lick, ask him to sit and then reward him for not licking with a chew or a Kong stuffed with treats.

If your dog excessively licks objects you can use a taste deterrent.  A taste deterrent is anything that your dog does not like the taste of.  Hot sauce and hot mustard are good deterrents. There are also commercial taste deterrents you can purchase at a pet supply store like bitter apple and sour grapes.  By putting the taste deterrent on the objects your dog likes to lick, you can stop this behaviour. It's important that you give your dog something to chew on like a stuffed Kong toy or Nylabone in place of the off-limits object.

Causes of Excessive Licking

Treatment
Allergies - Possibly from fleas or something that has been ingested. You are what you eat.  Eating the right food will help keeping your dogs skin healthy and reduce skin irritations. Dogs get itchy skin.  Licking may help to relieve the itching.
 		Veterinary treatment required to eliminate fleas.  Elimination diet required to find out what particular ingredient in the food your dog is allergic to. Many dogs are allergic to corn, wheat or other preservatives used in commercial diets. Some dogs are allergic to certain protein sources, such as chicken.
Neurodermatitis - this obsessive self-licking results from anxiety, boredom or stress.  Boredom can also cause dogs to lick carpet, furniture or their favourite toy. A dog experiencing emotional distress can start licking himself in excess. Anxiety, stress and depression are emotional problems that cause self-licking in dogs. Anxiety and stress can be caused by changes or the absence of the owner or a family member. If the dog is affected by an undetected health problem, this may also cause stress. Find the cause of the problem and take steps to eliminate it.
Contact Dermatitis - this allergic reaction can be from metals, rubber, wool, plastic, grass etc. or irritants such as dyes, deodorisers or poison ivy
Atopy - This allergic dermatitis (Atopy)is due to something that is inhaled, such as pollens, dust mites and mould.  Signals include licking the feet, inflamed ears and itching		 Treatment for Contact Dermatitis or Atopy may include steroids, fatty acid supplements or antihistamines
Pain - When they are injured, dogs lick their wounds to promote self-healing by boosting blood flow. Also, licking creates moisture, which produces a form of topical anesthesia when it evaporates. They also lick their sore spots even if there is no open wound (e.g. sore joints, a pulled muscle). If your dog licks a particular area excessively and persistently, check to see if he has a cut, bruise, or swelling.
Lick Granulomas - Sometimes persistent and focused dog licking can cause hair loss, serious lesions and sores, resulting in a condition called lick granulomas (a.k.a. acral lick dermatitis). Lick granulomas can lead to hard-to-heal infections that can be extremely painful. If your dog continues to lick one specific part of his body excessively, pay careful attention and stop the licking before it causes damage. Veterinary treatment may be required
Behavioural - Many dogs that begin licking surfaces for any reason learn that performing the behaviour results in a response from the owner. Even if that response is punishment, it may be rewarding to a dog that desires attention. Once dogs learn that a certain behaviour results in attention, they are likely to repeat the behaviour. Treatment for attention-seeking behaviours requires that the owner completely ignores the dog whenever it begins performing the behaviour. The owner must not to speak to the dog or even make eye contact and to leave the room if possible. If an owner can do this consistently, the behaviour will eventually stop; however, initially, there may be a dramatic increase in the behaviour (called an extinction burst) as the dog attempts to get the attention it is used to. If owners want the behaviour to eventually stop, they must ignore this behaviour completely, no matter how annoying it may be.


http://www.petco.com/Content/ArticleList/Article/30/1/2301/Licking-People.aspx
http://www.ehow.com/how_5036751_stop-excessive-dog-licking.html
http://www.articlesbase.com/pets-articles/what-is-excessive-licking-read-more-of-the-dog-symptoms-of-licking-663100.html
Think Dog - John Fisher
http://www.iams.co.uk/dog/Training-Behaviour-6/Lowdown-Licking-152.html

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The above information is simply informational. It's intent is not to replace the advice of a veterinarian nor to assist you in making a diagnosis of your pet. Please consult with your own veterinarian for confirmation of any diagnosis. Your pets life may depend on it.