In this article, we’ll review 4 reasons why dogs lick themselves. then we’ll cover what you can do to stop a canine from licking himself so often.
Sometimes dogs lick their feet, rear end, tail or even their canine bed or the furniture.
Licking is normal canine behavior, but it can also be a sign of an allergy, pain, tension or anxiety.
Plus, that licking sound might be annoying to you or your family members! I mean, who wants to work out in to view TV only to have the canine licking himself – loudly – in the corner.
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Why do dogs lick themselves?
1. The canine licks herself as a habit
The canine licks due to boredom or stress
2. Dogs lick themselves due to itchy skin or allergies
Things dogs can be allergic to
A dog’s paws or skin could also be irritated
If you suspect your canine has food allergies
Dogs can be allergic to “natural” products as well
3. Dogs lick themselves due to pain
4. Dogs lick to show disinterest
Should I be concerned my canine is licking too much?
Dog’s licking causing raw skin
What to do if you’re concerned about your dog’s licking
How to stop a canine from licking himself
1. Interrupt the canine with “no” or distract him
2. offer your canine with exercise, interaction & healthy food
3. decrease your dog’s stress
How to decrease your dog’s stress
4. Talk with your dog’s vet about the licking habit
5. hire a professional canine trainer for help
6. medication to stop a canine from licking
7. use bitter apple spray to avoid a dog’s licking
8. Cone collar or pro Collar to stop a canine from licking
9. Booties for paw protection
Other types of licking or mouthing in dogs
What to look for in a canine trainer or behaviorist
Why do dogs lick themselves?
If you want to stop your canine from licking himself, you need to understand why he’s licking himself in the first place.
Beyond basic grooming and cleaning, here are the most common reasons why a canine would lick himself:
1. The canine licks herself as a habit
Sometimes dogs lick themselves simply out of habit.
Maybe the licking was originally somewhat soothing, like a bit of a mild tension reliever or a way to deal with mild boredom.
On the emotional side, a dog’s licking may symbolize boredom, anxiety or stress, according to Joan Weston, a canine behaviorist based in Toronto. Licking can be an outlet for that tension or a self-soothing behavior.
The many common areas that dogs lick are their feet and ankles. Weston explained that this type of licking is typically a sign of tension displacement, although it is often hard to narrow down the exact cause of a dog’s licking.
“Licking itself is not the problem. It’s an indicator of a problem,” she said.
The canine licks due to boredom or stress
Licking typically arises in cases of either under-stimulation or over-stimulation. So if your canine is bored and feels like he has nothing to do, he may begin to lick himself. He might even do this to get attention from you.
Or, if he’s overwhelmed and stressed out, he may also lick.
If you suspect your canine might be licking himself due to boredom, try offering much more exercise, training and engagement.
Evaluate how much exercise your canine is currently getting and increase it. Also, look into a couple of treat-dispensing toys such as a Kong toy. A Kong will give your canine something to do so he’s less focused on licking himself.
2. Dogs lick themselves due to itchy skin or allergies
This is probably the most common reason for licking.
The problem is figuring out what exactly is causing the allergy.
Things dogs can be allergic to
Pollen
Dust
Fleas or mites
Chemicals on the lawn (or the turf itself)
Food allergy
Cedar-filled canine beds
Essential oils used in the home
Scented cleaning products or hygiene products
A dog’s paws or skin could also be irritated
De-icing materials on sidewalks and streets in the winter
Flea prevention products (natural or chemical)
Swimming, dry air, snow or changes in weather
It can be a long haul to figure out what your canine is allergic to. Your dog’s vet can help you with that if you’re interested. Allergy testing is also an option and might be worth it to you.
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If you suspect your canine has food allergies
You can try using a process of elimination.
Start with a grain-free food and then try switching to foods with different, particular protein sources like turkey or salmon. Unfortunately, you won’t see an immediate change, so be client and gradually change your dog’s food to avoid tummy issues.
Some people choose to start feeding a home cooked diet or a homemade raw diet so they can control exactly what their dogs eat. See my post on raw canine food recipes.
Dogs can be allergic to “natural” products as well
We’re in this crazy “natural” phase for all products, which is great! However, remember that people and dogs can still be allergic to natural products, especially when they’re scented.
If you suspect your canine might be allergic to a certain shampoo, a certain flea-prevention product or a certain supplement, try switching brands. choose non-scented whenever possible.
3. Dogs lick themselves due to pain
If your canine has sore joints or sore muscles, he might lick or chew himself in an attempt to relieve the pain.
Is your canine a senior? Is he slowing down on walks or limping? Sore legs might be the issue.
4. Dogs lick to show disinterest
My canine Ace would lick himself to show he was uninterested in engaging with my other pets. He would also lick himself to show other dogs he was not threatening.
For example, he would turn away from our young foster canine when she wanted to play. instead of engaging with her or correcting her, he would disregard her and focus on licking himself.
I believe this was a way to show disinterest in her and also a way to deal with his own mild stress.
In the image below, you can see Julia’s canine Baxter yawns and gives a little tongue flick to show he’s a bit unpleasant with the baby approaching.
This is an suitable reaction and dogs use this “tongue flick” behavior all the time to show acknowledgement.
Should I be concerned my canine is licking too much?
Some licking is natural in dogs. In fact, licking their lips is a calming signal that dogs use to communicate. This is similar to the example above where Baxter gives a quick lick as the baby approaches.
However, there are a couple of scenarios where a dog’s licking becomes a problem.
Dog’s licking causing raw skin
Some dogs lick so much that they may remove the hair from that particular part of their body and irritate the skin, said Weston. These granulomas or raw spots can be painful and challenging to heal.
The other situation where Weston said licking is a problem is if it impacts your dog’s quality of life.
Is the dog’s licking obsessive or behavior altering? Can you easily interrupt him or redirect him to other things? Or is he licking all the time?
Weston said to consider a human analogy of someone who bites their nails.
If it happens occasionally, it might not be a big deal. but if a person feels compelled to bite their nails many of the time, or if they’re injuring themselves, they may have a much more major situation that ought to be addressed.
Weston also shared that parentage can play a role in a dog’s licking.
“We know that anxiety in dogs can be inherited, just like in humans. It’s a behavior that is genetically modulated,” she said.
She also said anxiety often worsens at night, as it is chemically driven.
What to do if you’re concerned about your dog’s licking
Recognize the difference between a dog’s normal licking and a licking obsession.
If your dog’s licking is impacting his quality of life, stopping him from doing normal activities or causing physical injuries, it’s time to look deeper and try to address it, Weston said.
How to stop a canine from licking himself
If you need to get your dog’s licking practice under control, here are some ideas to consider. You’ll need to choose what is best for your exact situation. These are general ideas.
1. Interrupt the canine with “no” or distract him
Sometimes you just need to tell your canine “no” or “Baxter, stop,” to get him to “reset” and focus on something else.
If speaking isn’t sufficient to make your canine stop licking, try to get him interested in a chew toy, bully stick or treat. You can also take him outside or into another room, play with him or simply sit and pet him.
2. offer your canine with exercise, interaction & healthy food
Make sure to offer your canine with his basic needs for physical exercise, mental challenges, play, downtime and a healthy diet.
If it seems like your canine is bored, try to increase his exercise and mental stimulation. offer him with puzzle-type toys instead of food bowls. try a new activity like agility or flyball.
Build obedience or trick training into your daily schedule.
3. decrease your dog’s stress
If it seems like your dog’s licking is emotionally driven, try to figure out what is triggering the licking. Is it boredom or anxiety? Is it a particular person or situation?
Weston shared an example of a canine who became anxious when a neighbor mowed the lawn. So keep in mind that the cause may be outside of your immediate environment, or may seem so inconsequential to you that you don’t think of it at first.
Just like in humans, everyone responds differently to changes and stress, so you have to try to see things from your dog’s point of view.
You may not be able to eliminate the stress—the neighbor needs to mow the grass, for example—but you can help your canine to learn to live with it.
If your dog’s licking seems to be driven by stress, you need to help your canine find peace.
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How to decrease your dog’s stress
Counter-conditioning. help your canine to associate whatever is bothering him with good things.
Crate training. This gives your canine a space where he feels safe and comfortable.
Consistent routine. This can help your canine be much more relaxed. In the case of a schedule change or new family member, some extra attention through play, petting or walks can help your canine adjust.
4. Talk with your dog’s vet about the licking habit
Your vet can be an invaluable resource. A physical check-up can identify if the licking is driven by allergies, injury or pain.
Your regular vet may also recommend you to a veterinary specialist such as a canine dermatologist.
5. hire a professional canine trainer for help
Likewise, a canine trainer or behaviorist may be able to offer some ideas you had not thought of.
Consulting a behaviorist or someone who is able to assess your canine from a psychological perspective can be very helpful to identify the cause of your dog’s licking and how to address the behavior.
Weston emphasized that for behaviorists, the licking ought to be a secondary concern.
“Their goal is to address the underlying behavior, typically by adjusting the environment to either increase or decrease stimulation.”
6. medication to stop a canine from licking
Sometimes a vet or behaviorist may recommend medication for your dog. just like in humans, medication can help to balance your dog’s emotions.
If itchiness is the issue, your dog’s vet may recommend Benadryl as a short-term relief while you work to eliminate the actual cause.
See our post: Benadryl for dogs.
There are also prescription allergy medications for dogs that can help.
Just make sure to ask about the proper dosage.
7. use bitter apple spray to avoid a dog’s licking
Consult with your vet first, but bitter apple spray can be an option for some dogs.
These sprays can be applied to a dog’s paws or other areas that they are licking. many dogs dislike the taste, so they will stop licking.
However, these sprays simply address the behavior, not what has caused the licking.
8. Cone collar or pro Collar to stop a canine from licking
If your dog’s licking is causing irritated or raw skin or infections you may need to temporarily use a cone collar (a.k.a. a “party hat”!). also look into the much more canine friendly pro Collar, imagined below.
Again, these are not solving the actual cause of the dog’s licking.
9. Booties for paw protection
If your dog’s paws are getting irritated from something in the environment, try a light pair of booties to safeguard them from chemicals outside.
I recommend the Pawz boots because they’re so lightweight and can be used year round.
You can also try wiping the paws off with a damp paper towel when you come inside to help remove pollen, dust, chemicals, etc.
Other types of licking or mouthing in dogs
As mentioned, some level of licking is normal in dogs.
