Dog Licking Problem

by Kim

Dog Licking Problem Reader Question: I have a 7 year old male Pomeranian/Chihuahua mix. He wants to lick me all the time, constantly and won't stop. I let him do it because he acted like he had to, like to show his affection.

It drives my husband crazy and I don't know how to get him to stop. Also he has very bad dog breath, so I thought he was doing it because of that. I have tried breath liquids in his water but they make him sick and I can't use chew bones as my vet advised me not to give him any treats.

So now I have no idea what to do or to try and help him stop licking and clear up his breath.

I am sure it is all related but I need help.

Thanks.

Kim

Dog Licking Problem Dog Health Handbook Editor Response:

Dear Kim,

Thank you for your question and sorry to hear about the dog licking and dog breath problems.

It is possible that licking and bad breath are correlated, but as you know, a dog may lick an owner for other reasons as well. For example, this can be a way of showing affection. Dog licking can also be due to a lack of enough playful activities, thus your dog tries to gain your attention.

If your dog is licking for a specific reason like poor oral hygiene or to gain attention, remember that licking becomes a habit over time and you might need to train your dog to get it to stop.

Though licking is not considered to be a major behavioral problem, if you want to avoid it, start with some rigid and firm commands. Whenever your dog tries to lick you, resist it and stop him in a firm and loud voice, like “NO!”, “STOP!” & “It’s ENOUGH!” etc. Try to behave angry, and if your dog licks again, go with a more rigid response, and when it stops licking, praise him greatly. Training your dog with this technique might take some time, but it will surely help.

Moreover, try to keep him busy with playful activities. These activities will help to keep your dog busy and will certainly help to avoid frequent contact with you and licking. You can start this by trying some chewable toys such as a Classic KONG Dog Toy that allows you to hide dog food inside. This type of activity is sure to keep your dog occupied and engaged.

Bad breath is usually caused by oral bacteria, which mostly occurs over the tongue and on the surface of the gums. You should regularly clean and brush the oral cavity and teeth of your dog with a quality tooth paste. A good example of what is needed is the Four Paws Pet Dental Kit for Dogs.

Try some natural remedies for keeping the oral cavity fresh and free from oral bacteria. If possible, take your dog to the vet for a thorough cleaning of the oral cavity and gums, and keep the oral cavity clean with regular cleaning and brushing and by using natural remedies. Natural remedies to try for bad breath include a quality dog mouth spray such as OralHealth Mouth Spray. To help with overall dog dental health and to support the oral cavity consider a product like Gums-n-Teeth.

We are sure these steps will help with the dog licking problem and will help that dog breath smell go away.

Please keep us up to date and we hope this helps.