Dogs truly make wonderful family pets and companions. As pet owners, our personal worlds are ever changing. Fall brings a time of kids returning to school, work routines can change and our calendars begin to fill up with sports and new projects. We sometimes take for granted that our four-legged family members can be severely affected by this change in schedule.

This routine change results in your dog developing compulsive behavior where they seem to lick everything in your house. If you have tried every one of the training techniques in your arsenal and cannot seem to keep your dog from licking, then perhaps you are training for the wrong thing. Training the symptoms and not the cause will only frustrate both you and your dog.

No matter what is happening in the world our dogs are always happy to greet us the moment we arrive home from work or errands. Some dogs carry this greeting a little too far by jumping on you, barking, whimpering and licking ankles, hands, arms and face.

This is one of the easiest dog behaviors to correct. When first arriving home from work or an errand just say “hello” then ignore your dog after that for a few minutes or until he/she calms down. Then you can properly greet your dog. Doing otherwise only encourages this compulsive behavior and when new guests visit, they will experience the same unwanted compulsive behavior.

If your dog seems to be licking everything in the household, the cause generally stems from two reasons. First is separation anxiety. All dogs experience some level of separation anxiety with some breeds, especially those of the hound group, more than others. Second is boredom. Dogs need to keep their minds active, stress and boredom if left unchecked will result in dogs developing unwanted compulsive behavior.

Spend more time when you arrive home playing or brushing your dog. This will help relieve his/her mind and reduce the pent up stress of being left alone. Also, be sure to provide a quality chew top while your away to keep their mind focused. If your dog experiences severe separation anxiety and crosses the line from compulsive licking to destruction, then perhaps a pet sitter is order.

Pet sitters offer a range of services from daily walks, playing and even spending the whole day with your dog. Check the Neighborhood section of this website and search for a pet sitter in your area. Exercise, playing fetch, and brushing all provide mental stimulation for your dog and will reduce compulsive behavioral licking.

If your dog is licking him/her self raw to the point of licking the fur away, then there could be other more serious issues involved. The act of a mother licking her pups provides the new born a sense of soothing and calm. This feeling translates the same soothing in adult dogs for pain and arthritis in limbs and joints. Your Veterinarian should examine this type of compulsive behavioral licking. There are new medications available to ease joint pain in dogs with fewer side effects then previous drugs.

No matter the reason for your dogs licking, compulsive behavior is something you can change with a little time and patience. Remember to treat the cause and not the symptoms and success is right around the corner.

By Remarkable Dogs