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- Why do dogs lick?
- What does it mean when a dog licks your legs and feet?
- How to prevent the dog from licking your feet?
There is no doubt that a dog that licks its tutor does this because it has spawned a important affective bond with him. This is a positive fact for the relationship between the pet and its human companion, but as with all positive facts, when they become excessive, they no longer have as positive a connotation as it was before crossing the line. overflow line.
Considering that canine licking behavior is a demonstration and an evident parameter of the existence of a great attachment, a strong affective bond and respect between the animal and its responsible guardian, it is time to understand why dogs lick tutors' feet. Keep reading this PeritoAnimal article to find the answer!
Why do dogs lick?
Do you know why dogs lick? This licking behavior from dogs to other members of their social group (whether this group consists of humans or other dogs) has a innate, evolutionary and hereditary origin. Licking is a behavior that reinforces the affective and emotional bond between individuals belonging to the same social group or pack.
The canine lick directed at its own coat has the function of keeping it in perfect hygiene and health conditions. Licking has the ability to ward off ectoparasites that normally inhabit the fur and skin of animals by for its dragging action.
Although these parasites are natural inhabitants, the lack of cleaning by the dog through licking leads to an excess in the quantity of these ectoparasites, which would lead to the generation of dermatitis in dogs, which, in turn, could lead to contamination by bacteria, generating a serious dermatological infection. In this way, with licking the dog keeps away these guests who inhabit the outer layer of its body.
It is now known that dog saliva contains a number of chemical substances with bactericidal properties. So another reason why dogs lab themselves when they are injured is because it allows wounds sustained on the skin's surface to be more easily healed. When the dog has access to its own wounds that are produced in a fight or an accident, it has a better chance of not getting infections.
Furthermore, dogs can lick their own coat and their skin wounds, but they can also do the same for those individuals or groupmates with which they have a strong and positive affective bond.
So, reviewing and in general, the main reasons that explain why do dogs lick, are:
- Because it is an innate and hereditary behavior
- To promote cleansing of your coat and skin
- Because your saliva has bactericidal properties that help in wound recovery
- show of affection
- Demonstration of affective bond
What does it mean when a dog licks your legs and feet?
Now that you've seen why dogs lick, let's further specify this type of behavior. Here are some reasons why dogs lick their tutors' feet or legs:
- show of love: One of the main reasons dogs lick your feet or legs is because they're trying to show affection for you. In other words, your dog loves you.
- try to get your attention: On the other hand, if your dog is hungry, thirsty, wants to walk or play, he is likely to lick his feet to get your attention and convey this need.
- Anxiety: If your dog compulsively licks you, it could mean that, for some reason, your dog is suffering from anxiety. Anxiety in dogs can show up for a variety of reasons, so you should evaluate your furry companion's behavior with your veterinarian.
- generalization of behavior: it can also happen that your dog licks you because he realized that you like it, because you reward him with caresses or praise, so he will continue doing it to please him. This is known as generalization of behavior.For the tutor, this behavior of his dog towards him is pleasant and, instead of repressing him, he rewards him with caresses or praise to the animal, reinforcing this behavior and generating a habit in his dog.
- Easy access: If your dog wants to lick you for any reason, he can choose his feet simply because he has more access to them.
However, if you think your dog licks you excessively or has licked a lot more all of a sudden, we advise you to go to the veterinarian so that you can assess the situation together with the professional. On the other hand, it might be helpful to read this other article about my dog licks me a lot - why and what to do.
How to prevent the dog from licking your feet?
You've already seen why dogs lick. But if you for some reason don't want your dog to lick your feet, there are some tips that can help you in this situation:
- divert his attention: diverting the dog's behavior to another activity can be a good solution to weaning your furry from this type of behavior.
- Positive reinforcement: positive reinforcement can be very helpful in re-educating your dog as well. Our tip is that you have snacks in hand and that you reward him when he doesn't lick you. This way, he will understand that if not the fact that he doesn't lick you will cause him to receive awards.
- Basic commands: It can also be helpful to educate your dog with basic obedience commands. This will make it easier, for example, when you say "no", because when he hears this he will stop doing what he was doing.
- Consult an ethologist: If you think your dog's licking is due to a major problem with anxiety or behavior, we advise you to seek help from a dog behavior professional.
In either case, the re-education of the dog is achieved by following and respecting the 3 P's rule: practice, patience and perseverance. The dog is a noble animal that, when respected and given time, learns with incredible ease and speed.
If you prefer, watch the following video summarizing the reasons why your dog licks you:
If you want to read more articles similar to Why do dogs lick tutors' feet?, we recommend that you enter our Behavior Problems section.