How to Stop Your Dog from Licking You

When your dog licks you, it’s usually a sign of affection or submission, demonstrating that it sees you as its respected owner. A dog occasionally licking you isn’t typically an issue and can be quite cute. However, if your dog licks you or your guests too often, it can quickly become bothersome. Additionally, excessive licking is often a sign of anxiety in dogs, which should be addressed for the well-being of both the dog and yourself. Learning how to stop this behavior can help you determine if it's simply an emotional display or a sign of a more serious health problem.

Ignore the dog when it licks you. If the dog licks you to get attention or show affection, your response can help curb the behavior.

• Don’t scold the dog. Even if you’re annoyed, the dog perceives any reaction as attention, which could encourage further licking.
• Stop whatever you’re doing, stand up, and leave the room if the dog licks you for an extended period. This reinforces the idea in the dog’s mind that licking won’t achieve the desired result.

Use medication. Pheromone medications, also known as DAP, have been proven to be an effective treatment for obsessive behaviors associated with anxiety disorders in dogs. This chemical mimics the pheromones found in nursing puppies, which can help reduce anxiety or fear in dogs.

Change the soap or lotion you're using. It’s possible that your dog is licking you because they enjoy the scent or taste they detect on your skin. Try using an unscented soap or lotion and observe if it reduces the licking behavior.

Apply products made from citrus fruits (orange, lemon, grapefruit). While there are exceptions, most dogs dislike the scent and taste of citrus fruits. Using a citrus-based topical product, or even rubbing the peel of these fruits on your skin, may help prevent your dog from licking you.

Keep your dog busy with toys. Burning off energy can help prevent negative behaviors in dogs. Providing plenty of toys, including puzzle toys that challenge their minds, can reduce unwanted behaviors like excessive licking.

Consider using medication. If your dog’s licking is a sign of severe anxiety, you may need to consult with a veterinarian about prescribing medication for your pet.

• Clomipramine is commonly prescribed for pets with anxiety disorders. This medication helps treat obsessive behaviors like licking.
• Fluoxetine is another popular medication used to treat anxiety in animals. It is specifically for canine anxiety disorders, although it comes with some side effects.

Encourage alternative behaviors. To curb obsessive behaviors like licking, substitute them with other activities, such as contrasting behaviors. In this case, contrasting behaviors might involve any activity that engages your dog’s mouth so that it can't lick you.

• Play fetch with your dog whenever it starts licking you. This will distract the dog from its anxiety, the cause of the licking, and make it physically occupied, preventing it from licking you due to being busy with the toy.
• Try taking your dog for a walk whenever it licks you. This might lead your dog to associate licking with going outside, and it can help reduce obsessive behaviors in your pet.

Give your dog more physical exercise. Intense exercise can tire your dog, reduce its stress, and also decrease its desire to lick you.

Reward positive behaviors from your dog. If your dog is licking you just to get attention, make sure to give it attention when it behaves appropriately. Rewarding good behavior should be done immediately after the dog exhibits the desired action so that it understands it has been praised. Rewarding your dog for calm and 'normal' behavior teaches it that such actions are appreciated.

Teach your dog to lick on command. This will help your dog understand that licking is only acceptable when you ask for it.

• Choose a word to teach your dog to lick. It could be 'lick,' 'kiss,' or any word you'd like your dog to associate with licking.
• Extend your hand while saying the chosen word. You can use a little peanut butter on your hand to encourage your dog to lick it during the first training sessions. However, do this only if you are sure the dog won’t get aggressive with the food.
• Use a stop command, such as 'stop' or 'no.' Wait to see if your dog responds by stopping the licking. If it does, even after a few seconds, reward it. If not, repeat the command and withdraw your hand.
• Praise your dog when it licks and stops on command. Positive reinforcement is key to training your dog to respond to your requests.

Be consistent with your actions. If you want your dog to stop licking, you must consistently prevent it from doing so. You cannot praise it when it licks you one day and then scold it for the same action the next day. This will confuse the dog and make it unsure of what you want. Remember, any training requires patience and consistency.