Licking G S D

[feher]

Gaaaaaaaaaah!

My 13 month old GSD is quite a submissive girl, and is constantly licking! She licks excessively, and it is driving my OH and I bonkers!

She will lick you wherever she can reach, hands, face, legs UGH. We have tried not giving her attention and turning away, but she just goes to where you are and sits, and starts licking at you again (she has been taught to sit before being given pats)

She is very dog shy, even though we have made attempts to socialise her. She is incredibly attached to our Husky bitch (albeit, she is a nuturing girl, but is now more of a friend than I mother figure I would presume)...

What can I do?

EFS.

Edited June 6, 2007 by feher

[cramet]

she probly is lacking salt in her diet i would check what you are feeding her and and change whats needed have a look in the health section on dol and have a look/search there

[Arya]

Feher, we both have problem GSDs LOL! One thing I can add here is I've just done a seminar with the veterinary behaviourist, Dr Robert Holmes. He was talking about dogs and anxiety (wish I'd been able to speak to him about my girl but no time as it wasn't appropriate being a classroom situation) and anyway he actually talked about licking and chewing. It is very self-rewarding because licking and chewing release the feel-good brain chemical, seratonin. If a dog is anxious, they will lick and chew a lot. Hence when working with a tug toy in drive training it is said the dog is relaxed when he holds the toy firmly in his mouth with no chewing and mouthing. What Dr Holmes suggested was Kongs. He suggests get several giant sized Kongs and feed the dog their daily food inside the Kongs. He said you have to teach them this a bit first. Then they spend their spare time feeling better. The other thing he suggested, which is a bit expensive, is a special stuff called Dog Appeasing Pheremone or DAP. It is a pheremone that comes from the mid-line of the bitch when she is lactating and is supposed to make the pups feel relaxed. needless to say I have some on order at my vet! It is like those little Glade plug-in air fresheners in that you plug it in and switch it on and it releases the pheremone into the air. It costs about a hundred bucks though. Still if you have a dog with a licking problem consider these things as well as the salt thing. He also uses prozac for severe anxiety problems but I personally am not into that. However, that's just me I guess. He also said always get a good dog trainer to help you with overall training for leadership etc.

The other thing I'd do is, after getting her checked out by a vet to ensure she is fit and well, book in to see a good behaviourist. If you are in NSW you could go see K9 for sure. That is what I would do if I lived there!!! The thing is, I think ultimately we can teach our dogs how to relax by relying on us as strong leaders. A good behaviourist will help you with this. So have a look outside the square, find a good behaviourist and let us know how you go. Good luck!!! :rolleyes:

[haven]

Agree with everything that Arya said and also that it could be the result of a dietary inadequacy. You could try supplementing with things like copper, magnesium, B vitamins etc.

The main thing is, you shouldn't directly punish the behaviour. The licking is a submissive, or appeasing gesture, as you say and by punishing it she will only want to appease you all the more. Ignoring it is ok, definately no verbal or physical punishment, but I'd also be trying redirection and teach her alternative behaviour to get your 'approval'. Be a firm but fair leader and above all be consistent, a lot of anxiety is borne because the dog isn't sure what is expected of it in that situation.

[feher]

Arya, us and our GSDs eh?! :cool:

Hmm will try adding a little salt to the meals. It just seems as though she is doing it for a reason.. She does the licking the mouth of my other two, which as I understand it from my Obedience Training Course, stems from pups licking their mothers mouths to encourage regurgiation, and this is how they begin to eat solids. It carries on into adulthood as a submission thing (correct me if I am wrong).

I am also having big issues with her skin at this present time... Will post in health for that though :rolleyes:

[Tapferhund]

Great post Arya !!

Feher....careful with the salt......there are other mineral salts to consider that are not common table salt.

[haven]

Feher....careful with the salt......there are other mineral salts to consider that are not common table salt.

/Agree

[feher]

Vet appointment Sunday morning for the little munchkin :rolleyes: Vet seems to think it is a submission/appeasement thing and that she has an allergy we need to get sorted out (re:the chewing) as it doesn't seem to be a flea allergy, as it did not beginning nor has it prgressed to the base of the tail (which is the most common inital focal point for a flea allergy)

Edited June 7, 2007 by feher

[Arya]

While you're at the vet, find out if there is a good veterinary behaviourist in your area, or if they know of a good behaviourist/trainer. Hey, the good DOL folk reading this in your area might be able to suggest someone as I now see you're in QLD. The skin allergy could be adding to the anxiety prob and also if she is lacking something in her diet could too so good move going to the docs One thing though, Dr Holmes said in the lecture that if using drugs, don't go for Clomicalm for anxiety in dogs. He said he was very disappointed with it as an anti-anxiety for dogs - thought it was great for cats though LOL. The only reason I mention this is that I used to work for a vet for many years and clomicalm can sometimes be handed out willy-nilly. Pardon to any vets that read this!!! Good luck - tell us how you get on. These odd behaviours can be difficult to pin down but lucky your dog has an owner who is prepared to get to the bottom of it ;)

[Lablover]

Vet appointment Sunday morning for the little munchkin Vet seems to think it is a submission/appeasement thing and that she has an allergy we need to get sorted out (re:the chewing) as it doesn't seem to be a flea allergy, as it did not beginning nor has it prgressed to the base of the tail (which is the most common inital focal point for a flea allergy)

Did she start licking you and OH, before the allergy became apparent?

[Arya]

Quite by chance/coincidence I had a dog training client with exactly this problem today. She contacted me as the dog was under stress and exhibiting other behaviours and didn't connect the licking with it at all. When I got there the poor little dog went straight into lick mode - licking me, licking owner, licking air, licking nose. Then when excitement over, he settled down and stopped. Very interesting behaviour to watch but most uncomfortable for the dog, I imagine. We are now off to the vet and then a behaviourist in conjunction with dog training if no systemic problem found. Is this problem more common than I thought it was? I've only seen it once or twice before as a vet nurse.