This is an experience almost every dog owner has had at one time or another. You could be in your kitchen doing the dishes or at the dining table having your breakfast, only to realize that your feet are getting an unexpected bath. That’s why you may ask, why does my dog lick my legs all the time?
Usually, dogs just enjoy licking legs as a way to express their feelings for you. For some persons, this action can be irritating, while it doesn’t matter at all for others. But if you’re wondering why your dog licks your legs, and probably ways you can stop them from doing that, then this article is just right for you.
Here, we have described the possible reasons why dogs are obsessed with licking legs, whether or not it’s normal, and how you can stop this from continuing. So keep reading for all that.
Is It Normal for My Dog to Lick My Feet?
It is normal for dogs to lick the feet of their owners. To them, licking your feet is a way of checking in and expressing their feelings. Usually, licking is a technique dogs use to care for their feet when they are injured, suffering from food allergies, parasites, or have certain skin problems. This is just regular behavior for them. So, dogs will lick their owners’ feet to show that they care about them.
However, there is a difference between infrequent licking and a regular licking habit. Certain dogs can take their licking habit a notch too far, which you can conclude to be a behavioral issue. At times like this, your next course of action should be an approach to stop this from persisting.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs when I Get Home?
Dogs possess a great sense of smell and taste; your sticky and sweaty legs can send some biological information to them as to what has changed about you. This is the main reason your dog will go straight to your legs when you get home.
Furthermore, your dog makes use of the smell and taste of the sweat and oil on your legs to understand you more. The way dogs derive information through your sweaty and oily feet to learn about you is known as Pheromones.
Sometimes, it can be from the smell of your socks or shoes. Biting and chewing them and licking your legs is a technique they use to get familiar with your pheromones.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs All the Time?
Your dog can regularly lick your legs for many reasons, including communication, healing, tending, affection, compulsion, and even because the legs taste good to them. This can happen every time they meet you. It is a communication skill you need to develop with them.
Most of these reasons occur because they are ways by which dogs take care of themselves and their puppies. And given that you are its caretaker, your pet might want to share the same relationship with you.
We will now go further to explain these reasons for a better understanding of why your dog licks your legs all the time.
1. Communication
Whether you notice it or not, your dog communicates with you throughout the day. The caveat here is that it is impossible to interpret most of the things they say.
One of the different ways through which they communicate to us is licking. This either shows that they are submissive, hungry, or just want to get your attention. For strangers, it could signify wanting to be friends with them.
That said when you find your dog licking your legs excessively, try to respond by checking around to see what could be amiss. For example, it could be that it is hungry, wants to go out, and needs you to open the door, or possibly, its water bowl is empty.
2. Healing
You might be wondering why dogs lick their injuries. First, you have to understand that licking wounds is an instinctive behavior in dogs. They lick their wounds when it is painful or irritating and also bring the same action to us humans. But how does this aid healing?
The saliva of dogs contains microbial and antibacterial constituents that help protect wounds from bacteria. In addition to this, licking is a way of tending their skin, removing dead tissue, and keeping dirt off their wounds.
Also, if you have a cut on your leg, as mentioned earlier, it is an instinctive behavior in dogs to lick injuries, and so they will always want to lick your leg, especially the injured part of it. They do this to keep the wound clean and quicken its healing process.
But despite the benefits of licking their wounds, it can be harmful to your pet when they do it too often. This is because continuous licking of wounds can cause them to reopen and become a hotspot for infections. At times like this, getting assistance from a vet is preferable. Unfortunately, the same applies to you. The risks of pet over-licking your wounds outweighs the advantages.
3. Tending
More often than not, dogs tend their skin by licking. This is a trait you can find in cats as well. It is common for dogs to groom their fur and skin by licking them. One common area dogs tend to by licking is their paws. Usually, after a walk outside, they tend to groom their paws from the dirt hanging in-between them.
So, as a way of tending your legs, your dog would regularly lick them to keep them clean, especially if they are sweaty and oily. But always take note of excessive licking, as it could result in a basic medical problem. Therefore, seek medical assistance from a vet if you notice such behavior.
4. Affection
Another apparent reason your dog licks your legs all the time is that it is one of its ways of showing affection. Just as it is with female dogs and their puppies, your pet would want to lick your legs to let you know that it loves you. This is the most common of all the reasons dogs regularly lick their owners’ legs.
Even though licking is a way of showing familiarity toward you, it must not be in excess, as it can irritate some people. As you keep reading, you will come across ways to stop your pup from licking excessively.
5. Compulsion
If your dog licks compulsively, it means it is trying to calm itself down from certain pain, being nervous, scared, or even bored. At times like this, your dog would prefer to lick your legs or any available object.
Also, you can think of compulsive licking in dogs as a healthy way of relieving themselves of stress; however, when it gets obsessive, it aggravates anxiety and worsens the issue. To add to this, compulsive licking in dogs could be a sign of pain, allergy, or an infection.
So, check for possible health challenges, such as anxiety or infection, if you notice excessive licking in your dog.
6. The Legs Taste Good
You may have observed that when you spill something on the ground, your dog takes up the duty to lick it up. Or probably you have noticed how your dog wipes its bowl with the tongue after a meal. It is clearly because the dog likes the taste of the substance. This can apply to your legs as well.
Your dog can reach for your legs simply because it likes the taste it’s getting from them. You may not be aware of this, but you might have some food particles on your feet that your pet is attracted to. Moreover, the salty taste of the sweat on the feet is something dogs enjoy licking. This is the reason dogs could as well lick our hands or faces after a meal or just by lifting them from the ground.
Should You Allow This Behavior?
Due to the bacteria in the saliva of dogs, it is advisable to avoid letting your dog lick your legs or face regularly. You may not be able to stop them from licking your legs completely, but put a restriction on your face and an opening on your skin.
Medical practitioners figured out that the bacteria in the saliva of dogs can be risky to your health. Some people would say that dogs’ mouths are cleaner than those of humans, but this isn’t true. Although the mouths of dogs have similar bacteria to those of humans, the fact that dogs do not practice dental hygiene makes this statement a mere myth.
So, to stay safe from the negative effect of your dog licking your legs, simply put a limit to how often it licks them. The following part of this article describes how you can stop your dog from licking your feet.
How to Get Your Dog to Stop Licking Your Feet?
To stop your dog from licking your feet, you can use a distractive method that redirects its attention from licking to doing something entirely different. But always be sure to perform this act without yelling at your pet or punishing it.
Some persons can stop their pets from feet licking by wearing full-length pants and socks. However, this method may be limited if the weather in your location isn’t favorable.
Here are some other things you can try to restrict your dog from licking your feet:
Distraction
You can do this by using a toy or a treat as a means of distraction each time your pet reaches for your feet. However, this method works well if your dog’s feet licking results from playfulness and affection.
Positive Reinforcement Training
This method provides a reward for your pet for doing what you instructed. For example, you could simply ask the dog to sit or lie down just to redirect its attention from licking your feet, and then the reward can follow. This technique is most effective with the help of an experienced trainer.
Use a Vet
If your dog’s feet licking suddenly becomes excessive, it could be the outcome of certain health challenges. At times like this, a preferable option is to ask a veterinarian to detect the actual cause of the sudden change. The outcome of the test will determine your next course of action in putting an end to the issue.
Final Thoughts
It is not unnatural for your dog to lick your feet at all times, although there are times when it gets excessive. You can always encourage yourself in the truth that licking legs for dogs is a natural phenomenon.
But if you are still wondering and asking, why does my dog lick my legs all the time? You can always book an appointment with a vet if the behavior suddenly becomes worrisome.
