Quote: Mara Jessup

It can absolutely help to know the why behind a behavior.

I mean, if you have super yummy lotion that your dog loves to lick, it's nice to figure that out.

LOL, I don't care if a dogs wants to lick me non-stop because I rub Bacon Grease on my skin instead of commercial body-lotion (not that I actually do this) -- Enough is Enough and NO Means NO on stuff like that, IMHO ... Just speaking for myself personally, I don't have the time to take my dog for a nice long walk should it forget Basic Manners

"My House / My Rules" comes under the category of GROUND-WORK for my dogs, rather than being an experiment in Canine Psychology research -- But of course I realize that other folks may view it differently, so no problem.

I also like to know the "why" when a behavior crops up that I have to deal with. Is the dog just reacting to a nice smelling lotion, or is the dog developing a compulsion or obsession? While my end goal will be the same - extinguishing the behavior - the way I go about it may be different.

Also, if the dog is developing a compulsion (obsession), I would have to watch behaviors much more closely so that others don't start.

Not saying this dog is doing that, but this is simply how I approach a new problem behavior, and the reason I want to know the "why" behind it.

Just my 2 cents

Kel

ETA - I have dealt with compulsive lickers (Drift), and it's difficult. Licking releases endorphins in the brain so they basically get "high" on licking. Just correcting the behavior does not work with them.

Kenzi was also a huge licker. For her it was an appeasement behavior. Telling her no made her want to do it more because, I'm doing something wrong, must appease the boss!!!

Like submissive peeing, it wasn't something you could just say "no" to. Unless you wanted to exacerbate the issue. Or make her pee...

 Quote: Kelly

I have dealt with compulsive lickers (Drift), and it's difficult. Licking releases endorphins in the brain so they basically get "high" on licking. Just correcting the behavior does not work with them.

This is why I provide a similar (But Acceptable) substitute activity for my "persistent licker" that she enjoys at least as much as the one I find annoying -- IMHO, any repetitive Pleasurable Passtime releases endorphins in the brain, which is the very reason it is self-soothing Fortunately, my dog is content to gnaw on a meaty bone instead of slobbering on her own extremities, when I tell her to do so ... My combination of Correction / Command ("Quit that Licking"/"Get your Bone") works to Interrupt the Unwanted behavior & re-direct her drive into another action that I do not find objectionable.

Would it work with a dog who actually suffers from some K9 version of "Obsessive-Complusive Disorder" ??? I dunno, LOL.

Redirection and correction do not work with a compulsion/ obsession. That's why I said I like to know the WHY of a behavior.

It takes a LOT more work with a compulsion - those dogs are not wired right. And if you don't know you are dealing with a compulsion, what you do to correct or redirect may make it worse.

It's not just the dogs being naughty and annoying you - they have an innate need to do whatever it is they are doing. In the case of Drift and the licking, there WAS NO substitute activity that she liked as much - there was something in her head MAKING her do this... If I yelled at her, she would cower and a minute later be licking again. If I gave her a bone or a new toy, she would lay next to it and lick herself... the only thing that stopped it was a cone, and intensive work to break the cycle.

 Quote: Kelly

Redirection and correction do not work with a compulsion/ obsession. That's why I said I like to know the WHY of a behavior.

It takes a LOT more work with a compulsion - those dogs are not wired right. And if you don't know you are dealing with a compulsion, what you do to correct or redirect may make it worse.

It's not just the dogs being naughty and annoying you - they have an innate need to do whatever it is they are doing. In the case of Drift and the licking, there WAS NO substitute activity that she liked as much - there was something in her head MAKING her do this... If I yelled at her, she would cower and a minute later be licking again. If I gave her a bone or a new toy, she would lay next to it and lick herself... the only thing that stopped it was a cone, and intensive work to break the cycle.

Got it, Kelly, thanks

Hopefully, Christina the OP's dog "Socks" fits within the range of fairly normal K9 wiring & will respond to some Basic Behavior Modification strategy as my female Rescue Dobie has, despite being an "edgy" highly strung throw-away from a very unfortunate background.

This makes sense too, Kelly! Thanks for your contribution. I actually have the impression that Socks' licking is a compulsion.

Though what others wrote makes sense too. I've tried with Socks to forbid licking as soon as I see she comes to me with that intention. It has bettered in between, but not removed this behavior. But to judge this the lapse of time of course was far too short until now.

The reason for her licking could also be due to me, as in the beginning I allowed it with the idea I'd be able to stop it with consistently giving my command when it is enough.

Reading the opinions of all the other guys, whom I estimate so much, I can see in every contribution some convincing logic and my confusion increases.

Whatever I try can be as well right or wrong. Hahaha.
I don't know any more which decision is effective. I can only go the way of attempting.

So I think this will lead to no result and I have only one choice left: Go to the Vet and put Socks asleep. Then it will be over with constantly figuring out and out and my legs will find some peace.

Sometimes the quickest, most radical decisions are the most effective ones, aren't they?

Addendum: Don't believe everything I write!

Never, I love that little biest too much!

Quite frankly, the simplest thing is to give her something else that is high value to focus on. A bone or stuffed frozen kong.

If that works, then the next step is to ask for an incompatible behavior when you see her *think* about licking. A sit or go to mat perhaps. Or teach her to bring you a food toy to fill. Then reward it and go get a bone or kong.

If that approach doesn't work, it's likely to be some sort of OCD. That needs a more clinical approach.

If it does, then your issue is almost solved. When she has an alternative behavior solid, add in a verbal correction if needed. Or just continue to redirect to what you want. My dogs pretty quickly learn to redirect themselves.

 Quote:

.. Just speaking for myself personally, I don't have the time to take my dog for a nice long walk should it forget Basic Manners

Huh? That was on response to the idea that a person was stressing over what route to take with an issue. My top "reset / refresh" method for stressing out is a nice walk! And for the OP it would have the benefit of being incompatible for a licking dog while she reset

 Quote: Mara Jessup

 Quote:

.. Just speaking for myself personally, I don't have the time to take my dog for a nice long walk should it forget Basic Manners

Huh? That was on response to the idea that a person was stressing over what route to take with an issue. My top "reset / refresh" method for stressing out is a nice walk! And for the OP it would have the benefit of being incompatible for a licking dog while she reset

Got it now, Mara, thanks Sorry if I misunderstood you before.