Why Does My Australian Shepherd Lick Me So Much? 6 Vet Reviewed Reasons
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Australian Shepherds are working dogs that need a lot of activity to keep them from being bored. While they may be workers at heart, that doesn’t mean these beautiful animals aren’t great family dogs that are loyal and loving to their owners. Unfortunately, however, some Aussies can have issues with excessive licking. While having a dog that loves and dotes on you is enjoyed by many pet owners, others find this behavior off-putting and try to discover the underlying reasons behind it. Here’s a look at 6 reasons your Australian Shepherd licks you so much and even a few tips for getting them to stop if you aren’t pleased with their behavior.
The 6 Reasons Why an Australian Shepherd Licks So Much
1. Showing You Affection
One of the most common reasons your Australian Shepherd licks you so much is to show you how much it cares. Dogs are taught from the time they are young that licks show caring. Their mothers lick them to show affection and they enjoy showing you that same type of attention. While your dog may show this love at inopportune times, you should still be happy they care enough to give you a lick.
2. Your Dog Smells Food
A dog’s sense of smell is its biggest weapon. They are constantly catching scents through the air and wanting to investigate them. This is especially true when food is involved. If you’ve recently eaten or prepared food, don’t be surprised if your Australian Shepherd licks your face or hands. This is your pet’s way of trying to taste what you’ve been eating. More often than not, they’re also wondering why you didn’t offer them a bite too.
3. Needing Your Attention
Australian Shepherds are intelligent dogs. They learn how to handle situations and even how you’ll react to them so don’t be surprised when they try to get your attention and alert you to their needs. If your dog is hungry, wants you to play, or needs to go potty they may use licking to alert you of this. Instead of barking or whining, which often annoys pet owners, using a friendly lick can be a way of grabbing your attention without being so obnoxious.
4. They Enjoy the Salt on Your Skin
While it isn’t fun to admit, there are times throughout the day when we may sweat a bit. When we sweat, your Aussie may want to lick you. Why? They enjoy the taste of the salt on your skin. Normally, dogs are left tasting the same things day in and day out. They eat the same kibble and get the same treats. When they grab a taste of something salty, it isn’t unusual for them to become intrigued. This can be annoying after a workout or a day of hard work, but once you shower and get back to normal, so should your Aussie.
5. Telling You They’re Hungry
Dogs are known to follow in the footsteps of their ancestors. Those ancestors include wolves. In pack life, young wolf pups are known to lick the mouths of the adults to let them know they are hungry. If your Aussie is out of food, and you haven’t noticed, they may resort to this form of licking to let you in on the situation. If your pet tries to lick your mouth, check out their food bowl. If it’s empty, you know your Aussie was alerting you to the need for food.
6. Showing Respect
In the wild, wolves live in packs. As ancestors of wolves, many dogs feel that their families are part of their pack. In most situations, they even see you as the leader or alpha of the pack. You’re the one that provides them with care and protects them when needed. Often, wolves lick the face of the alpha of their pack to show respect and submission. Your Aussie could be licking you to show they love and respect you as their pack leader.
Tips to Help Stop Your Aussie from Licking
While all the reasons your Aussie is licking you come from a good place, if it gets excessive, it can become quite annoying. If you aren’t fond of daily loving licks from your dog, it’s best to stop their behavior as soon as possible before it becomes a true behavior issue. Let’s take a look at a few steps you can take to convince your Australian Shepherd to stop licking you.
Ignore It
Licking is the type of behavior that can be considered attention-seeking. If you respond positively, your dog is going to feel it’s okay to continue. Even a negative response is a response and can keep your dog engaged. Instead, try ignoring the licking. Unless your dog smells food on you, ignoring them when they lick shows them that they aren’t getting what they want with their actions. Often, this trick works, and your Aussie will eventually realize they aren’t getting what they want, or the licking will continue, calling for a new strategy to stop this behavior.
The Redirect Method
If you’ve been around a lot of dogs, you’ve most likely heard of the redirect method. This type of training is used quite a bit when young dogs are teething. For use with an Aussie that enjoys licking, wait until your dog starts licking you then nonchalantly place one of their favorite toys in place of whatever body part they are licking. Give it time and your dog’s focus should redirect to the toy. When this happens, praise them. Your pooch will see how happy you are that he focused on the top and is apt to continue this behavior to garner your praise.
Conclusion
While there are several reasons why your Australian Shepherd is licking you, the main thing to remember is none of their actions are meant to be bad. If you’d prefer your pooch not to lick you, take the time to train them properly and get their attention on something else. This will help you avoid uncomfortable situations and still retain the bond you have with your dog.
Featured Image Credit: Jennay Hitesman, Shutterstock
