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Beagles/Beagle Licking excessively

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Expert: - 11/10/2008


Question
Hello, My name is Jennifer. We recently adopted a 4 1/2 year old beagle mix from the Humane Society. He has been licking at my fiance's hands, our sheets and himself excessively since we brought him home. Is this a normal behavior? Or is there anything we can do to help him stop this behavior?

Answer
HI there!


Just like human babies dogs explore objects with their mouths and tongues, since they cannot use their paws (or hands yet, in babies). In addition, they often like the salty taste of human skin, or even their lotions etc. Amongst other dogs this is a sign of bonding and affection of a sort, dogs (especially puppies) will often lick their littermates/pals. Lastly, it can also be a sign of a nervous problem. It is a little more unusual behavior in a 4 1/2 year old than in a puppy. Your best bet would be to take the dog to the vet and rule out any medical problems, and talk to the vet about a nervous/obsessive possibility. Medication may help but if this is something non-stop and purely a behavioral issue it may require a trainer to come and work with you for a few sessions to extinguish the behavior.

Good luck and feel free to check back anytime!
Have4Paws

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Have4Paws

Expertise

I am happy to answer BEAGLE BREED SPECIFIC behavioral questions. Please DO NOT ask CRATE TRAINING OR MEDICAL questions! I am not a vet nor an expert in the use of crates.

Experience

I currently have one beagle, a male age 5, an 12 month old Pit Bull, and a 8 year old min. poodle. I have had to let go of three of my dogs, 2 beagles and 1 whippet/rat terrier mix in the past 5 years, most recently my whippet mix. The two beagles lived to 15 and the whippet mix to 13.5, it has been hard to say goodbye to them. I have done rescue work on and off for years as well as fund-raising for the local animal shelter. I worked for a dog magazine in the past (Southern California Dog Magazine). Being a psychotherapist has encouraged me to do in depth studying of animal behavior as well. I have worked with many people to help curb undesirable behaviors in their dogs (or them!) or to form good behaviors. My life is devoted to and surrounded by my dogs........The picture you see here is Zeppelin but we also call him the "miracle dog". He was hit by a car April 2010 while out with the dog walker and had very serious injuries... 4 surgeries and $17,000 later my boy is whole again and back to loving life. He is so special to me and he weathered a lot of pain and trauma yet is still the sweet boy he always was! I also work to stop Breed Specific Legislation and help to get pit bulls adopted.

Organizations
HSUS, PETA, SPCA DONT SHOP...ADOPT!!

Publications
Dog Fancy

Education/Credentials
I am a Marriage and Family Therapist licensed in the state of CA and am also credentialed as a Certified Addiction Treatment Specialist

Awards and Honors
Honored by the Agoura Animal Shelter for my volunteer work.

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