While dog licking is viewed by some owners as a display of the dog’s love and attention, it may also develop into a bother when there are visitors in the home and the dog insists in greeting them with too much licking. While dog licking is not dangerous, as is the behavior of jumping on people when they visit your home, it is unacceptable behavior for the dog, and certainly is a habit which is embarrassing for the owner and may keep guests from being comfortable around the dog.

Helpful Hints

At the top of the list of suggestions for dog owners to follow beginning when the dog is still a puppy is maintaining consistency and teaching the dog to behave the same way toward them as they want it to behave toward others. If a dog owner permits jumping, this will confuse the dog when he is disciplined for leaping onto other people who come through the front door. Likewise, should the owner permit the dog to lick his hands or face, it will not comprehend that it is not allowed to lick the hands and face of another person. The key to all dog training is to maintain consistency, so that the dog develops an understanding of what is expected behavior by an unchanging reinforcement of that behavior.

Although an owner may feel particularly loved when their dog greets them with kisses and enthusiasm upon their arrival, there are various methods that are more suitable than licking to show affection. One approach an owner could use to prevent licking would be to ignore and avoid their dog each time they attempt to lick them. The owner must turn aside from the dog so long as the dog continues licking him, and should not make eye contact with the animal. After the dog calms down, the owner can then give it attention and praise for the correct behavior. The owner must make the dog cease from licking his hand by withdrawing it and turning aside from the animal, as well as insisting that he will not make eye contact until after the settles down, if the animal has a persistent habit of licking the owner’s hands.

With reinforcement of the correct behavior, the owner is at the same time training the dog to stop licking when visitors come into the home. Now that the dog understands that attention will not be given when he licks him, the dog will probably refrain from licking other people who come in through the front door, as well. The dog owner also needs to inform others who come into their home of how they should respond when the dog tries licking them, displaying and bolstering those same manners that the owner implements to prevent licking.

Hugo is a consultant who specializes in dog training methods to increase the pet owner’s satisfaction with their pet. Looking for a free guide to dog training? Visit James’ site to get one, see other helpful hints and read training product reviews. Take a look at: Secrets to Dog Training Review , Dog behavior problems