Excessive licking of soft objects like furniture or rugs can indicate various health issues in dogs, including nausea, upset stomach, allergies, and itchy skin. Older dogs may also start licking furniture for calming effects. Itchy skin can be caused by allergies, which can cause irritation and inflammation, leading to secondary infections.
Obsessive licking in dogs can be a sign of boredom, stress, anxiety, boredom, dropped food, or simply liking the taste of the couch material. Dogs with mineral or vitamin deficiencies may also begin to lick at household furnishings, as they cannot open the cupboard and help themselves. Boredom-driven licking is a repetitive behavior that releases endorphins and is a way for dogs to self-soothe. In many cases, licking the sofa is an occasional response to stress, loneliness, or boredom.
Dogs may also lick odd objects like comforters or couches as a way to explore scents, seek comfort, or alleviate anxiety. Understanding when and how dogs lick soft furnishings can help them cope with stress, anxiety, or medical conditions. They may lick furniture out of boredom, anxiety, or due to a medical condition.
In addition to licking furniture, dogs may also smell salty residues left behind from human contact, seeking comfort through self-soothing behavior. When licking is a self-stimulating activity, it could also be a sign of anxiousness or discomfort. Some dogs can lick to the point of causing discomfort.
📹 This dog Can’t stop Licking Floor and Furniture! | It’s Me or The Dog
Dog’s multi-hour licking sessions has owners puzzled! #ItsMeOrTheDog #VictoriaStilwell #Positively ▷ Take Victoria’s free dog …
Why does my dog constantly lick my bed sheets?
Licking is a common behavior in dogs, often attributed to comfort and security. Dogs associate scent on bed sheets with comfort and may lick them to feel close to you, especially when away. Licking can also act as a pacifier, originating from puppies nursing from their mothers. However, persistent licking may indicate health issues, such as dental problems or oral discomfort. If health issues are suspected, it is essential to schedule an appointment with a veterinarian for professional evaluation and treatment.
Why is my dog obsessed with fabric?
Pica is a condition whereby canines may ingest non-food items, potentially attributable to underlying medical or behavioral issues, such as anxiety or boredom. Insufficient nutrients or anxiety may be the underlying causes. Additionally, the condition may be impeded or obstructed by extensions, and the browser does not support cookies.
Why do dogs lick furniture fabric?
Dogs are habitual creatures, and changes in their routine can cause anxiety in them. Repetitive licking, which releases endorphins, can become a habit if not addressed. To improve your dog’s life, add more exercise, stimulation, and socialization, such as playing more, participating in new activities, arranging play dates, and using mentally-stimulating puzzle toys. Exercise and activity are known stress relievers, and they can also help with human health. Although not a complete solution, exercise is a simple remedy that can help your dog’s overall well-being.
How to treat a dog obsessively licking fabric?
To curb excessive licking behavior in your dog, redirect their focus by providing alternative activities or distracting them. Positive reinforcement training can help curb licking behavior by rewarding the dog when it performs the desired behavior. Avoid reinforcing excessive licking by giving attention to it, as this can lead to a negative association.
If your dog is allergic to pollen, keep them indoors during lawn mowing and use prescription medications to stop itching. Use flea and tick preventative medicine to avoid future licking causes, especially in endemic areas. If your dog is licking out of boredom, leave interactive toys and engage in more playtime.
Exercise your dog more, as excessive energy can lead to compulsive behaviors. Try going for walks and playing games inside the house. If there is a medical reason for your dog’s licking, consult your veterinarian to diagnose and treat the condition.
Investing in pet insurance can help afford the best treatment for conditions like excessive licking. Pets Best offers customizable plans that cover chronic conditions and offer a 24/7 Pet Helpline for veterinary assistance.
In summary, addressing excessive licking behavior in your dog can be achieved through various strategies, including redirecting focus, positive reinforcement training, and implementing alternative activities and strategies.
Why is my dog licking fabric?
Excessive furniture licking can be a result of physical and health issues in dogs. Dogs have sensitive digestive systems, and eating unfamiliar food can throw off bacteria in their intestines. Excessive licking may indicate nausea or upset stomach. Older dogs may also start licking furniture due to canine cognitive dysfunction, also known as dog dementia.
To stop the behavior, it is important to figure out what is causing it. If boredom is the cause, offer alternative stimulation like a dog toy or game. If environmental stressors are the cause, consider different triggers, such as visitors, loud noises, moving, or a new baby. Once you know the triggers, you can either eliminate the cause or distract your dog with more appropriate stimulation.
Why do dogs lick soft furnishings?
Dogs are habitual creatures, and changes in their routine can cause anxiety in them. Repetitive licking, which releases endorphins, can become a habit if not addressed. To improve your dog’s life, add more exercise, stimulation, and socialization, such as playing more, participating in new activities, arranging play dates, and using mentally-stimulating puzzle toys. Exercise and activity are known stress relievers, and they can also help with human health. Although not a complete solution, exercise is a simple remedy that can help your dog’s overall well-being.
Why does my dog love soft things?
Dogs like fluffy blankets due to several reasons. They prefer warm temperatures, a familiar scent, security, and the feeling of being in their mother’s womb. They also equate blankets with a maternal den, as their ancestors were born and raised in a maternal den.
Minky blankets are popular for their variety of sizes, providing comfort for dogs who sleep 12-14 hours a day and up to 20 hours a day. They are moderately heavy, making them suitable for long car rides and can be machine washed if dirty. They are made from high-quality materials and workmanship, ensuring they won’t break after a few uses.
While many people believe that washing a minky blanket is impossible, it is possible. To wash a minky blanket, use cold water with no fabric softener, hang it to dry, and then put it in the dryer on an air setting to fluff up the blanket. Do not use the heat of the dryer to ruin it.
In summary, dogs like fluffy blankets due to their warmth, familiar scent, security, and the feeling of being in their mother’s womb. They also enjoy the variety of sizes and the durability of their materials. While some may be hesitant to buy a minky blanket, it is important to follow proper care and care instructions to ensure your furry friend remains warm and comfortable for years to come.
Why does my dog lick my clothes and bedding?
The text suggests consulting a veterinarian to determine if there is a medical reason for a dog’s licking behavior and then focus on behavioral factors. Some dogs may exhibit attention-seeking or self-soothing behaviors, while others may lick due to a bad taste in their mouth, something caught between their teeth or on the roof of their mouth. Veterinarians should also examine the dog’s teeth, gums, and mouth roof to identify any issues.
Additionally, dogs may lick when feeling nauseous or experiencing gastroesophageal reflux to settle their stomachs. It is important to note any vomiting or excess swallowing behavior along with the licking.
How do I get my dog to stop licking the furniture?
Dogs may lick out of boredom, but providing stimulation and exercise throughout the day can prevent this habit. Playing fetch outside, walking or running with your dog, and kennel-training while away from home can prevent destructive behavior or ingestion of dangerous objects. If you have other behavioral issues, consult your veterinarian to rule out potential causes. Recognizing uncontrollable licking early on can help avoid other problems, as it can be a sign of separation anxiety.
Why does my dog lick carpet and bedding?
Dogs lick floors and carpets due to various reasons, including boredom, anxiety, diet deficiencies, illness, habits, or spills. Boredom can be stimulated by licking the floor, which can also be seen in digging at the bed or scratching the floor. Anxiety can also be a reason for licking, as it releases endorphins, helping dogs calm down. Excessive or obsessive licking may indicate anxiety, as some dogs may be licking to calm down. Understanding these reasons can help prevent and manage dog licking behavior effectively.
Why does my dog like soft surfaces?
The ideal bed for your dog depends on various factors such as age, breed, health, habits, and temperature. Older dogs may prefer cushioned beds for joint relief, while puppies may prefer firmer surfaces. Certain breeds, like those with hip dysplasia, may prefer softer beds for reduced impact. Overweight dogs need softer beds for weight distribution. Habits like sprawling and nesting dogs prefer larger, softer beds with stretchable space. Temperature also plays a role, with overheating dogs preferring cooling gel beds, and cold dogs preferring plush, insulated beds.
📹 The Real Reason Dogs Lick You Is Disgusting
There are some common myths about dogs that are just not true. Like, when a dog licks you, they’re kissing you, 1 human year …
“Can I be next on the list?” Priceless. I struggle with this here at home. I do all the training, bathing, nail clipping, treatments when sick, etc. So, who do they all run to? My hubby! Why? Because he sits with them for hours, feeds them from his plate, etc. leaving me to be the bad guy. Same thing when we were raising our kids. It’s frustrating and hurtful for me. And funny to him. It feels like I am putting in all the work and I don’t get the rewards of the love from them. 😭😭
I can relate to Mel. I have a very strong personality (to say the very least), and when I first met a friend with his long-time dog, I immediately added rules and structure to the relationship. Luckily for me, the dog and I had already bonded by lots of good playtime and long walks and rich treats, so that later when I added the rules, the dog was happy to oblige. In fact, I think she truly appreciated the structure.
I used to come home and my Westie would be licking a lampshade I was told it’s because she has allergies and she’s trying to scratch her tongue. She also really likes to lick toes I don’t think any of you people know why dogs do what they do there’s so many different answers when you ask veterinarians as opposed to behaviorists etc etc no one knows why the dog is really licking LOL my dog trusted me fully that’s b***** and like I said the veterinarian told me it was because the dogs tongue was itching so which one is it
“It’s a myth that dogs are colorblind” followed by “they just have a harder time telling the difference between colors”… That’s what color blind means…. I am color blind… That doesn’t mean I can’t see any colors, it literally means having trouble distinguishing between certain colors. Dogs are color blind ETA: For all of you arguing that dogs aren’t color blind because they are supposed to see that way, the encyclopedia brittanica and every educational source considers dogs color blind. They have trouble distinguishing between certain shades. That is the definition of color blindness.
Bruh my dog ate a whole bar of chocolate and we immediately rushed to the vet. He checked his health and said: “Well, your dog likes chocolate -and tolerates it. He’s fine.” Then he looked at my dog and my dog looked at him. Both were confused, that was so funny. Then I took him home and now I changed his name to Choco.
My female Jack Russell Terrier dog once saw a spot on a tree that she wanted to pee on. She couldn’t reach it. So she did unexpected… she used her muscles and lift her entire rear in the air to reach it and pee against it… She was practically peeing while doing a handstand…. I just shook my head and was like “Okay! Dogs gotta leave their mark somehow.”
Dog licking you: Transposed behaviour. Yes, puppies stimulate wild dog parents to regurgitate food by licking their mouths, but that interaction comes with an emotion. That emotion makes them feel happy and wanting their parents to be close and care for them. Maybe human kissing didn’t start much differently, evolutionary speaking… So it definitely can and most likely WILL be an expression of affection when a dog wants to lick your face. In older wolves its a common behaviour of greeting each other after separations.
One thing I’d like to mention about the myth that letting your dog win at tug shows them they’re “dominant”: it’s actually been observed that when wild wolves play with eachother, the stronger one often lets the weaker or younger one win. So no, it’s not about dominance, it’s about letting both parties have fun.
Dogs often show affection by licking. It’s an instinctive behaviour that’s linked to the comfort they felt when their mother licked them as a puppy. Licking plays an important part of how they bond with others, causing them to release dopamine and endorphins that help make them feel relaxed, calm and happy.
I think the guy in the article has misconceptions too. A lot of dog researchers will tell you that dogs do lick you to kiss you too, among the other reasons listed here. Dogs love humans (in the scientific, biochemical sense), it has been proven, and about 20% of dogs get more happy to see their owner than food, so assuming they lick you for taste all the time is wrong. I get it that some people project human behavior too much in animals, but some people do the exact opposite. Dogs have evolved away from wild dogs during millenias, so to explain their behavior by comparing them to wild foxes is oversimplification at best.
Well, it turned out for me that some dogs can actually “kiss” you from time to time, if you’ve kissed them all the way through their childhood. They learn this is a way to show affection and mimic it. It’s a very distinguishable type of licking, very short and gentle. I have only seen it in one of my dogs.
I did a bit of fact checking on the licking thing you mentioned and learned the you might have became mislead… Seems like licking can be the things you mentioned but it can also be used to show affection. So thinking that it’s affection isn’t wrong as you suggest. It simply isn’t the only reason they lick.
Something that worked for my dog while potty training. I know not may be different for each family, but I realized after myself trying to potty train my doggo for over a month, all it took was me taking him to my families house. They had a dog that was really well trained. While they were both outside, my dog realized their dog went outside and got praised for it. My dog smelled their dogs pee out there and realized, “Oh! Ok. I pee in the grass!” It was awesome! Like the lightbulb went in up there! Haha
I had a lot of dogs. If they go inside, you bring them close to the accident,firmly say, “no”, then bring them to where they’re supposed to go and pet and encourage them there. And if they have an accident in the house because they’re sick or you didn’t make it home on time, they don’t get in trouble for it. Just clean it up and bring them out.
Fun Fact: in some areas, crows and wolves team up and are even friends. Certain individual crows have been observed playing with pup while the adults where close by and allowed it. If crows find a herd of elk or other other prey, they’ll call for their wolf pack. After the wolves make a kill, the crows are allowed a portion as well. They will even call if they find coyotes or other wolves in the territory. Even if the wolves lose track of the other wolves/coyotes, the crows will show their pack where to go by flying over the target and call. Some crows have a favorite or vice versa. So either crows are domesticating wolves or wolves are domesticating crows. It’s really interesting and there’s a few articles about it on YouTube.
As for dogs’ mouths being cleaner than ours? No, no NO NO! Never let your dog lick over irritated or broken skin or an open wound! My dog was licking my leg where I had gotten a scratch from a thorn bush. I contracted an infection from her saliva, and it turned into drug-resistant cellulitis. The pain was intense, and the scarring remains, to this day, six years later. It three different kinds of antibiotic to clear it up. Needless to say, I have never allowed dogs to lick my face or broken skin ever since.
I’ve had dogs all my life, but this recent one has changed all my ideas on how to raise a dog. Being older, I’m far more patient now, and he is the first dog that has never received a smack at some stage. The trust he has in me is phenomenal. So much that when he’s accidentally done something wrong, he’ll come and get me to show me and sit looking terribly remorseful rather than try to hide it. Usually it’s not even a problem, perhaps he’s accidentally knocked something off the coffee table. When we walk, its his time. He’s free to sniff as much and as long as he wants, and I pretend I’m interested. This is like social media for dogs. And it never bothers him being put back on the lead because it makes no difference. On or off the lead, we will go to whatever he wants to check out. Show them always that they are important to you, that their place in the pack is important, they will cherish their place and take responsibility. I’m fortunate that my dog can be with me 24/7, and it’s the only way. I talk to him just as I do everyone else, explaining what I’m doing, etc. By doing this his understanding of language is incredible. He doesn’t understand word for word, but enough to comprehend whats going on and what I’m asking him to do. Imagine living in a foreign country, you will pick up the language just through repetition. Another I discovered is, he used to hate baths, and now he loves them. For any pack animal, being singled out of the pack makes you vulnerable, and in the wild, it may mean your life.
I have a mastweiler and she has always raised her leg when having a wee! She very rarely squats and she also likes eating grass and never vomits afterwards, I think she just likes the taste! She never licks your face either only your hands or arms when giving her lots of chest rubs, she just does her and my other dog is always giving kisses and never eats grass, he also squats more than raises his leg when he wees and he’s a male dog!?! I guess each dog is just an individual same as people are and they have their own preferance with things!
5:40 What you told about the scientist changing their minds about the hierarchy of wolf-packs is only partly true: They didn’t completely changed their minds, they just realized that their original concept applies only those wolves that were captured (living in a zoo for example) and it does not apply to the wolves living free in the nature.
My dog will not lick another persons face but mine. When I was young, my parents bred our yorkies and kept their two pups. I never gave him special attention over his parents or sister but he chose me and has been my partner for the last 14 years as i’ve grown up. He will lick other family members’ hands briefly to ask for attention (he also licks feet and eczema) but has never once licked another persons face. Always found it odd but I cant help but feel special ❤️😆
Our Sheltie lived to be 20 years old, no special diets, nothing. Most of the time he preferred life outside in his dog house. Only during the last year or so of his life did he like coming inside. Our first dog lived to be apx 18 years old. She loved chocolate chip cookies and ate tons of them. 🙂 There were no vets where we lived so when she got hit by a car, we took her to a local doctor who patched her up. We brought her home, changed the bandages every day, cleaning the wound with hydrogen peroxide for a month or so and she was just like new. Our first dog stayed close to home and followed me everywhere. We didn’t have leashes for them. Our second dog would go where he liked when he wanted. He’d follow a neighbour on his snowmobile down miles into the woods and the neighbour sometimes gave him a ride back, or the dog would simply follow him. He’d also visit other neighbours for treats. There were only 150 people in our community so people looked out for most of the furry little adventurers. It was a great place to grow up with dogs. They had their own little lives and while we were at school, they were out doing their thing. When we got back, they’d be there to run around with us. Haven’t lived in a place since where I would own a dog because no freedom or wide open spaces for them to roam. 🙂
My dog doesn’t just eat grass. She particularly likes to go to the edge of puddles at the park, so she can more easily rip it out of the ground with the roots. Moreover, I often joke that she has two urinary bladders; one for processing liquid waste and one for leaving greeting cards in all the other neighborhood dogs’ yards, sometimes with literally just a couple of drops.
Anyone who has been around dogs knows being “the alpha” isn’t purely about agressive domineering. Yes, it may be required that you pin your agressive male german sheapard 18month old puppy a few times… but you don’t need to be aggressive about it. Pin him, tell him “no”. Then cuddle him. He will learn and be the best lap dog every 🙂
As per dogs average age, my mother had a dachshund that lived 24 years and didn’t have back problems but did get completely gray hair. The dog was fit and loved to go to the marina with her, it would run along to the stern and leap out over the water, then swim back under the dock to land, get out and run down the dock to the sailboat, jump aboard and runny off the back again. It died in its sleep one night, seemingly peacefully. Everyone, our family and at the marina missed Winnie and they threw a hell of a wake in his honor (yachties, any excuse for a party). Note that some say never feed table scraps, Winnie wasn’t allowed to beg at the table but Mom always let him have any protein that was left over
A dog will lick you, once or twice, to say “Thank you”. If you pay attention to what your dog does, after you pet/scratch him, or give him a treat, and he doesn’t slobber, but just licks the back of your hand or elsewhere only once or twice, he may be saying Thank you. After perusal for a few days, you should see the pattern…
I had a problem with two large neighbor’s dogs. For whatever reason, they would bark for hours at night. I had to go to work at 7 AM. Finally one night at about 1 AM and I had enough. I ran up the fence between us and yelled shut up you SOBs. They immediately got quite. After that they were no problem. In fact whenever, I would be out doing yard work, they would come to the fence and looked really calm and happy. The only thing that makes sense is they had accepted me as their leader. Another incident occurred a few weeks later. A free running dog was standing in the middle of the road in front of the neighbor’s house barking at the neighbor’s dogs. They weren’t really responding. Again this was in the middle of the night. I went up to the road a yelled at this other dog. When I did that, one of the neighbor’s dogs took off and chased the strange dog away. They really just wanted someone to be boss which apparently their owners weren’t really doing. I never thought I would get that kind of reaction. 😊
First dog lived to 22 years old, 45 lbs.. she could legally drink before I was out of highschool. Second dog lived until 20 he was almost 80 pounds. Current dog is 13 years old and everyone mistakes her for 5 or 6… her gray is starting to show more but shes still super active! The trick is to never stop treating them like puppies. Once you let them slow down they age rapidly physically. Im gunna get home and razz my girl up and play with her like I do every day.
Came here expecting not to see particularly good information. Saw a bunch of science-backed stuff that was actually good. Yes, dogs need mental and stimulation and not just physical exhaustion. Yes, positive reinforcement works way better than negative reinforcement for dog training. The use of enzymatic cleaner when your dog goes in the house and praise when your dog goes outside really is the best route to take. Thanks for putting good information out there. There’s a paucity of it on the internet.
I googled it, and it said: licking is a natural and instinctive behaviour for dogs. For then it’s a way of: grooming,bonding,and expressing themselves. Your dog may lick you to say they love you, to get attention, to help soothe themselves if they’re stressed! To show you empathy or because you taste good to them!
One thing I noticed about the Summer shaves on dogs is that while you did it to keep them cool outside when they’re inside they are REALLY cold. See, in Texas where I live, Summer outside means winter inside. If your dog is gonna be spending time inside the house, it’s nice to let them keep their warmth!
I’ve worked with dogs for over fifty years. In that process, I’ve been bitten nine times. Always dogs with owners who believe its OK to let them lead on walks, win at tug-or-war and display aggressive behavior including staring, eye level, certain types of marking and being first to pass through narrow openings.
Worked at a City kennel for 2 years and learned A LOT of things about dogs. The fetch one got me screwed up because as hard as I try to get some dogs to fetch. They’re just like me and said “Screw that, see that shaded spot right there? Lazy time!” which opened my eyes. Also found out they can be as scared as well. yes I know this is a “Duh” moment but saying it and actually being a part of that scenario really connected the dots. Give them space if they don’t feel like interacting.
regarding licking, I’ve seen a few instances where it looks like a defensive attitude or a plea to stop doing something. Of course I wasn’t bugging my dog for fun, it was usually about applying medication or grooming like cutting off matted fur or washing their rear after accidents etc. But the two dogs I’ve had both did it and it really felt like “please stop I’ll be good, please stop” which is a bit heartbreaking.
5:46 Wolves are a family unit. The “Alpha” thing is wrong. The guy that first described it, tried to fix it almost immediately afterwards. The “alphas” are the breeding pair, and usually the parents. Occasionally a sibling or 2 of one or both breeding pairs maybe in the pack as well. The rest of the pack are the breeding pairs’ offspring. Sometimes up to 5 years old then most will leave to find their own mates and start their own packs. Some may leave sooner. The breeding pair will keep other members stressed enough to not mate. Although, sometimes the female may allow other females to have pups if she gets pregnant by a roving male from another pack. However, if she feels her pups are at risk or there’s not enough resources she won’t allow it. There have also been times the Female* has evicted another female for having pups, and if possible, she may adopt the other female’s pups. *I used Female with capital “F” when talking about the breeding female.
I have a female and a male dog. At first, the male frequently mounted the female, who didn’t seem to like it, but tolerated it. For many years since then, only the female mounts the male. She seems to do it when one or both dogs is excited, so I think she’s trying to calm things down or correct the male’s behavior. In any case, he completely ignores it. I’m not sure what’s going on inside their brains, but it doesn’t seem to have anything to do with sex.
Yep, my pup had 1 boomer & 3 wee wees in the house and each time I took they outside but I also used the same practice ppl use with potty training your kids ! Shortly After they eat or drink they will have to go so make sure your outside with them(puppy not kids) when the errge hits them ! That way you get to praise them and even give them a small treat to help reinforce the idea that doing their biz outside gets them something good !!! Also talk with the ppl your getting your pup from and see if they are helping the potty training by letting them outside after eating when their in their 6th week after birth ! This way your pup is already getting to use the outside for their biz and when you bring them home they will be ahead of the game !!!
Color; Dogs definitely see it. I had a toy poodle as a teen. My mom had a pale green car that she traded for an electric blue one of the same make. Coco loved to ride in the green car but the first time we took her out to the blue one, she went nuts. Started barking and growling, pulling against her lead. I picked her up and put her and and she finally calmed down but she absolutely recognized that was a different car.
I’m happy to see the part about licking. I always say my horses lick and groom me but my dog had never licked me in his first 2 yrs of life. I live in the tropics, so tend to be sweaty, though my horses will lick me even if I just bathed, especially the 2 youngest. Anyway, I was away for about a month and a half. When my dog saw me he jumped up and licked me for the first time. And he wanted to be touching me. I might be safe in saying that he was genuinely happy to see me.
I had a female cocker spaniel that would lift her legs to pee if it was on something that she was marking as hers. Like a telephone pole or mail box. We also had another cocker spaniel that had to be fixed at age ten because she went into a false pregnancy when we got a new cat, she started to nurse the cat. At age ten it was hard on her so we had to get her fixed lol.
When I was in grade school, I had a small dog named Razmataz. Raz for short. He was a boston terrier and beagle mix. He was rescued from an abusive owner by my father, which sounds admirable but don’t jump to conclusions just yet. This dog stood in our living room shaking for 2 days. It took over a year to convince him that he could step on tile or linoleum floors. He never licked people or jumped up on them. Apparently, his previous owner made sure of that. Raz understood what it meant to be verbally and physically abused. I was physically and emotionally abused by my father on a daily basis. I won’t get into details, but it was bad. After the yelling and hitting I would be sent to my room. I would bury my face into my pillow and cry because if my father heard me cry, he would get even more angry and the whole thing would start over. Nobody ever came to console me or check on me. Not my mother, not my brother, nobody. I felt completely alone and abandoned. Raz was about the size of a large cat and therefore couldn’t offer any help physically. However, when I would be sent to my room crying, he would come out of hiding and would sneak into my room. He would be shaking, but he would jump up onto my bed with me, he would come lay next to me on my pillow and he would lick my tears off of my face so gently and id fall asleep hugging him. To this day, I have a deep emotional connection with dogs. I often say that I like dogs much more than humans because they are loyal, and they care.
❤😂 our Abraham never licks our face. He sometimes does kiss me and my husband on our hands. That’s all. Even if we put our face so near to his, he has his mouth close and nose, sort of waiting for us to get closer. We didn’t teach him. It just happened. Most wonderful thing about him is that he never had, not even once, pee or pooh inside the house. In the middle of the night, he wakes me up, goes straight to the door, and that means he likes to pee or pooh. The thing is, we didn’t teach him to do that.
My most recent dog got potty trained in days. I used a tone of voice like with a toddler, but surprised. “What did you do?, We don’t do that in the house, you have to go to the door when you want to go.” Then I would take her outside. Of course she had already gone but I would pick it up and she learned that “go to the door” was associated with poop. She also followed me into the bathroom everytime I went. We had a shower with no lip. The drain was right in the floor so she would usually go when she was in there with me. If it was just pee, I would praise her and wash it down with clorox. If it was poop, I would actually tell her she was a good dog, flush it and then wash the floor. She learned the bathroom was a safe place if she couldn’t get out for some reason, like a bad storm, and we never had a problem in the rest of the house. I’m not in America so this bathroom arrangement is normal. I strongly recommend if you can, put a floor drain in a bathroom or laundry room so you teach your pup that it is an acceptable alternative because sometimes you just can’t go out or you’re delayed getting home and they need relief.
Fun fact: The dogs size isn´t the main factor for how long it might live. There´s large and even giant breeds living up to 12 years and more. Short lifespans are almost exclusively a breeding or environmental issue. Researchers know this btw and some joined with breeding projects to try and isolate the responsible genes for long life times.
This article perpetuates a few myths too. You may want to make a follow-up with new information. 1) You say dogs descend from wolves. False. Just a long-held assumption. DNA has proven this a myth. Domestic dogs descend from un-domesticated dogs. Wolves – just their cousins. This mysterious species split off from wolves approx 30,000 to 40,000 years ago, and became it’s own thing. Just like polar bears are not black or brown – but their own thing. (More fossils and genetic testing needed to clarify if there was a single, or several varieties of extinct “wolves” (or pre-dogs?) that were ancestral to dogs. For now, we can (loosely) call pre-Domestic dogs “wolves” but it’s more accurate to say “extinct, distinct, wolf-like canines.” What is clear: 2) The ancestor of dogs – are all extinct. So analyzing modern wolf behavior, trying to explain dog behavior – is “barking up the wrong tree.” The lineage tree. Wolves may have a little bit in common with dogs behaviorally – but that is simply because there are no pure-breed wolves anymore. All wolves have some dog DNA. Wolves have been hanging around our campsites smelling them in heat and feeling “the call of the wild” for a long time. In fact, the gene for a black coat is not present in wolf DNA. All black wolves are exhibiting hybridization. There are huge differences in dog behavior vs wolf. Grizzlies are mostly herbivorous. Lean in creeks to get salmon. Polar bears swim in the ocean, mauling walrus and seals. Pandas – also a bear. Quite distinct.
There’s other reasons a dog might lick you… The first that sprung to mind that you didn’t cover is that if they lick you in a certain place, they might be indicating that there’s a problem. If you have an infection or a wound that they lick, they sense that you are hurt and want to help you tend to the wound. And not all wounds or infections are visible. A cyst hiding under the skin that you don’t know about is something a dog might be able to detect. And while not proven beyond a doubt, there are cases where dogs are said to have detected cancer and other medical conditions long before modern medicine has. Another reason for licking is because you are in a phase in your menstrual cycle where the dog becomes attracted to you for natural reasons. As strange as that may sound to us humans, dogs really don’t give a shit about what animal you are. They operate on the instinct that when they smell or read certain states of body and mind, they act on pure breeding instinct and wants some of that…. My dog ate women’s underwear but only at certain times of the month, different women’s at different times.
Actually dog saliva is a fairly good antiseptic!!! This is because it has to be in order to help keep the dog from getting sick with the things they will put in there mouths… Of course it doesn’t compare to the kind of antiseptics a doctor would use but it’s the next best thing… So assuming you can keep your dog from putting dirty filthy things in their mouth (I understand that can be difficult but I manage it with my dog) you could have them lick your cut before you put a bandaid on it to reduce the likelihood of infection… But I cannot stress enough not to try this if your dog has a habit of putting dirty things there mouth like most dogs do
While the bit about Wolves and pack leaders is true, I do think it’s extremely important to be a leader for your dog. The main and most important reason is because if your dog thinks you need protection, it’ll try to protect you. So that means barking, snapping, at other people/dogs. It contributes to a more stressful lifestyle for the dog because it’ll think it needs to be aware for your sake. I have no real evidence of this, just personal experience. When I walk my dogs I keep them close to me, I choose where to go, when to stop, etc. (if I know they want to stop at a specific spot, I’ll redirect them so that it becomes my decision to do so). And because of this, they are SIGNIFICANTLY calmer and more obedient for me than it is for my girlfriend when she walks them. She lets them lead and even worse, pull her. And of course the dogs bark at everyone that passes by us. Being a leader for your dog doesn’t mean not letting do anything they want, but it does mean you have to set limits, boundaries and you have to have confidence when around them.
You got kinda misled with the licking one. Dogs lick for many reasons, just as wolves btw. They can show affection with that, they can vent stress with it, they might just smelled something tasty and wanna check out, etc. Wolves use to lick over the teeth and inside the mouth of their fellow pack members to break tension and show submissive behavior. They also tend to greet humans like that in reservoirs, so if you think dogs are disgusting, better don´t visit a wolf sanctuary. 😛
It’s so ironic I’m perusal this right now because I was literally just outside with my dog and she was eating grass for the first time this spring. I was led to believe for a long time that a dog eating grass means upset tummy, but research shows that’s not always the case and for some dogs it can be quite normal. So glad you addressed this! Great article! 👍👋😊
I had 2 female Yorkshire terriers! One lived to 20….the mother, Mandy. Her daughter lived to 21. Unfortunately, it doesn’t matter how long they live. It’s always so devastating when they pass. In fact, I cried more for my dogs when they died then I did for some members of my family. Dogs are angels that are sent from God I believe…..DOG backwards is God.. It is so true! ♥️🙏🏻♥️
Here’s a fact, not all things every dog does…if you really pay attention to them, you will understand the things they do. For example, if my dog plays with his food bowl, he’s still hungry. It took me a while to figure that out. When we boarded him for a vacation, I told the kennel staff if he plays with the food bowl, feed him. You will not over feed my dog. He eats for fuel. After a good run, he eats and sometimes eats 4-6 cups at a time for the day and snacks on his food throughout the day. 70# 0 fat, all muscle. Learn the signs that YOUR dog sends, not all are created equal.
Dogs have the same bodily functions we humans have. the only thing dogs lack is the faculty of speech. a lot of people don’t know this, but God shows His love to us through dogs. I love and respect all my canine friends and if I had wealth, I would use the majority of my wealth to save and rescue all dogs from the streets and puppy mills, and give them a forever home.🐕🦺🦮🐕🐶
My mom spoke with a butcher & got a LARGE hollow bone for Shep. Once Shep had gotten all of the meat & marrow he could, then Mom boiled it for an hour & let it sit to dry for 2 hours. Whenever she wanted to go somewhere, she would get the bone out (Shep was ALWAYS happy to see it come out. He knew what was happening. This also helped with separation issues. Then Mom would put peanut butter DEEP in the bone & lighten up toward the outside. She put a glob on the outside to start him off. Then she would place the bone on HIS carpet. Shep had been trained to not take the bone anywhere else, so she would know it would be THERE when she got back. Shep would look up, give a quick “Glad you’re back!”, then go back to the peanut butter. When he was done, she would boil it & clean it out ready for next time. I miss you, Shep! You were SUCH a good boy!
I love how this upbeat article is basically like, “Everything Cesar Milan says is wrong…” and yet his methods have helped countless people, myself included, cultivate happy, healthy, well-behaved animals that are safe everywhere. Also, our society discounts old people as if they know nothing but all of my grandparents’ dogs were super healthy except two (out of maybe eleven), and those were learning situations that were sad but taught them how to take care of the rest of the dogs properly. They passed on that wisdom to me, and unlike many Americans, I don’t have a sick dog on twenty eight perscriptions with a side of biting, anxiety and skin conditions. So….
There used to be this show on Animal Planet with this really weird veterinary behaviorist. People would call her about weird things their animals did. One person called in because their female dog lifted her leg when she peed. The vet’s explanation was that in utero some male chromosome probably dropped on her from one of the male puppies. She had a lot of stupid advice and I always wondered how she got through basic school let alone vet school AND got a TV show.
So, the next time your dog tries to lick you, just remember: – Dogs wag their tails for different reasons. – Dogs do and don’t eat grass when they’re sick. – Dogs shouldn’t eat certain foods, cause they’ll get sick. – Dogs shouldn’t chew raw or cooked bones, but rather squishy rubber toys. – The alpha wolf theory is wrong according one expert. – Playing tug with your dog is actually ok. – A tired dog is not necessarily a happy dog. … 🤷♂
I got a dog 6 years ago. And it’s a “complicated breed”. I read about dogs and that specific breed a lot before and quickly noticed that some things are accurate, but most simply are not. For example “walking them without a leash is impossible” – she walks so much better and less stressed without one! – and if some days she doesn’t want to (especially when it’s too hot outside), I only go for a short walk so she can take a poop, because she won’t do that in our garden – noone ever made an effort to teach her not to, she just doesn’t! Some behaviors she had as a puppy are completely gone, others show only once in a while, therefore she developed others. All you need to do is spend time and watch your dog and if you are not completely dumb, you’ll do the right thing.
About dogs licking. Not my thing. Contents are needed. Dogs here in the 1950s to about 1980s could carry tapeworms which they would transmit to humans by licking or even rubbing their coats on people. Hence many dog owners, especially farmers, would not allow their dogs to lick them. Plus, good hygiene was encouraged. Always wash your hand after touching dogs and before eating. Plus, good dog etiquette was taught. Never approach unknown dogs. Don’t touch unknown dogs. Stay away from unknown dogs. Plus when feeding dogs leave them alone. These farmers know why and were sensible dog owners
I was a teacher for many years and learned that all boy classes were hiearchical by nature whereas all girls were more cooperational. It doesn’t surprise me in the least that having kept dogs for 60 years, I find they are more like boys than girls so they DO respond better to owners who are assertive and clear in their expectations.
The one about a lick being a kiss I believe is totally true, my fur baby is a Pekingese and I often get kisses from her. Sometimes they quick and annoyed kisses like she kisses me and wants me to leave her alone, sometimes its alot of kisses and when I’ve been away for long she even cries when kissing me. I a few months ago started working and now about a week or so ago whenever I come home as soon as I walk through the door I bend down to say hello, and she now even jumps up and gives me a kiss hello, its soooo daamn cuuute, I love her so damn much and never wanna lose her😭❤🙏🏼
Had an older female Chihuahua, took her to a new vet. Vet was amazed at how healthy and frisky she was. When she said, “I can tell that this dog doesn’t eat table food, and isn’t given anything she shouldn’t eat.” I almost died laughing. I told her that this dog eats exactly the same thing my husband and I eat every single day, we fix her a plate, and we bring her leftovers from every restaurant, she won’t eat dog food at all, and she’ll plow you down to get anything chocolate. She eats candy bars, chocolate ice cream, hot chocolate, chocolate pudding, the whole list. She loved coffee with cream and sugar. This dog lived to be 16 years old, (got her at 6 months) and didn’t slow down in the least until her last couple of months of life, when she developed a brain cancer. (And she looked just like the Chi in this article, only difference was white patches on her eyelids.)
My first dog was a German Shepherd and my second a Golden Retriever. What I have seen through TV programs and other media is that Americans do not rest their dogs, which results in frustrated and stressed dogs. Then when something bad happens, the dog gets the blame. The dog should be treated like a dear family member that you take care of and see to the best for it. If you get a dog, you must also take responsibility for it and its needs. You have to teach the dog your language and you have to learn the dog’s (or cat’s). A good walk in the morning. AT LEAST one hour long walk a day. A proper walk before bed. In between short pee rounds. My long walks were at least two hours a day. Dogs feel good from work. Find a couple of activities that your dog engages in. It can be searching, carrying the bag home from the store, pulling a cart or running with you. A happy dog is the best thing there is! By the way.. I was working too. So you can’t come up with that excuse
I would love to talk about this article with my dad. My dad raised several hunting dogs when he was younger and they were all very well trained. The problem is, because of this, my dad will likely disagree with this article claiming his experience is more correct. He doesn’t like to entertain the idea he is ever wrong and because he has a wide range of life experiences to fall back on, he thinks he knows enough to outsmart the curve of knowledge or something…
LOVE your point at around 6:00 regarding pack leader. I’ve argued this for SO many years against insecure people who think they need to be the boss. My dogs have full access to all of my house, toys and treats that are safe to them and more. I let them walk in front of me, beside me, behind me or wherever they want when on or off leash. I believe we are a family. I care for them, pay for everything and love them and that’s my job. They do dog things. No one is the boss. Obviously I teach them 2 commands… stay and go. That is for their safety, not to dominate them. In fact, when we are sitting on the couch, the dogs jump up, crawl around, sit on top, sit on us, put their paws on us and hold us down while they lick us and more. We don’t care. Only insecure people think they need to be the boss / pack leader. I like my dogs to feel confident and happy. I don’t want them thinking that I’m their “boss” or “master”. We are a family and all equal. My dogs are spoiled beyond words. My dad always said, if you are going to have dogs, then SPOIL them. If you can’t or won’t… then don’t have them. I see them as my babies if anything and I think they see me as their dad. I think I’m the cool dad they want to hang out with, not be wary of, etc. And by their reaction to me all the time, I think my way is working. As for the Tug, I had to teach my son when he’s playing tug that he needs to let them win. I want them to be happy and confident.
My stepgrandad was Indian and only ate Currys that had onions in all the time and he fed his Jack Russell curry for every meal since it was a pup, the dog lived untill it was 16 and never needed a trip to the vets, one of the happiest healthiest dogs I had ever known and her coat was always beautiful
Chemist here with a solid background in thermodynamics. Shaving a double coated dog will help them to radiate body heat effectively. I.e. it will keep them cooler. A coat is an insulator pure and simple. So yes, it protects them from the hot sun, but it will also trap body heat. No think about the fur mammals in hot climates have. Very short single coats. What about arctic animals? Long, thick double coats. The article is wrong here, and I have the science education to back up that assertion.
My dog only ever licked me if I asked for a kiss. She learned to ‘hug’ too. My dog was well trained and layed with me, sat with me and was always at my feet but not looking at me for food. If she was full, she wouldnt eat and would still sit at my feet. I also was the one to take her out when I got home from work.
My dog NEVER licked my face in over 9 years. Lol I even tried to force him to, and he jus turns his beak away all the time. For a while, I Thought I had bad breath or he hated me. 😅 But it all works out perfectly, since before I had a dog, I never wanted to have my dog lick me in my face. It’s disgusting. 😂
Hi. That part about the grass, it’s not actual grass, its a specific kind of weed (that look like very big grass). Dogs eat it when they need to throw up (because they have eaten something they shouldn’t and the stomach wants to throw it away) In Portugal that weed exists everywhere so dogs eat it all the time. And I think its good for them. I see the results on my own dog. Thanks!
My dog eats grass like she’s at a freaking buffet, she loves leafy foods like sea weed too, also my dog has eaten chocolate for 16 years but we avoid milk chocolate because milk is bad for dogs. Dogs eat bones for the marrow inside the bone and the meat outside. We do raw vs cooked so they get the nutrients from the bone, meat and marrow.
As a certified professional dog trainer and behaviorist with over 20 years experience I would like to say a huge thank you! This is the first list type article I’ve ever seen on YouTube regarding dogs/dog behavior/dog myths that actually gets everything right… Because SCIENCE! I look forward to having this website as a resource to send clients to to get good information on YouTube. Once again thank you from a grateful dog professional!
Tug is not a good idea as some dogs will see the item or (or hose water) as an extension of your arm, and when you finish they will still try to keep the game going by grabbing your arm and tugging that. When you have a large or giant breed you can be in trouble as the more you struggle the more aggressive they become
kissing is kissing, the only way to don’t get that is if you never had a dog. When you enter home they may smell, but they already know your steps, after years, they know you will not smell nothing new, and if they just wake up with you in bed, they kiss you non stop and they perfectly know you didn’t just come from hunting. Let’s don’t subestimate dog’s intelligence and emotions. They have a long tongue specialized for kissing.
My lab ate a chocolate bar with nuts and pulled several slices of pizza off the table. I was the only one freaked out; she licked her lips and took a nap. I accept the scientific data, but I don’t understand how a grape is deadly but eating small pieces of deck lattice, chew toys and dogging shampoo is not worse.
A street dog has become quite closed to us and so have we. We offer him some food whenever he comes but after a while he eats grass and then vomits near our gate and my mom gets mad everytime he does that thinking that he doesn’t like our food or something but now i understand what it really meant 😂😅
As a dog trainer with a education on behavioral psychology, it makes me a bit sad to see articles made to correct myths, where the same article then has just as many ¨myths¨(false or misleading informations) and making it even harder for pet owners to know what is true or not. it is great thing wanting to help and sharing useful information, to make sure our dogs live better and healthier lives, but it can be just as damaging for our dogs when those tips isn’t properly reached or there is left out information to make it more viewer friendly. Dont get me wrong a lot of the things in the article is somewhat true, for an example, bones are not a problem for dogs unless they have been prepared (cooked, heated). the information about how they are waging their tail, is way more complicated than what you can explain in a 10 min article. It is true that there is some of our food that is toxic to dogs, but most of them is only in high amount, like onion or grapes(about same toxicity), for onion/grapes to be lethal for a dog that weights fx. 20kg(44 pounds) they would have to eat 300g(10oz). And yes dogs are color blind, not completely unable to se color no, just red green color blind. So all in all, if you enjoy perusal articles like this, all the best to you, but don’t get your information from random sources on the internet(especially YouTube articles), at least not until you run it by a professional. (sry for the long rant😅)
my dog(girl) flip flops between squattting and raising her leg to pee it depends on where shes aiming. and she only likes fetch when another dog has her toy, its hers and she WILL get it back. also, she sometimes “kisses” us because she sees us doing it to each other, but other times she does it because she smells food on our breath that she cant have but wants to taste, and others its just because.
In the 1970’s my neighbor’s dog teddy used to catch chocolate covered cherries and Oreos and we thought was so cool we fed him loads. He was big enough for us to ride him like a horse lol. Not that we regularly did that but he did pull sleds with 2-5kids and stuff. The mailman wouldn’t deliver to them bc he was vicious to adults. Children were his best buddies. He would let us do anything with him he was so sweet we loved him. It’s terrible but I mean.. it was the 70’s and ppl were like “he’s a great guard dog” etc🤷🏻♀️ Ik it’s wicked irresponsible plz don’t come for me. I know we were all lucky to survive our childhood. Gen X in the house 🤘🙃
Not that I gonna take everything mentioned in the article as hard cold facts because they are sort of hand wavy with the presentation, however on that note, thanks for sharing the resources about the talked topics in the description which I find quite rare in many other animal facts articles by other content creators. On that alone, this article deserve a like and should be taken as good example.
Bro said dogs arent colorblind but then preceded to explain how they’re colorblind Being color blind doesnt mean you Can’t see any and every color there are different kinds some can only see red some only blue and some only yellow ect it just means youre eyes struggle to grasp the perception of light well.
funny thing is my dog got nuterd (sorry if it’s wrong spelling) and he dosen’t lift his leg because I think he never got used to being a boy because we did it when he was a puppy. Don’t know why but we did and the way he p’s is he leans forward and just does the buissnies. He has a hot dog still he just don’t got a sack no more.
We had a Beagle/Basset/Dachshund we named Cocoa. Cute as heck but she would eat anything that wasn’t nailed down. She once ate two bags of Kraft caramels, wrappers and all; a big bag of Hershey’s kisses, foil and all; and my mom always used to make Christmas cookies and Cocoa, on more than one occasion, would grab a corner of the wax paper which the dozens of cookies were laid out on, drag it off the counter and devour all 24 cookies and don’t try to stop her cause she’d BITE YOU.. She’d eat soap, candy wrappers, snot rags, even rocks. ANYTHING. The funniest thing she ever ate was once, when I was in high school (funny now because she recovered from it) I had left a box of Nodoz in my shirt pocket. It was a brand new box and had only one missing so she ate 23 of them! My mom was beside herself perusal the dog run up and down the halls, into walls and she even fell down the steps, My mom, was wondering what was wrong with her until she found the chewed up box of Nodoz under the bed. It’s a wonder she didn’t eat the box! My dad drove the dog to the vet, my mom had her on her lap trying to calm her but to no avail. She was shaking, crying, barking and throwing up and she pooped diarrhea all over my mom’s lap and the front seat trying to jump out of the closed window. Nodoz tablets smelled like peppermint for some reason so she thought they were food! The Vet had to give her intravenous VALIUM…YES, Valium to settle her. That reaction was nearly as funny as the Nodoz because she needed so much that she couldn’t walk.
I’ve been around people my entire life ( so far). I’ve been around animals my entire life!! Do ya have any people in ur life ( besides toddlers) who upon ur return home shows such excitement every time ya come home? I’ve folks in my life who truly love me I think. But only when they are little did they ever welcome me as happily as my dog does EVERY TIME I come home.
What are the similarities between raising a child in cult and raising a child in a house with a dog? 1. Cult: whatever cult leader does is always right. Dog: what ever dog does is always right. 2. Cult- you cant question the cult leader even if you are abused physically or mentally because the child must have done to deserve that punishment. Dog- The child must have done something to provoke the dog. 3. Cult- We must be loyal to the cult leader and must always defend the leader’s actions. Dog- The child is trained to protect or defend the dog’s behaviour no matter how much dangerous it is to others. 4. Cult: the cult leader is always more important and everyone should adjust their behaviour to create a easy life for the cult leader. Dog: Dog is always important and the child is trained to sacrifice his/her basic needs life safety, personal space etc and always put up a smile and say it is soo cute even when the child is cleary annoyed by the dog’s behaviour. The child is trained to suppress his/her natural reaction to stressful environment and cater to dog convenience.
Just imagine dogs like to sniff or lick other dogs’ butts, and they put all kinds of stuff in their mouth… and then they come and lick your face… or mouth. That is absolutely disgusting. If I had a dog, I would never let it lick my face. I would also never sleep with a dog in the same place. They are animals, we are humans. There should be limits. They are also not your babies, children, etc. Your human son is not your dog’s brother.
Knew a female dog that would constantly hump the male cat. That dog was so lucky that the cat was extremely chill. Also, there is no way my dog’s mouth is cleaner than mine considering I know exactly what she likes to eat whenever my niece has an accident on the floor and the amount of self pleasuring she does every day.
My dog keeps on eating the grass. He is perfectly fine. We took him daily. He’s perfectly fine. I don’t know. Maybe it’s just my dog but he always eats the grass. He is perfectly fine in good shape, healthy dog maybe it’s just my dog or maybe it’s just some peoples dogs are perfectly fine to grass. I don’t know but I don’t know if that’s true maybe speak to a vet better I don’t know, but I’m also recommend talk to the vet