Ever caught your dog licking your feet while you are sitting on your couch doing your thing? Might seem disgusting but why do dogs do it? There can be many reasons as to why dogs lick feet and if you want to know why then stick with us as we uncover the secret to why do dogs lick your feet. Let’s begin!
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Feet?
The reasons why your dog licks your feet can be many. Let’s discuss some of the main ones below:
1. Attention Seeking
Dogs might lick your feet as a way to gain your attention. Dogs are attention seekers and they require constant and they find various ways to get it. If licking your feet gets them that sweet attention from you then they are all for it. If your dog occasionally licks your feet then it is fine if you give positive feedback and laugh it off but if your dog is doing it often then you should start telling them to stop otherwise it could become a behavioral problem. Click here to learn more on why do dogs lick you.
2. A Sign Of Affection
Your dog licking your feet might be a sign of affection. It is your dog’s way of showing love and expressing gratitude. Dogs often lick their owners as a sign of affection and licking your feet might just be a coincidence.
3. The Salt
Our feet are sweaty and smelly which we find disgusting but for dogs, it might be different. Sweat has salt which dogs find appealing. Maybe your dog is licking your feet because of that salt. If you want your dog to stop doing that you should maintain proper feet hygiene and make sure they are not sweaty.
What Should I Do If My Dog Licks My Feet Too Much?
If your dog is licking your feet too much then you can try a few things to make them stop such as:
- Maintain Proper Hygiene: Keep your feet clean all the time. It will discourage your dog from licking your feet as it will not find the salts in the sweat.
- Don’t Let Them Lick: The easiest way to make them stop is to simply not let them lick. Move your feet away and push them aside to give them a message. In most cases, dogs will stop and go away on their own.
- Stop Giving Them A Positive Reaction: Stop laughing it off instead give them an angry reaction. Most of the time dogs lick feet to get some positive attention. But if they receive a negative reaction instead they will stop licking.
- Distract Them: When you catch your dog licking your feet, distract them with a toy or a treat. This way they will stop licking your feet.
What To Do If My Dog Licks Their Paw?
Dogs licking their paw is normal. But if your dog is obsessively licking its paw then it could be a behavioral issue. In such cases, it is best to consult a dog training and behavioral specialist. Read more about why do dogs lick their paws here.
How To Stop Your Dog From Licking Your Feet
If you want your dog to stop licking your feet it is best to train it not to. Use the no and stop commands to let it know when to stop. You must also stop giving it any positive attention from licking your feet and don’t let it do it either. If your dog still does not stop licking your feet then you can get professional help from a dog trainer and behavioral specialist.
Dogs also sometimes lick the face of their owner to show affection. It might sound similar to licking feet but it has a whole different scope. If you want to know why do dogs lick your face then click here right now!
Is It Safe For Dogs To Lick Your Feet?
Yes, in most cases it is safe for dogs to lick your feet unless you have an open wound or using medications or creams. If you have any of those then you should not let your dog lick as it can cause harm to your dog’s health.
Conclusion
This should answer your question about why does my dog lick my feet. Next time you catch your dog licking your feet ask yourself if you are fine with it. And if you are not then use the tips above to stop your dog from licking your feet.
