How to stop a dog from licking people? You need to know these techniques during training

Jul 26,2025
4Min

How to stop a dog from licking people

1. Ignore the licking behavior

If your dog licks you to get attention or love, ignoring it will help curb this compulsion. Behavior. Don't reprimand. Even if your reaction is negative, it still counts as a reaction to your dog's excessive licking behavior. Whenever he starts licking endlessly, you immediately stop what you are doing, get up and leave the room. Use this to strengthen its consciousness and make it understand that licking people cannot get it the desired result.

2. Try pheromones that calm dogs

This drug, also known as DAP, has been experimentally proven to be very effective in treating common obsessive behaviors in dogs suffering from separation anxiety. These artificial chemicals mimic the pheromones secreted by nursing mothers and can calm anxious or frightened dogs.

3. Change soap or lotion

Your dog may lick you because it likes a certain smell or taste. Try an unscented soap or lotion to see if your dog's licking improves.

4. Consider medication.

If the licking is caused by separation anxiety, it is best to communicate with the veterinarian and give the pet medication. Clomipramine is commonly used in dogs with anxiety and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. The drug can relieve compulsive behaviors such as licking people. Fluoxetine is also a commonly used medication for pets suffering from anxiety disorders. The drug can treat obsessive-compulsive disorder in dogs with fewer side effects. More importantly, frequent licking by dogs often indicates excessive anxiety, which must be dealt with promptly for the sake of your dog and yourself. Learning to stop your dog's habit of licking people can help you determine whether it is just showing affection for you or whether there is another serious problem, so I hope all of you are aware of it.

When training dogs that like to lick people, pay attention to making good use of rewards

If your dog licks you because it wants your attention, then give it attention when it is obedient. Be sure to reward your dog promptly when he performs well to strengthen the connection between good performance and reward. In this way, the dog understands that only calm, "normal" behavior can be liked.

Dogs that like to lick people should be trained to strengthen alternative behaviors

One way to suppress the compulsive behavior of your dog is to strengthen another mutually exclusive behavior. The mutually exclusive behavior mentioned here is a behavior that requires the use of its mouth to prevent it from licking people. Whenever your dog starts licking you, play a game of fetch or tug-of-war. Doing this will distract your dog from the anxiety that leads to frequent licking. And when playing with toys, it can't lick you. Whenever your dog licks you, take him for a walk. This way it associates the licking with the walk, alleviating the compulsive behavior.
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