People frequently find humor in dogs’ antics. You’ll be aware of how much it tickles if your dog is obsessed with perpetually licking your feet. Even though our best friends’ tendency to lick our tender toes may seem strange to humans, it actually falls under the category of their preferred method of showing affection. Read the article and you can figure out why your puppy likes to lick your feet.
Why Do Dogs Like To Lick
Licking contributes significantly to the growth of dogs beginning with birth. A second organ known as the Jacobson’s organ is present in all dogs. They can taste and smell at the same time because it joins their nasal cavity to the roof of their mouth.
Puppies will lick their new dog moms in return when they lick them to clean them off, aid in breathing and stimulate digestion.
Dogs continue to lick people, objects, or other dogs as they age as a way to express affection, get attention, or as a slobbery (but adored) greeting.
Why The Feet
Dogs find feet fascinating, even though we don’t find them to be particularly interesting. They are covered in salt from your perspiration and are brimming with intriguing odors and pheromones.
Your dog can read your feet like a book, telling them what you’ve been eating, how you’re feeling, where you’ve been, and what you’ve been up to thanks to their 10,000–100,000 times better sense of smell than ours.
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Feet
Your Feet Are Meat
Dogs are always searching for food if there is one thing we can say about them. Your dog may have thought that your fleshy, salty feet resemble large, ambulatory chicken breasts (bone-in).
Perhaps your feet give off a more rawhide chew vibe if they are hard and calloused. The dog probably realizes that chowing down on Mom or Dad won’t go over well. So they lick to the fullest extent of their gustatory probing.
Your Feet Are Nasty
Dogs are fascinated by unpleasant things. They enjoy rolling on dead objects, digging through trash, digging in the mud, and even eating feces. Something will be more irresistible to a dog if it is more repulsive to a human.
Take a moment to consider what it might mean that your dog is fixated on your feet. In order to prevent your feet from becoming overheated at the end of a long day, it might be time to address that fungal issue or purchase some more breathable footwear.
Your Feet Are At Their Mercy
For the same reasons that dogs lick their faces, they may also lick their feet. The difference is that it’s more difficult for you to defend yourself against unwanted approaches toward your toes (at least without kicking your best friend).
Shorter dogs who need to lick whenever and wherever they can find this strategy particularly appealing.
They Have A Problem
There is a distinction between a regular foot freak and someone who occasionally tastes their toes. If your dog falls into the latter category, you might be dealing with compulsive behavior that’s being used as a coping mechanism.
If that’s the case, the real reason for the licking could be some sort of stress in the dog’s life – a change in routine, an underlying health issue, or something else along those lines.
You Like It
Dogs are eager to please and good at reading human emotions. Even if it’s unintentional, your laughter may serve as a sign to your dog that he’s acting appropriately. More disturbingly, maybe on a subconscious level, you actually do like it.
Perhaps there is something about you that your dog is sensing that you won’t admit to yourself. In the end, there is a simple solution if you truly detest having your toes licked: wear socks. merely something to ruminate on.
Is It Okay For Dogs To Lick Your Feet
It’s generally acceptable for dogs to lick your feet, provided you regularly wash them. Just watch out that the puppies don’t lick your feet if you’ve just used a product on them that could be toxic, or if you have an open wound on your foot.
We don’t want our dog’s mouths to get into open wounds because we know where their mouths have been.
What Should I Do If My Dog Licks My Feet Too Much
If your dog’s obsession with licking your feet has become a problem, look at these tips to get them to stop:
- Good foot hygiene -Even if you have perfect foot hygiene, if you still experience dog licking problems, wash your feet well to make them less appealing to dogs. If your dog’s licking is a particular problem after you’ve exercised, then make sure you get to the shower before they can get to your feet
- Don’t give your dog a chance – If your dog obsessively licks your feet, think about when they do it most and try to anticipate when you’re most likely to receive a sneaky lick attack, and try and avoid giving your dog the opportunity
- Move away – Consider stepping back from your dog instead of giving it either positive or negative attention. Make eye contact, but avoid speaking or making any other contact. If moving away from your dog or leaving the room altogether doesn’t help, try it again. Over time this should give them the message that it’s not something you enjoy
- Distract them – Try giving them something else to do that stops them from licking, such as a chew toy or a food puzzle, or something that can indulge their licking, like a lick mat
- Always give the same message – Be sure to maintain consistency. Your dog will become confused if you send them conflicting signals. Be consistent and clear about what you do and don’t want them to do
It’s important to try to figure out why your dog licks you excessively. Try to recall the time when their excessive licking first appeared as it may indicate that they are anxious or unwell.
Final Thoughts
If there is one thing we can be sure of regarding dogs, it is that they enjoy being licked. They lick their paws, their furry family members, and, yes, even you, their cherished human.
However, if your dog continues to lick your feet, hopefully, you now have a better understanding of what might be the reason behind this behavior.
