The Considerate Canine: Licking

The Problem: My dog Jake, a 9 year old lab, licks his mouth constantly.

The Solution:

The owner of the dog who licks his lips constantly says that he has been diagnosed with Canine Compulsive Disorder. She's looking for ways to distract his mind and get him off his compulsions.

Because I don’t have the all of the details surrounding the Canine Compulsive Disorder diagnosis I’ll give you a few suggestions of things to try and alleviate some of the symptoms.

Check his environment to see if there is something stressful occurring that could be a contributing factor. Possibly a neighbor’s dog barking outside of the window, a change in your living situation, noise from an upstairs or downstairs neighbor.

Give him something to do when left unattended. A personal favorite - a stuffed Kong. Feed him his meals in a Kong instead of a bowl. Simply moisten his kibble in a small amount of water or broth, freeze it overnight and breakfast is served.

Make sure that your dog is getting plenty of exercise, both physical and mental. For most 9 year old labs a 20 minute stroll around the neighborhood is simply not enough. Engage him in play, whether it is retrieve games or find it games. Put his natural instincts to work, so that he is expending mental energy

Consider doing some massage or Tellington T-Touch therapy centered around his mouth. Like people, dogs carry a lot of tension in and around their jaws. Some forms of aroma therapy work well for dogs. DAP is a product that is sold at most pet stores, lavender essential oil is one that works for my personal dog.

 A Thundershirt can reduce anxiety. Teach you dog how to relax on cue. Not as simple as it sounds, it is a good time to contact a trainer who can teach you the protocol for relaxation.

If you have a question for Cindy Carter of Mindful Manners Dog Training, email your question to leah@lowcountrydog.com using the subject line: The Considerate Canine.

Cindy Carter has been training dogs in the Charleston area for the past 4 years, the last year as owner of Mindful Manners Dog Training. Cindy is a Certified Pet Dog Trainer, CGC evaluator for the AKC, and member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers. She has written articles for local publications and been featured in several publications focusing on local business owners.

As the owner of two dogs with “issues” she is uniquely qualified to help owners develop and implement management and training plans. She brings commitment and empathy to owners struggling to help their dogs have better lives.

For more information about our training programs visit us at www.mindfulmanners.net