My anxious rescue dog is obsessed with me. Why the constant licking?

Wow....that is so wonderful of you to help this poor pup. I think he is just a loving sweet puppy that is showing his affection by licking you. It is okay to gently try to get him to stop if it bothers anyone. I don’t think this indicates any problem...just how sweet and probably grateful he is.

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This is not necessarily uncommon behavior and typically does not have a medical implication. This is sometimes seen as a display of submissive behavior. I recommend you discourage this behavior as much as possible but I would not be concerned about this. Good luck!

Hello, sorry to hear about your pup. These compulsive behaviors can be associated with stress and anxiety. Occasionally, anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial for your pup so that he does not lick. Alternatively, redirecting the behavior to something he also likes doing (ie playing with a favorite toy, going for a walk, etc.) would help gradually decrease and resolve the behavior. These types of behaviors may be difficult to resolve and could take in addition to medications behavioral classes. Hope this helps and best of luck.

Hi there. It sounds as if Maxx has bonded very closely anybody you. Some of our pets create bonds more strongly with their owners than others-some to the point of generalized anxiety if they think their owner is going to go away without them. Often these behaviors start after you've been on a trip and return, or have been out of the home longer for another reason. He misses you-remember you're the biggest part of his day. Hope this helps.

If the little dog is not neutered, it’s likely related to that. Sometimes male dogs will exhibit this behavior other male dogs. It’s unclear why they exhibit that behavior. Sometimes it can also be a sign of anxiety and the small dog is using the large dog as a comfort blanket. You must read the rest of the body language to know what he is saying. I hope this helps and please feel free to post any additional questions.

Some new moms tend to be nervous and overattentive to the puppies, especially if this is Lacey's first litter. Some overzealous bitches will end up injuring the puppies, or lick/clean them so often they don't have adequate time to nurse. This behavior often improves after the first several days. I would recommend having someone monitor Lacey and the puppies at all times if there is any sign that she may be too rough. You could also try a pheromone like Adaptil or a supplement like Zylkene (safe for lactating bitches). If Lacey seems to be panting frequently, having trouble breathing, or shaking you should have her seen by your vet - these signs along with anxiety can be seen with low calcium.

That sounds frustrating! If she is truly obsessively licking and is not necessarily taking pleasure in it, two things I would consider are a trial on anti-anxiety meds (these are prescription) and/or that some studies are linking OCD behaviors with gastrointestinal imabalances (which may respond to diet change and probiotics). I hope this helps!