Licky Dog

[bmccasland]

Zen - I'm at home, thus can't see videos (dang dial-up). Did this possibly start with some sort of bug bite? I had the same problem with Nala, my Aussie shepherd, and battled it for years I'm afraid to say. She constantly licked her left foreleg, and had three lick granulomas at the worst of it. Part of her anxiousness was that I was an unhappy camper.

What worked: I changed jobs. Started walking Nala every day for 20-30 minutes. Treated the wounds with antibiotic ointment that had some pain killer in it (OTC), covered with a sterile dressing, wrapped with kling gauze, then wrapped in kerlex (put those EMT skills to good use!). Fortunately Nala would leave the dressing alone. Change the dressing daily until the wound started healing. Yell "NO LICK" any time I heard the slurp slurp slurp.

You've got to redirect the pup's mind when they're doing the Obsessive-Compulsive thing, every time. Does pup get regular long walks? Not stroll around sniff every bush, but out there with a purpose, cover territory, brisk walk for 20-30 minutes every day? Maybe even twice daily?

Ever watch Ceasar Milan, the Dog Whisperer? I learned a lot watching his show.

[Zen]

Watch this when you get home.
She licks everything. Herself, Ginger, upholstery, chair arms...it's maddening!

[bmccasland]

Watch this when you get home.
She licks everything. Herself, Ginger, upholstery, chair arms...it's maddening!

I'm at home, thus the cheap internet option of dial-up. When I'm at work, I have high speed. I just have to be careful what sites I visit.

Sounds like the dog needs a job in life, and enough exercise to tire it out. Hook doogie to a leash and go for a run / bike ride?

[Biciclista]

Now that i've seen the video, are you sure that there isn't steak juice on that other dog's backside? In cats social grooming is a big plus. the groomer would lick the other cat (notice the dog laying down was not complaining) until the recipient gets tired of it, but it's a way to get into the good graces of another.
I've had cats that licked themselves raw, that's a very different thing, a nervous disorder, or like bmccasland, they need a job to do, they have all this energy and nowhere to go with it.

[TsPoet]

It's interesting. When dogs lick themselves, usually the paws or legs, it's considered to be either nerves or aches. But, I've never seen a dog lick another dog like that. I still wonder, though, if it's nerves.
Murphy started licking his paws when I got Finagle over a year ago. I do find with him that I can distract him - it's a fine line, though, a playful ball or something could reinforce the behavior= When I lick Mom plays with me.
Have you tried something like a Kong? The Kong works for my mom and her Rottie - the Rottie has had several knee surgeries and she can use the Kong to distract the dog away from chewing on her knees.
http://www.kongcompany.com/worlds_best.html
I don't think that would be a permanent 100% of the time distraction, though - or you'd end up with one fat dog. Maybe occasionally put peanut butter on the kong, so it's a lick toy and reinforces the lick toy aspect of it.

[sundial]

Some dogs do develop behavior similar to OCD and their vet prescribes an Rx for this.

[OakLeaf]

Measle was a compulsive licker also, although I don't think to that extent. He'd lick people and other dogs. He did have a lick granuloma late in his life, but he'd been a licker from a puppy. I think obsessive/compulsive traits probably was it - he was VERY clingy and needy (apparently abandoned as a pup), so probably licking helped him feel like he was bonding with the lick-ee. He did tend to do it more when he was stressed.