Strange Dog Behavior

Humans and dogs have a lot in common in body structure and anatomy. But unlike us, pets don't have hands. That's why dogs interact with the world around them with their tongues. They use this organ to clean themselves and their pups, and they also lick their owner to express their affection. But sometimes our pets lick the floor. This behavior does not please any owner. What is it related to? In this article, we will tell you why the dog licks the floor and how to wean it from this habit.

Reasons

Unless you have spilled something tasty on the floor, licking the floor should be alarming. In this way, the dog is trying to let you know that he is uncomfortable. There are the following reasons for this behavior:

• Anxiety;
• Feeling unwell;
• Boredom.

We will look at these reasons in more detail below.

1. Anxiety

Zoopsychologists consider licking the floor to be a form of compulsive behavior. It may indicate that the pet is experiencing anxiety and restlessness. It is not uncommon for animals to lick their fur too often.

Any unusual situation can lead to this behavior: a recent move, a change of environment in the house, the appearance of strangers or new pets. All this is stressful for the dog.

2. Feeling Bad

Sometimes licking the floor can be a sign of ill health. He is trying to increase saliva production to reduce the amount of gastric juice. He may be experiencing abdominal discomfort and is trying to get rid of the discomfort.

It is not uncommon for pets to lick the floor if they have food poisoning. This is how they try to induce vomiting.

Take a close look at your dog's behavior. If licking the floor is accompanied by loss of appetite, gastrointestinal problems, lethargy and lethargy, the pet should be seen by a veterinarian.

Experts have found that some dogs have excessive licking syndrome. With this condition, animals lick all the objects they come across: toys, shoes, walls and furniture. The causes of this syndrome are not completely clear. But in 73% of cases it is associated with diseases: giardiasis, pancreatitis, irritable bowel syndrome. So if your dog is licking everything around him, he should be taken to the vet right away.

3. Boredom and longing for an owner

When a dog doesn't get enough physical and mental stimulation, he begins to entertain himself. Sometimes this translates into unusual and strange behavior, such as licking the floor.

Consider whether you are paying enough attention to training and playing with your pet. If you are often away from home, purchase food puzzles for your dog. This will help him entertain himself in a more useful way.

If your dog is often left alone, he may lick furniture and other items in the house that retain the owner's scent. This is a sign of a pet's homesickness for its owner.

How to teach your pet to lick the floor

If your pet licks the floor, the first thing to do is to eliminate the cause of this phenomenon. But sometimes this behavior becomes a habit in the dog, which is difficult to get rid of.

In such cases, you should use special sprays with an unpleasant taste and pungent smell. They are absolutely non-toxic and harmless to the health of the pet, but scare it away. Most often such preparations have the taste of sour apples, which is very disliked by dogs. You can spray the floor and other objects with these products.

In some cases, distractions help. When you catch your dog licking the floor, offer him a fun game or food puzzle in the form of a ball with food inside.

Conclusion

If your pet licks the floor, this should not be ignored. After all, it is the way your dog signals to you that there is something wrong with him. Be sure to identify the cause of this behavior and, if possible, eliminate it so that the pet feels comfortable.