As all the dog owners already know, they like to lick many things. But how to decide when licking is something normal to do or when it is not?
Dogs mostly lick things, people, or themselves due to various reasons. When those reasons are something like grooming, showing affection, or just to experience the soothing sensation that comes from it, there is mostly nothing to worry about. Still, licking the couch is not an acceptable one on that list, especially when it might come from behavioral issues or an underlying disease. So, let’s dive into why your furry friend has an appetite for your couch!
Possible reasons why your dog gobbles up the couch & suggestions
Here are some reasons why your dog is licking the couch literally at every chance it gets. Suppose none of the reasons below comply with your feline friend’s problem. In that case, you should start observing more carefully and visit your veterinarian for a check-up as soon as possible.
Boredom
Suggestion
Just take your time to play with your furry friend! No, you do not need to spend every awake hour in a day playing with it, but you might need to step up your game. If you think your pup is too demanding on your time, try to create a routine so that it knows when it is time to play and when it is “play on your own” time. Dogs are very similar to children; consistency and routine always pay in time.
- Try to set up routine play times with your dog when you come home from work
- Try to do longer walks and exhaust him. A tired pup after playtime is the best pup!
- Research on how to create entertaining activities as an alternative to couch-licking
Affection
Since you have a dog, you already know the sweet burden of taking care of it financially. You want to buy the best food and toys, take your feline child to a veterinarian, and pay the bill in full without thinking about money when its life is at stake. So, you work hard to earn a good income. You spend hours at work, away from your puppy, to provide properly for him.
But unfortunately, it might need you more than the opportunities you can provide. So the issue might be a cry for affection. Suppose you ignore that habit for a long time and keep going like before. In that case, the simple couch-licking affection-seeking behavior might end up in the dark alleys of depression and anxiety. Life is hard. We have to do what we must, but try to own up to the responsibility of caring for a dog and help that fluffy creature a little more until everything goes back to normal.
Suggestion
One of the main things we learned during the coronavirus pandemic is that when we are trapped inside our houses, we tend to get bored out of our minds. Boredom brings unusual habits. Raise your hand if you started biting your nails, shake your leg even though you do not have restless leg syndrome, or just tap uncontrollably anywhere you put your hands on. Sometimes it’s the same for a dog licking the couch. They need to entertain themselves somehow, you know. The boredom could lead to excessive barking, digging, whining, etc. In your case, you are blessed with a willing couch cleaner!
The Taste
It might be the most apparent reason your dog engages in this weird couch licking habit. Since couches are one of the most commonly used areas in the house, spilling food or drinks is inevitable. You can wipe off and get rid of the stain, and everything might look ok on your end, but your couch might still have a strong scent of the spilled goods for your dog.
Unfortunately, that’s not all there is. Even if you clean your hands after eating a bag of spicy chips, there is always a time when you don’t think you have enough leftover flavor on your fingertips after eating a few funyuns and you touch around. (I’m not mentioning the time you wiped your finger on the couch; that’s a secret between us. But it would be best if you considered that, too.)
Suggestion
As a first step to overcoming couch licking, you should clean your couch thoroughly. You need to eliminate leftover food crumbs and stains with an excellent dog-friendly cleaner. You might even want to invest in a pet-friendly enzyme cleaner due to your dog’s amazingly skilled sense of smell. According to research, a dog’s sense of smell is forty times greater than humans. You should make sure that you wipe that couch pretty well.
The Texture of The Couch
Your pooch might have discovered that your good old couch has the best texture ever. I guess your pup’s wires might get scrambled due to using the “licking” action for many reasons! Some fabrics even have a specific taste that humans cannot get clearly. It might be very appealing to your pooch. Dogs even have unique taste buds designed explicitly for tasting water!
Suggestion
Don’t worry. You do not need to change your couch’s upholstery immediately or buy a new one. You can start with a simple couch cover or use a thick old bedsheet to cover your couch tightly and see your dog’s reaction.
You are not doomed to cover up your beautiful couch either. If you determine the cause of couch licking is the texture, you can train your dog and use behavioral therapy to overcome the issue.
Marking The Couch
Does your pooch spend a lot of time on the couch? It might be expected behavior if you permit your furry friend to spend lots of time in that specific place. Due to a strong sense of protectiveness against what is theirs, your pup is marking it to claim their own for the whole world to know. In that case, there is nothing wrong with the excessive licking. Just give up the ownership of the couch and let the rest unfold while you are looking for a new sofa from that IKEA catalog.
Suggestion
If your pooch is overly protective, define the areas that belong to you and give it an appropriate place to claim. You might also research keeping it away from such places to prevent the issue from occurring with different furniture at the house.
Also, if you have other pets in your house, licking the couch to make their own might be a sign of resentment. You might consider getting an attractive bed just for it to claim on its own.
Bad Habit
Have you ever felt like your dog is doing the exact opposite of what you want, even though you express yourself as clearly as you can? Then it might be time to start reading some books about training your dog correctly.
Unlike cats, dogs need serious training starting at an early age. Dogs live as a pack, and they need guidance and want to be obedient. You might find your dog’s behavior funny. Still, it does not mean bad behavior will not come back and bite you in the future, causing much bigger problems than just licking the couch. Fortunately, it’s never too late in training your dog. Teaching your dog to obey your orders is the most crucial aspect of taking care of a dog. The biggest reason is that it helps strengthen your bond with your dog and gives mental stimulation.
Suppose you keep letting your dog act however it wants. In that case, it might develop worse bad habits over time. The final picture might be too tough to handle on your own without professional help. So for your own mental health and wallet’s sake, start fixing those bad habits early on.
Suggestion
- Try reward-based training
- Exercise! A tired pup after playtime is the best pup!
- Try to catch and prevent the inadequate behaviors early on, before it becomes an ongoing bad habit
- Consistency is the key. Try to get everybody in the household to set the same standard for your dog about the dos and don’ts.
- Try using a deterrent spray on the couch. Just like using bitter nail polish to stop the nail-biting habit of humans, you can apply the same principle. You can use a store-bought deterrent spray or make it from scratch with natural ingredients available at your home.
Nutricent Deficiencies
Even though the basic needs of your feline friend are approximately the same as others, it differs on fine points according to age, sex, and breed. Your dog might have a nutrient deficiency and be looking to fill the gap wherever it can -in your case, while licking the couch. It will probably not find the necessary stuff hiding on your couch, but we are sometimes at the edge of reason when it comes to dogs. And trust me, your pooch is doing its best under the circumstances.
Suggestion
Bring your dog to your veterinarian as soon as possible for a check-up and blood test to see if there are any deficiencies it’s suffering from. Discuss the dietary needs and start reading the labels of the food you are giving. Trust me, not every expensive food is high quality, and you need to step up your label-reading skills.
Stomach Pain
A sudden change of behavior such as excessive licking may be because of stomach pain or an internal parasite. It might also occur due to brand change of the food. Try using the previous brand to see if it’s related and check for other signs of stomach pain. Maybe the non-stopping licking behavior has been extended to couch-licking during the process. Observe your furry friend. See if this issue is only about the couch or if it’s licking anything that comes in its way.
Suggestion
If you suspect your furry child is experiencing stomach pain, contact your veterinarian as soon as possible.
Anxiety
Yes, dogs might experience anxiety just as we humans. Although it’s upsetting to see your pup suffer from anxiety, it’s a normal and understandable emotion. There are no breeds that are immune to stress. Even the golden retrievers, with their reputation for being playful and outgoing, can suffer this disease. If the anxiety levels get worse over time and are left untreated, it might lead to behavioral and other issues.
Anxiety mainly occurs due to fear, separation, or aging. All these reasons might make your dog end up in the anxiety land, and it might be showing you something’s wrong with constantly licking your couch.
Suggestion
If detected early, you can help your feline friend with more straightforward solutions such as training and conditioning therapies. If your dog has developed a severe anxiety disorder, you should discuss the medication and natural therapy options with your veterinarian.
Canine Compulsive Disorder (CCD)
It might come as a surprise for some people. Still, dogs can almost experience any human disease in their own version. You can think of canine compulsive disorder like OCD(obsessive-compulsive disorder) in humans. Suppose you observe it performing usual behaviors in extreme and repetitive ways and does not seem to be able to stop. In that case, you should be concerned about your feline friend experiencing CCD. You can do your very best to protect and provide for your dear dog. It can still come up with canine compulsive disorder(CCD), especially during their later years. Like humans, dogs do not age only physically. They also age mentally and need proper care on that spectrum.
Suggestion
Even though there is no known reason why a dog experiences CCD, there are treatments such as drug therapy, behavior modification, routine exercise, and so on. Unfortunately, there is no way of preventing CCD, so do not beat yourself up. There was no way of knowing before it happened. Your only responsibility to your dog on this matter is to take it regularly to its veterinarian to get routine screening and catch on early.
Conclusion
Even though there are many reasons why your best friend is licking the couch frequently, you do not need to panic and rush to your veterinarian immediately. Please observe your pup’s behavior first to see if your furry baby has any other signs that seem life-threatening.
