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Permalink Reply by Chris West on March 16, 2012 at 2:13pm

Frosty used to be a HUGE licker, grossed me out!  One or two hello kisses is one thing, constant licking is not allowed.  He finally seemed to just grow out of it.  Here are some past licking discussions that you might find helpful/entertaining:

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/licking-1

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/a-little-slobber

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/i-think-my-corgi-is-ocd

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/1150197:Topic:134479

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/licking-licking-licking

http://www.mycorgi.com/forum/topics/obsessive-licking-1

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Permalink Reply by Amy & Rubi Rae on March 16, 2012 at 4:21pm

Thanks Chris,

I checked out each of those.  Unlike these conversation, Rubi doesn't lick objects or herself really...just me.  And there doesn't seem to be any boredom or stress with it.  When she is bored she simply falls asleep. It is entirely opportunistic behavior "look ma has her shoes off!" ...

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Permalink Reply by Melvin Brock on March 16, 2012 at 5:38pm

Mine have both licked us no matter what. Me always a gang tackel and last about 5-15 minutes then they get tired and go away. But i also love them so much that they may think its just payback. I've seen tv shows where corgis are 1st responders when their people are having medical problems. The on-set of diabetes lows or highs. So she may just maybe checking you out.

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Permalink Reply by Kevan hudson on March 16, 2012 at 6:12pm

Maybe you just taste good :)

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Permalink Reply by Amy & Rubi Rae on March 17, 2012 at 10:02am

I did have to weed out that element.  If I put lotion on my legs she thinks that is delicious and will try to sneak a taste.  I had a cat who loved one of my shampoos. I'd wake up with my hair standing straight up because Cindy Lu Who (my cat) had licked it into shape during the night.

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Permalink Reply by Anna Morelli on March 16, 2012 at 6:45pm

Chances are you have a very submissive dog.  The licking may be a sign of her submitting.  Overly submissive dogs find it confusing when you are on the floor because they are used to you being in a more dominant (higher up from them) position and their instinct is to be lower than you, which becomes hard when you are on the floor. Teach her the word "Enough!". In my book that means you can do it once or twice and when I say "Enough!" you stop.  Submissive dogs like to play by the rules, as long as they are clear and you are not too overbearing about it ( If you overdo it, the need to submit increases ). Some dogs can turn into licking machines, I have especially seen it in Labs. 

When you do Yoga, try designating a place for her to stay, in the room where you are, but at some distance  (  her own rug to lie on, for example ). If she comes toward you, warn her first not to approach by reminding her you want her to stay there.  If she ignores your wishes, then bring her back to her spot by the collar, telling her again to stay there.  If she goes elsewhere, allow it.  In time and with gentle repetition, she'll figure out that it doesn't pay to come to you when you do Yoga.

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Permalink Reply by Amy & Rubi Rae on March 17, 2012 at 9:51am

Thanks.  That does make sense.

I do have a very sensitive and smart corgi. It wasn't until I adopted a second dog (Hannah) that I've gain quite a bit of insight into some of my training gaps w Rubi.  Hannah corrected Rubi for too much anxiety-related vocalizing and invasion of personal space with 2 growls.  Rubi quit doing those behaviors in about 3 days. Suddenly Rubi is walking at my side after 4 years of training.  Turns out Hannah is a great trainer <embarrassed laugh>.

A big part of training for Rubi has been to teach body language and verbalizations of a confident dog. She oozed so much anxiety when I first got her that dogs would vault over fences to attack her.  And she was very aggressive herself.  Since her previous behavior was so terrible I was very focused on that for years.  Now I am very happy to be moving on to less atrocious behavior.

Rubi does know leave it and stay so really this is a matter of me learning the "why".  When I know why I am consistent with her training.   

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Permalink Reply by John Wolff on March 16, 2012 at 11:47pm

I feel rejected; why don't my dogs like to sniff my butt?  They sniff every other dog's butt.  I mean, my butt smells at least as bad as any other person's, or dog's.  Maybe it's just an initial-introduction thing.

Ew.  I just realized.  Maybe my butt smells too bad even for my dogs.  Ew... this might explain some things about my social life...

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Permalink Reply by Amy & Rubi Rae on March 17, 2012 at 10:04am

Maybe put a few treats in your back pocket and go to the dog park :-)  

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Permalink Reply by Melissa and Franklin! on March 17, 2012 at 12:10am

Licking is usually a submissive behavior. My new rescue Kirby is a really submissive dog and is CONSTANTLY licking me. He tries to lick hands, feet, the back of my head, really wherever he can reach. I have been working on teaching him "stop" for behaviors I don't like (such as the licking). He is so submissive it only took a couple of days of correcting this behavior and he has stopped. He will still try to get a lick in here and there though, but nowhere near what he used to do.

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