Dog Licking the Sofa (clean, cleaning, rescue, paws)

[dogmomof2]

Lately Lanie has been licking the sofa...she will start licking herself and will then continue on to licking the sofa. I have been putting towels or blankets down, but she likes to burrow and will move it out of the way. It's so gross, and it's hard to clean to get the marks totally out, so I would like to figure out why she's doing it. When we're home we can redirect her, but when we go away, she moves the old towels and licks to her heart's content.
I wish we hadn't allowed our dogs on the furniture, but it's one of their great pleasures in life, so I'm not going to stop it now. Anyone have suggestions for stopping the licking?


Here she is, happy with herself and the slobber-covered sofa.


Since the sofa's thoroughly wet, she can finally relax

[mary54mi]

She may need to be distracted with exercise, play/interaction... I find that when we get to busy with our day the first one left out of the routine is the dog hence bad repetative behaviors bloom. Just give a walk at the same time everyday a try, if already doing that try to add something like a Kong with a difficult to pull out peanut butter covered treat... to break up a minatinous day. Maybe some other malady but I know this approach has corrected a few undesirable traits for our family pet.

[ShelbyGirl1]

I'm guessing it is somekind of a comfort to her...like a cat kneading...dogs will often direct their attention on one particular item...usually starts on the paws...goes to rugs or in your case, the furniture. Stress and boredom also are causes for this. Like mentioned above, re-directing...maybe give her an extra yummy bone or treat when she starts. Or a toy, anything, to get her mind off of the licking.

[flkingfan]

Nothing like sitting on a wet spot. I don't know if it would harm your couch, but maybe look at the bitter apple spray.

[sugarsugar]

Don't know if it is any consolation, but my rescue english pointer does that, and I am thinking it is a comfort/habit thing.

I have a fleece blanket I cover our leather couch with, and she will start licking herself, and then finish off with a a few slurps on the fleece. Does the same pattern when licking on her dog bed, on the blanket on top of our bed that she sleeps on, etc. I've been telling her to stop for 2 years now, and she does....but resumes whenever her next licking begins. I am home with her, so it never gets out of hand or really wet.

When you leave her alone at home, is there any way you could wrap an old blanket around those cushions (tucked completely underneath the cushions), so that she might think it is part of the couch and lick on something that can be washed?

I guess they could have worse bad habits, but it is annoying!

P.S. Your dog is adorable.

[stan4]

Our younger dog does that. It seems kind of random and unthinking...she will be licking her foot and then just spill over to the couch...*sigh*

[claud605]

I think it's the color and fabric of the couch because we have the same one and our dog does it too! We just yell NO! and she stops immediately...just keep doing that and hopefully...

[LookinForMayberry]

First, I would try cleaning that area of the sofa with an enzymatic cleaner to remove any possible organic matter that might be attracting your dog. It won't harm her, and won't leave a residue. After it dries, sponge the area with a 50-50% solution of vinegar-distilled (or filtered) water.

IF that fails, then get some of that "pet away" spray from the pet supply store, choosing something that is not chemical based.

[brightdoglover]

One of my seniors does that- on the bed. I hold his collar to sort of distract him and he usually stops. It's almost like a self-soothing behavior, or a minor compulsion.

[stan4]

Our youngest also has the coldest, wettest nose on the planet and she has this compulsion to constantly touch you with it. What the heck is that?!!