How To Train A Dog

Licking is a natural behavior that dogs learn from puppyhood. Dogs don’t have the ability to speak but a dog wise person will know that the pet is showing its affection when it licks the favorite person. In order to communicate; a dog will lick other dogs and also humans. A mother dog licks the puppies clean. The bond is strengthened when the dam licks the puppies but this habit is also done to induce the puppies to urinate and defecate.

Dog owners are often perplexed at the habit of the pet to lick the anal area. Apparently, this kind of licking is not done as a show of affection nor is it a way of expressing themselves. Dog owners will be amused to see the efforts of a dog that is trying to lick the rear end. However, it would not be amusing if the dog that was seen licking the butt would lick the master’s face to show its affection.

A mother dog will lick the puppy after it has urinated or defecated. The habit to lick was learned by puppies from their mother. Dogs use their long raspy tongue for grooming purposes. Hand shaking is for humans while butt sniffing is for dogs. If humans make sure that their hands are clean, dogs too would want to keep their butts feces free and this is done by licking. Dog owners are aware that dogs love anything that people find repulsive. Dog owners would always complain about the dogs habit of eating feces and rolling in smelly objects. A dog that licks the butt is simply giving in to the desire to indulge in something smelly

A dog will lick the butt to remove a foreign object from the anal area. Due to the tendency to eat anything, inedible things like plastic and cloth will be ingested. Because these objects cannot be digested, the dog will excrete these things in their original form. The dog will be seen licking its butt to remove object dangling from its anus.

The pain and uncomfortable feeling associated with an impacted anal gland will make a dog lick its butt. Anal glands are normally emptied when the dog defecates but inexpensive dog food that are mostly cereal fillers will result to soft stools so that the anal glands get impacted. Bacteria will build up if the anal glands are impacted. The dog will suffer pain and discomfort if the anal glands are impacted. The dog will be seen scooting and licking the butt constantly to ease the uncomfortable feeling.

Learn more about why dogs lick their butts and dog first aid at Sarah’s Dogs.