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Licking
If you don't care for licking, then a pug is not for you. Anytime Shelby is not asleep, or eating, she is licking. Some licking is very cute and affectionate. She frequently licks new people, familiar people, stinky people, everybody. Sometimes she really goes and it borders on obsessive cleaning.
March 24, 2004 | Permalink
Comments
We have 2 pugs that constantly lick. I had no idea they would do this, but I've grown to think of it as charming. In our house, we joke about the summertime. Fred practically licks the skin off your legs when you wear shorts. Jinx has been learning from her big brother, so it ought to be interesting this summer. Shelby is darling...can't wait to see her grow!
Posted by: Frances | Apr 5, 2004 7:08:21 PM
Yes! I'm so glad my pug is not the only one who does this. It's the first thing she wants to do when I get home, and the last thing she wants to do before we toddle off to bed. Not only people, but furniture too. I don't even want to think about the couch, which now requires very regular cleaning. Love your site!
Posted by: Angie | Apr 7, 2004 6:02:35 PM
Same with my dog . Have a pug - so cute - but he constantly licks me ! It's cute i guess - other times just plain annoying !
Posted by: Steph | Jun 1, 2004 4:56:19 PM
Chacha-our pug licks everything...herself, us, pillows, sheets. Everything! It can be annoying but she is our pug, what can you do?
Posted by: Ken | Jun 14, 2004 3:15:26 PM
My pug Lola licks constantly...people, rugs, pillows...you name it!
Posted by: Pam | Aug 9, 2004 1:29:18 PM
My pug, Hannah also licks everything. It really annoys me sometimes when she constantly licks the carpet and all i can hear is her licking as i try and watch t.v. Anyone know how to prevent this or stop it or is it just a pug thing? lol, it is cute though, can't get mad at my pug, all i do is look at her and want to hug her. lol. Well, hope everyone's pug is healthy.
-Ashley-
Posted by: Ashley | Aug 31, 2004 4:38:24 PM
I just acquired a female Pug and I thought something was wrong with her because she walks around with her head down, licking all over the carpet. Has anyone checked this with a vet? Because she didn't do it for the first week we had her, she just started it--looks like an anteater running around.
Posted by: June | Sep 10, 2004 4:34:53 PM
Shelby does the anteater thing a lot too. It looks pretty undignified, but I can't deny her dogly pleasures. She does lick inanimate objects, but not constantly. Occasionally, she focuses on one spot that she just really wants to lick. I think it amplifies the smell, but I'm not quite sure. Sorry I can't be of much help here.
Posted by: Winnie | Sep 10, 2004 9:55:15 PM
I just had to comment when I saw this site! My pug, too, licks constantly, not just everything, and I mean everything, but the air! She looks like a wannabe lizard! LOL! We have noticed especially when she is tired and wants to nap that she licks - almost like it puts her to sleep. Enjoyed the posts!
Posted by: Lori | Oct 14, 2004 2:23:15 AM
Ive never been much of a pug lover but your little pooch Shelby is such a cutie! I have a westie and she licks the carpet like crazy shes 7 yrs old but only started about a week ago. it drives me crazy! maybe shes turning into a pug....
Posted by: Becky | Oct 25, 2004 6:15:53 AM
I have two pugs - Junior and Jellibean. Jellibean especially goes wild with licking the carpet - sounds like a mini vacuum cleaner. I just wondered why she loves eating dog hair? Both pugs lick like crazy -especially when my legs are available - just after I've worked out. Junior's tongue preceeds him (not always in his mouth) - so he's always ready. Great to read all the comments and know my two are normal.
Posted by: ilene | Nov 28, 2004 11:10:04 AM
I also have a pug who constantly licks soft things; pillows, blankets, towels - even the couch. He'll just sit their for 5-10 minutes licking one spot. I'm curious as to why he does this.
Posted by: Ryan | Nov 30, 2004 2:00:32 PM
both my boyfriend's small dogs, different breeds, lick compulsively. They lick everything: walls, floor carpet, bedding, people's clothes. I find it so disgusting; my friend thinks nothing of it;it is normal behavior to him. I am about to call it quits. How does one stop this behavior which is not socially and hygeine wise correct and acceptable?
Posted by: t devlin | Dec 13, 2004 2:04:58 AM
From the little I know about dog training, the message needs to be consistent, which would mean that your friend would probably need to buy into the idea that licking is kinda gross. A strong "No" whenever they try to lick will probably help the situation, but it needs to be consistent.
There's also some sprays that taste bitter that are available at the pet store. We sprayed the plants, and Shelby mostly lost interest in licking a chewing them. I've never tried them on clothing, because I was afraid of discoleration.
Shelby also really likes the taste of lotion, especially the nice ones that women use. I have to hide from her when I use lotion otherwise its constant harrassment. Not sure if a less scented lotion would help, but it might be worth a try.
Posted by: Winnie | Dec 13, 2004 8:37:26 AM
My dog, Abby, a a austrailian cattle dog syberian huskey mix. (Look up dingo on the internet and that is what she looks like!)She also is constantly licking carpet, blakets and bed skirts. Last night she licked the blanket so much that it went through the quilt to the sheets. We were getting kind of worried so I decided to check it out on the internet. I know now that it is normal. Thank you!
Posted by: Ellie | Dec 14, 2004 6:06:32 PM
What a beauiful dog! I have a shitzu, but found this site because I searched on dog licking carpets on a searchengine. My dog drives me bonkers becaues she constantly licks our carpets. It gives those spots she over-licks a matted look.
I guess it's good to know that it's just "dog nature."
Posted by: Willie | Jan 24, 2005 10:56:22 PM
Hi,
I don't have a pug but I am sitting here listening to my minature Eskimo licking the pillow on my couch....
I had two dogs that passed last year and they were both lickers...I thought it was something to do with me lol until I found your site. This doggy I have now is also into toes and noses! I am glad others have nutty dogs too.
Posted by: anne | Jan 26, 2005 12:47:13 PM
My little gigia won't stop licking everythoing before she goes to bed or right when she wakes up. She licks the air, her pillows and blankets and my face. which is usually followed by a big sneeze/snorting spray of pug juice in my eyes. If she weren't cute.. I don't know what I would do! I am glad too to hear that it is just puggly nature.
Posted by: heather | Feb 5, 2005 9:21:26 AM
That reminds me of when I was holding Shelby when the neighbors rang the doorbell. When I opened the door, Shelby sneezed on them. How embarrassing.
Posted by: Winnie | Feb 5, 2005 7:51:25 PM
LOL> My husband shaves his head and Buddha tries to constantly lick it. If we are in bed my husband has to hide under the covers from him! It's a riot. (Well- to me it is!) If Buddha can't get to his head he licks his pillow. I think he just likes the scent. Could be the salt in his sweat or something that he likes... He also insists on licking your legs after you get out of the shower. He can get into our upstairs bathroom and it never fails taht he's standing outside the shower door when we're ready to get out- It doesn't matter how quickly you try to dry off- he's trying to "help". LOL He also loves my lavendar scented lotion- I try to keep him from licking it as much as I can since it can't be great for him- but he still tries really hard!
Posted by: Melissa Trevino | Feb 5, 2005 10:14:18 PM
I'm dog sitting my friends' 9 year old pug, Harley. He kind of keeps me up late because he licks my bed for hours before going bed. Oh well, what can I do? I love him like a nephew... His mom will be home soon. LOL
Posted by: Carla | Feb 21, 2005 5:45:05 PM
Oh my goodness...I did a Google search for "Why does my pug lick" and I found this site. My pug, Pugly, licks CONSTANTLY and as much as I love the little guy, it just drives me bonkers. But knowing that it's just a pug thing makes me feel better about it. My fiancee is cracking up as I write this because not five minutes ago, I said "STOP LICKING," and Pugly quit for about thirty seconds before going right back to his tongue-assault on the air.
Here's another pug quirk -- climbing up onto your head or shoulders when you pick them up. We call Pugly our "Pugakeet" for this reason.
Anyhoo, these little kooky things are what make pugs so great!
Posted by: Jenny | Mar 21, 2005 5:53:35 PM
Thank you for this site! I have a border collie/cattle dog mix, Lou Holtz, and he licks EVERYTHING. My bed, pillows, the carpet, the furniture...all of it. I was worried at first too but as long as he doesn't get into anything that would be bad for him anyway, the Vet says it is totally fine. I think it may even be a territorial thing. Who knows though, its even kinda cute!
Posted by: Meg | May 4, 2005 2:34:27 PM
My pug loves to lick my legs when I get out of the shower. He is actually drying me off and I think he thinks he's helping. He also loves to lick my legs after I put lotion on. I did teach him to give kisses though. I'll say give kisses and he licks me or whoever is holding him all over their lips and face =] I think it is quite cute! Atleast hes affectionate right!!
Posted by: Jennifer | May 7, 2005 6:22:54 PM
Seems like I have found some company in this...I own a 1 1/2 yr old female Cattle Dog Mix that licks people constantly. Since she is my dog, I have learned to somewhat deal with it...however it drives my husband to be pretty angry with her. I had to find a way to teach her that at times it is not acceptable to do that. She doesn't lick carpets or anything like that, just people...hands, legs, feet. I don't wear lotion (allergies) so its just the taste of my skin she likes. I did some research into dog language and learned that the mom says no to puppy by gently biting the top of the nose. So I will gently pinch her nose (just enough for her to get the idea, usually about three seconds worth.) I started this about three weeks ago, and already there has been a huge improvement in the licking. Now I don't know how that would work with pugs...but its certainly something to think about. You do have to be consistant about it though...My husband is not and when he stops disclepling her with it, in about a day or so shes right back to it again. Once he starts laying the law down, she is good about it again. So it deff requires consistancy to work. But my hands and feet are no longer raw!
Posted by: Beth | Jun 1, 2005 10:33:07 PM
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