Incessant Licking

[Iagan's Mom]

Iagan is 4 1/2 months old, though he acts like he is 4 1/2 years old! This is our first Cairn and we seem to have developed a 'habit'. He licks incessantly! The floor, the furniture, our clothes. It is aggravating. Does anyone else have this problem or suggestions on how to stop it? I have tried diverting his attention, but it doesn't work.

[CathyAnn]

I caught my little ripping out carpet fibers tonight! Hubby had been eating Fritos and apparantly some crumbs fell on the rug. At first he was just licking, but then I caught him tugging with all his might! He managed to pull out a few fibers....grrrrrr!

I screeched very loudly and gave him a pop across the snout with two fingers. He seemed to get the message loud and clear as he went off and sulked in the kitchen for awhile. I finally went in to make up and he was sweet and cuddley. For the first time, I actually saw remorse for bad behavior. I think the 'screech' got him more than the pop on the snout as it sure wasn't hard at all.

Maybe grabbing him by the scruff of his neck and giving him a shake and firm 'NO, NO'!! Only thing I can think of trying.

Cathy

[wags]

When wes licks the carpet, I know he's planning to dig a hole in it.

When he was a few weeks old, he used to lick his toy camel alot. A few months later, he did a complete lobotomy and hemorrhoidectomy on the camel.

The mouthing used to bother me- but then I realized a dog has no hands, and its paws are probably too callused to feel anything.

[bradl]

The mouthing used to bother me- but then I realized a dog has no hands, and its paws are probably too callused to feel anything.

One of my favorite moments in the movie "Babe" is essentially a throw-away line -- the border collie puppies are swarming to greet Babe and one of the puppy voices calls out, "What does he taste like?"