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Do you have an australian shepherd who just can’t stop licking all the time? If so, you’re not alone. These dogs are notorious for their excessive licking habits. But why do they do it? There are a number of reasons, some of which may surprise you…
Why Do Australian Shepherds Lick So Much:
Australian shepherds will develop excessive licking behaviors when they’ve unintentionally been trained to think that licking is good behavior. They will also lick themselves to self-soothe in situations they feel overly anxious, are in pain, or when they have a persistent itch.
In this post you’ll discover:
- 5 reasons why australian shepherds lick themselves so much
- 7 reasons why your aussie will lick you a lot
- 3 reasons why australian shepherds lick random things
- And much more
Let’s jump right in.
Table of Contents
5 Reasons Australian Shepherds Lick Themselves
1) Boredom
Just like people can do strange things when they’re overcome with boredom, so will your aussie!
If it’s been a long time since they’ve been played with, gone for a walk or enjoyed some cuddle time with their favorite human, they might lick themselves out of boredom.
In your australian shepherds mind there’s nothing better for them to do so they lick themselves to at least do something.
If you don’t see any real reason for your aussie to be licking themselves and they’ve been doing it longer than they’d need to to satisfy an itch, odds are they’re simply bored.
This isn’t a good habit for them to get into as it can lead to your australian shepherd licking themselves raw.
When they lick the same spot for too long they can remove all the fur in that spot and even create a sore on their skin.
Which is obviously something you should help them avoid.
Related Reading: 10 Best Toys To Entertain Your Dog | Boredom Buster Toys
2) Self Soothing
Just like people can use things like cigarettes, alcohol or drugs to soothe themselves in difficult times, your aussie might lick themselves as a form of self soothing.
If your australian shepherd is feeling anxious or in pain, they may start licking themselves as a way to calm down or ease the discomfort.
This isn’t always a bad thing, as long as they’re not licking themselves raw.
If you think your australian shepherd may be licking themselves due to anxiety or pain, it’s important to take them to the vet to rule out any medical causes.
Once you’ve ruled out any medical reasons, there are a number of things you can do to help ease your aussie’s anxiety or pain.
Some examples include: providing them with plenty of toys and playtime, using positive reinforcement training techniques, massage therapy, and supplements like fish oil or omega-three fatty acids.
3) Freshening Up
Australian shepherds are notoriously clean dogs.
They’re known for their fastidious grooming habits and love of water.
So it’s no surprise that one of the reasons they may lick themselves is to freshen up.
If they could grab a bar of soap and give themselves a good scrub down, I’m sure they would!
But since they aren’t able to do that, they’ll have to settle with licking themselves clean when they feel they’re getting a little more dirty than usual.
Related Reading: 12 Best Shampoos For Australian Shepherds: Top-Tier List
4) Infestation
Another reason your australian shepherd may be licking so much is because they have an infestation of fleas, ticks or mites.
These pests are not only annoying, but they can also be dangerous to your aussie’s health.
If your aussie likes to venture into tall grass on your walks/hikes or they play with other dogs often, it’s a good idea to take a look and see if they have any pests.
If they have fleas and ticks you’ll be able to see them with a good inspection, but mites are too small to be seen with the naked eye.
If you notice the skin is considerably dry where they’ve been licking and they’re starting to lose fur there, they might have mites.
Whether they have fleas, ticks or mites it’s best to take them to the vet to get them the treatment they need.
Related Reading: Top 10 Best Dog Brushes For Australian Shepherds
5) Scratching An Itch
One of the most common reasons your australian shepherd may be licking themselves is because they simply have an itch that needs to be scratched.
This could be from allergies, or simply a random itch.
Depending on how long they do it will determine if it’s something to look at.
If your aussie is only licking themselves for a few seconds or less, it’s probably nothing to worry about.
But if they’re licking themselves for long periods of time (several minutes or more), it could be a sign that something’s wrong.
If you notice your australian shepherd licking themselves excessively, it’s best to take them to the vet to rule out any medical causes.
7 Reasons Australian Shepherds Lick You
1) Enjoy The Salty Taste
Some australian shepherds enjoy licking you so much because they like the salty taste.
Whether it’s your arms, feet, hands or your face, if you’ve been sweating odds are your aussie will happily lick you clean.
A little bit of different flavor outside of their everyday kibble and treats is a nice change of pace for them.
And while it can be endearing and even ticklish at first, if they do it too much it can become annoying rather quickly!
2) Trying To Get Your Attention
Another reason your australian shepherd may lick you so much is because they’re trying to get your attention.
Aussies can be very intuitive and can learn quickly that you respond differently to different forms of communication.
So if they want to get our attention, licking is one way they’ll try to do it.
If you notice your aussie is licking you more when they want something (like food or a toy), it’s best to just ignore them and wait for them to stop.
Chances are, they’ll eventually get the message that their licking isn’t the right way to get your attention.
(Or you can give them the lovin’ they want when they lick you to continue the behavior if it doesn’t bother you)
Related Reading: Are Australian Shepherds Dramatic? Reasons Why + Tips
3) Showing Their Affection
Dogs often lick each other as a way of communicating love and appreciation.
And since you’re their human, it’s no surprise that they sometimes try to do the same thing with you.
If your aussie routinely licks you as a way of showing their affection, it’s nothing to worry about.
It might be a little bit inconvenient if they lick your face when you’re trying to eat dinner, but overall it’s a sign that they love and appreciate you.
Plus, it can be pretty cute!
Related Reading: 19 Ways Australian Shepherds Show Their Affection
4) Subtle Way To Say They’re Hungry
When your australian shepherd licks your face, it can actually be them following instinctual behavior their wolf ancestors would do.
When the young pups in the pack were hungry they would lick the mouths of the adult wolves to let them know they were hungry.
The adult wolves would then regurgitate some of their last meal to share with the hungry pups.
So when your aussie licks your face and gets close to licking your mouth (or successfully does) it’s possibly a sign they’re hungry.
Next time they do it, check their bowl to see if it’s empty and think about when the last time you filled it was.
They might be simply helping remind you it’s time for their next meal with a face/mouth lick.
5) A Labor Of Love
Some australian shepherds will lick you as a way of giving you a cleaning.
They see you as part of their pack and it’s their job to make sure everyone is clean and well-groomed.
While it’s not the most pleasant experience, if your aussie is licking you as a way of giving you a cleaning then it’s likely they just want to help.
The best thing to do in this situation is just to let them finish their job and then thank them for their help.
They’ll be happy to know they did a good job.
6) Getting a Taste Of Your Meal
Another possibility for why your australian shepherd is licking you so much is because they want a taste of your last meal.
If you’re eating something that smells good to them (and let’s be honest, most things smell good to dogs) then they’ll likely want to see what it tastes like.
Or, if you recently ate, they might like the smell of your breath or you might unknowingly have some leftovers in the corner of your mouth. Like some tasty sauce.
Also, if you’re a fella, you might have some stuff stuck in your beard that they’re taking advantage of!
7) Letting You Know You’re The Boss
In a pack, there’s always a hierarchy and your australian shepherd sees you as the leader of their pack.
One way they might show this is by licking your face.
It’s their way of showing respect and letting you know that they see you as the alpha.
Wolves have been documented licking the face of the superior/alpha wolf in the pack as a form of submission.
3 Reasons Australian Shepherds Lick Random Things
1) Clean Up Crew
Just like how they might lick you as a way of giving you a cleaning, sometimes australian shepherds will lick random things as a way of keeping the area clean.
They’ll happily lick up any leftover spills or crumbs that may have got left behind.
Of course it’s less about helping clean and more about enjoying some new yummy flavors.
2) It Simply Feels Good
Aussies will lick so much in some situations because it feels good. Plain and simple.
Whether it’s the carpet, a blanket/pillow, your jacket, or whatever random object you see them licking, it might simply feel good when they lick it.
It also gives them a better understanding of the world around them.
They can’t pick something up and hold it to get a better understanding like you and I can.
Which means they lick random things to feel the texture to get a better understanding of their surroundings.
3) The Flavor Reminds Them Of You
If you notice your aussie likes to lick a certain spot that you spend a lot of time in, they might like licking it because it smells/reminds them of you.
Their most favorite person in the whole-wide world.
If your australian shepherd is feeling a little lonely they may lick things that remind them of you to make themselves feel better.
Other posts you might find interesting:
8 Best Dog Beds for Australian Shepherds | Beds That Last
Are Australian Shepherds Vocal & Talkative? (Explained!)