Great Dane and Licking Habits

So here’s the deal. I lick stuff for lots of reasons, and trust me, they all make perfect sense from my perspective. Sometimes I’m just showing you how much I love you – and wow, do I love you! My tongue is my way of giving you the biggest hug ever. Other times, I’m feeling a bit stressed out (maybe because you haven’t thrown my tennis ball in like, five whole minutes), so licking helps me chill out.

And let’s be real – the world is full of amazing things to taste! Your face, the couch, that weird spot on the floor, my paws – everything needs a proper tongue investigation. It’s like being a detective, but way more fun.

Now, I’ve heard you humans whispering about “excessive licking.” Look, if I’m going overboard with the tongue action, maybe I’m just really, really bored. Have you seen how big I am? I need entertainment! Or perhaps I’m feeling anxious about something. Sometimes my tummy doesn’t feel great either, and licking makes me feel better.

The good news is you can help! Keep me busy with fun games, long walks, and puzzle toys. I was hoping you could pay attention to when and why I’m doing my licking thing. If you understand what I’m trying to tell you with my tongue, we’ll both be much happier. Plus, you might get fewer surprise face washes!

Understanding Licking Behavior in Great Danes

First off, when I lick you, it’s me saying “Hey, I love you!” in dog language. It’s like giving you a big slobbery hug, except with my tongue. I know it might seem gross to you humans, but it’s a lovely gesture from my perspective.

When I lick you, it’s my way of saying “I love you!”—a big, slobbery hug just for you!

Sometimes I lick because I’m feeling a bit stressed out. Maybe there are fireworks outside, or you brought out that scary vacuum cleaner again. Licking helps me calm down – it’s like meditation, but wetter. My tongue is my stress ball.

Other times, I’m just being nosy. That interesting smell on your hand? I need to investigate! Did you pet another dog? Eat something delicious? Touch something weird? My tongue is like a detective tool that helps me figure out what’s going on in your world.

Now, if I’m licking non-stop or going after weird stuff like the walls, that might mean something’s bothering me. Maybe I’m bored, anxious, or not feeling well. Pay attention to when and what I’m licking – it’s my way of telling you how I’m doing. Socialization is essential for my happiness and well-being, so it’s important to keep me engaged and comfortable.

The bottom line is this: most of my licking comes from a place of love, curiosity, or just trying to feel better. So next time I give you a big wet kiss, remember – it’s just my giant way of saying you’re pretty awesome!

Medical Conditions That Cause Licking

Now, I know what you’re thinking – “Why does my giant pup lick everything in sight?” Well, sometimes us Great Danes lick because something’s bugging us, and I don’t just mean that annoying squirrel in the backyard!

You see, we might’ve itchy skin from allergies that make us feel like we’re wearing a scratchy sweater all day long. When that happens, we keep licking, trying to make it feel better. It’s like when you have a mosquito bite and can’t stop scratching it, except we use our tongues instead of our paws.

Sometimes we get icky infections or tiny bugs called parasites living on our skin – gross, right? These uninvited guests make us super uncomfortable, so we lick even more trying to get rid of them. It’s our way of saying, “Get off my beautiful Great Dane coat!”

Here’s the thing, though – if you notice us licking way more than usual, or if we’re licking the same spot over and over until it looks red and sore, that’s our signal that we need help. We can’t exactly walk up to you and say, “Hey, human, I need to see the vet!” So excessive licking is our doggy way of waving a white flag.

The best thing you can do is take us to see the vet when our licking gets out of control. Trust me, we’d rather be playing fetch than dealing with itchy, uncomfortable skin all day! Plus, don’t forget that food allergies can also be a contributor to our licking habits, so it’s essential to keep an eye on our diet too!

Psychological and Behavioral Factors

Hey there, humans! Let me tell you something about us Great Danes – we might look like gentle giants (and we totally are), but sometimes we lick things for reasons that have nothing to do with wanting a snack or having an itch.

You know how you might bite your nails when you’re nervous? Well, we lick! When we’re stressed out, worried, or just plain bored out of our massive minds, we start licking everything in sight. It’s like our version of stress eating, except we’re not eating anything – just giving the world a big slobbery kiss.

Sometimes we get so anxious that our tongues go into overdrive. Maybe there’s a thunderstorm coming, or the mailman is doing his daily “invasion” of our territory, or you left us alone for what felt like forever (but was probably just twenty minutes).

Our brains tell us, “Hey, licking makes everything better!” So we start licking the couch, the floor, your favorite shoes, or anything else within reach of our surprisingly long tongues.

The good news is that you can help us break this habit! Give us puzzles to solve, teach us new tricks, or take us on those amazing walks we love so much. When our brains are busy figuring out how to get treats out of a puzzle toy, we’re not thinking about licking the coffee table. Regular exercise can also help reduce our anxiety and keep us from resorting to licking as a coping mechanism.

Plus, a tired Great Dane is usually a well-behaved Great Dane – we’re too pooped to lick everything!

Understanding why we do this stuff helps both of us live happier lives together. Trust me, we’d rather be playing fetch than giving your furniture a bath with our tongues!

Identifying Excessive Licking

Sometimes we Great Danes get a little lick-happy, and trust me, it’s not always because we think you taste like bacon (though sometimes you do). When our licking gets out of control, it usually means something’s bugging us, and you should probably pay attention.

Sometimes us Great Danes get a bit too lick-happy, and it’s not just because you might taste like bacon!

Here’s what you should watch out for:

• We keep licking the same spot over and over until it gets red, raw, or even turns into a gross sore (sorry, but it’s true!)
• We start going crazy with the licking whenever something stressful happens, like when you move the furniture around or bring home one of those tiny yapping dogs.
• Our licking gets so intense that we can’t focus on the important stuff in life, like eating, sleeping, or staring out the window for suspicious squirrels.

Look, I get it – sometimes the world is stressful when you’re this tall and everything looks so small beneath you.

But if we’re licking ourselves raw or can’t stop even when there’s food involved, that’s when you know we need some help figuring out what’s wrong. Regular exercise is essential for keeping us calm and reducing anxiety, so make sure we’re getting enough activity to stay happy!

Management and Treatment Strategies

So when you catch me going overboard with my tongue gymnastics, please don’t just ignore it! I might be trying to tell you something’s bugging me. First things first – take me to see my favorite person in the white coat (you know, the vet). They’ll check if there’s anything weird going on inside my giant body that’s making me lick everything in sight.

But hey, I get it – sometimes I’m just bored out of my massive mind! That’s where you come in with the good stuff. Toss me a chew toy or one of those puzzle games that make me think (yes, we Great Danes DO think, thank you very much). It’s like giving my brain and mouth a fun job instead of just licking the couch for the millionth time.

And if I’m feeling anxious or stressed? Well, those gentle belly rubs work like magic! Maybe dim the lights and play some chill music. It’s essential to remember that providing mental and physical stimulation can help reduce anxiety and improve my overall behavior.

Trust me, when I’m relaxed, I’m way less likely to turn into a four-legged licking machine.

The secret sauce here is sticking with whatever plan you pick. I’m a smart cookie, but I need you to be consistent so I can figure out what you want from me. Keep watching me closely, and together we’ll beat this licking habit so I can be the happiest, healthiest, gentle giant on the block!

Final Thoughts

Look, I know you think I’m obsessed with licking everything in sight. Your face when you wake up, your legs when you’re trying to watch TV, that weird salty spot on your arm after you exercise. But here’s the thing – there’s method to my madness!

Sometimes I lick because I’m trying to tell you something. Maybe my tummy hurts, or I’m feeling anxious about that thunderstorm rolling in. Other times, I just really, really love you and want to show it. Your face tastes like home, and that makes my tail wag like crazy.

But I get it – sometimes even I go overboard with the slobber fest. When I start licking the same spot on my paw for hours, or won’t stop giving you a “bath” even when you say stop, that’s when you humans need to step in and help me out.

The good news is we make a pretty awesome team! You’ve got the big brains to figure out if I need to see the vet or need more walks and playtime. I’ve got the love and the world’s biggest tongue to share it with.

So let’s work together to keep me happy and your furniture a little less soggy. Deal?

References

• https://www.rearoadanimalhospital.com/the-science-behind-the-slurp-why-dogs-engage-in-excessive-licking/
• https://www.petsbest.com/blog/12-reasons-dogs-lick-excessively
• https://www.thekennelclub.org.uk/health-and-dog-care/health/health-and-care/a-z-of-health-and-care-issues/why-does-my-dog-lick-me-so-much/
• https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/excessive-licking-chewing-and-grooming-dogs
• https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/advice/why-is-my-dog-licking-me/