23
Feb
What Does It Mean When Your Dog Licks His Feet A Lot. This usually means that the skin is itchy. There are also other reasons your dog licks his feet. Like any animal dogs tend to over-groom themselves when they are feeling bored depressed lonely or anxious. Licking of all sorts is how animals communicate and in no way is harmful.
As a dog owner it is important for you to understand the hidden meaning behind this behavior in order to strengthen the bond. If you always look at or talk to your dog when he licks your feet you are reinforcing this particular behavior. Now if your dog spends a lot of time licking their own feet according to Daily Paws this may be normal grooming or a sign of anxiety an injury or perhaps allergies. Dogs with separation anxiety may lick themselves because the behavior releases soothing endorphins that help the dog feel calm. Some dogs may be more attracted to feet because they smell. When our feet are encased in leather plastic or cloth they get warm and sweaty.
There are a variety of reasons why your dog would suddenly lick or chew his feet including puncture wounds to the toes or paw pads fractured claws or toes burns corns especially common in Greyhounds and foreign bodies that may be lodged between the toes such as ticks grass awns and burrs.
According to one theory dogs that live in packs lick each other as a sign of friendship but also to show submissiveness. For example a male or female dog may lick the genital area after urinating as a means of cleaning the area. This usually means that the skin is itchy. Sometimes its a result of being anxious stressed or bored. As a dog owner it is important for you to understand the hidden meaning behind this behavior in order to strengthen the bond. By the time you finish reading this piece youll not want to stop your pet the next time it licks your feet.