Why Do Dogs Lick The Floor And Furniture

If your dog starts to lick the furniture a lot it may be that he s stressed or nervous.

Why do dogs lick the floor and furniture.

If not much is going on around the dog he may be licking to provide himself with an activity or stimulation. Dogs that are regularly bored can develop bad habits such as licking furniture and other items excessively. Some dogs chew up shoes and furniture and you ll find some dogs licking carpet or other areas. Allergies parasitic infections digestive disorders pain and other problems can all prompt your pooch to do strange things including lick your floors and furniture.

If your dog is not only licking the floor but also eating things such as carpet fibers splinters from the hardwood floor or pieces from the baseboard she may be suffering from pica. Excessive licking furniture most often occurs when your dog is relaxed or even bored. A few reasons why your dog might be bored include lack of physical or mental stimulation. It could be your dog has the canine equivalent of acid reflux which causes the buildup of acid when the stomach is empty for too long.

The sensation of licking soft fabric may help him cope and alleviate his feelings by keeping him otherwise occupied. Petmd says this is a condition where dogs crave and eat non food items. If you see your dog licking the carpet or the couch this is where the behavior tends toward the stereotypical or behaviorally problematic according to dr. In some cases a dog will lick obsessively simply because they re bored.

This type of behavior can also self soothe and provide comfort. The origins of floor licking may be innocent enough your dog may have started it after meals when there were yummy crumbs on the floor but such purposeful licking isn t an obsessive or compulsive behavior. There are some dogs who are such dedicated floor lickers that vets have actually coined a term to refer to the problem. Unless you just dropped food there s no normal reason why a dog should regularly lick the carpet or furniture.

Which is good for him but not great for your soft furnishings. If your dog s carpet licking episodes occur quite frequently it s important to consult with the vet to find out what s causing them in the first place. Once it becomes obsessive your pooch s floor licking is considered a stereotypy.