Licking feet

[Llamalady]

How can I get Travis to stop licking our feet???? He's obsessed with them!

[special]

You could wear slippers? :)

[RoxyGirl]

Roxy also loves to lick my feet, and I never tried to discourage her from doing it, because I never liked her licking my hands or face, and she just wanted to give me kisses, so I made my feet the ok place for her to lick, sounds kinda gross I know. LOL

[e1beth1]

I have a toe chewer with one of my foster kittens right now which I highly discourage but licking doesn't bother me that much. If it really gets to you though you can try putting bitter apple on your feet when you strolling around barefoot at home.

[Wiztherewoz]

How can I get Travis to stop licking our feet???? He's obsessed with them!

Stop smearing dog food on them. Gee whizz(!)

[Llamalady]

Oh geez... I guess I should bathe too? ;) I just thought I was supposed to smash up their food with my feet! Heehee...

You can't change your socks without him running into the room and trying to lick your feet! LOL

[dlaura]

Who is Travis?

[Llamalady]

My mom's west highland white terrier! :)

He's almost my dog since I'm over there all the time. My mom calls him my little brother.

Travis McGee!!! :)
I do a lot of laundry over there and trying on clothes that get distributed through the family, and my mom doesn't let us wear shoes in the house so he's CONSTANTLY licking feet!!

[special]

Stop smearing dog food on them. Gee whizz(!)

Did you say cheezwhiz? no wonder...or...wait...

[Llamalady]

"Hi mom!"

"Hi Liz."

*take off shoes*

*travis immediately starts licking feet* *slurp slurp slurp*

Yep. That's my life every day because every day I come to visit her. I guess I won't have to worry about it as much with winter coming up. No chance to wear my clogs without socks in the winter. Socks shall protect me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Unless I have to take off wet socks from shovelling mom's drive way, and then the licking shall begin again...

[Wiztherewoz]

Seriously, Liz. If you don't want the dog to lick your feet, tell him "no" and point him away. Don't put up with it for fear of hurting his feelings. He won't love you any less for not letting him lick you. I don't let my dogs lick me and they love me almost as much as I love them regardless. And I say 'almost' because there's no way anything could love me as much as I love my bubs. ;)

[alcoth]

Keira licks. Lots. I glean some kind of strange enjoyment out of it though.

Prolly cause I like being tickled :p

[Llamalady]

He's such a stubborn pup!!!!!! LOL I am working at deterring him from it, but that as much as anything else is a lot of work. :)

[dlaura]

I thought you had gone out and gotten a dog for a minute there Liz - thought I had missed a thread somewhere. LOL

Maybe now that it is getting cooler you can wear socks so when you take of your shoes you feet will not be exposed for licking.

[Um Tootous]

I don't have any useful advice, but the mental image of the dog racing into the room to lick your feet before you can change/get socks on does have me laughing

[Llamalady]

LOL
I have no room in my tiny apartment for a dog, or another animal, and actually, if I did, I'd much rather first get another cat. Not that I have anything against dogs, but my husband couldn't handle a dog - and I don't know if Mandarin could handle a dog. Wally would not be able to give any direction AT ALL. The dog would be one of those nightmare dogs like you see on Cesar Milan. Or worse, we might end up with that problem and worse, because my husband said he doesn't believe in indoor dogs, and I don't believe in leaving a dog outside all of their life, especially up here in the U.P. where it can be winter for up to 9 months out of the year. Yeah, I'm not a big supporter of frostbite.

You're quite right, dLaura. Soon will be sock season. :)

And it would be rather funny the whole licking feet thing if I weren't sometimes trying to have a serious conversation with my mom, you know? Yeah. He hears those socks coming on and I bet he drools. Weirdo. LOL

[LadyPirate]

LOL! Both my dogs like to lick feet. Not all the time. Just when you least expect it!

My son had an English Bulldog that would take your socks off if you had them on. He would pull until he got them both off, then he would walk off and just leave them. I guess he thought that everybody liked their feet bare! He never chewed on the socks and never bothered your feet. Just pulled the socks off!

[Llamalady]

That's funny!!!!!!!!!! LOL

[juliekristin]

Licking his feet like that may very well be a nervous tic. Is he getting enough exercise? He needs at least an hour a day (walk or jog) to release his anxiety. Another thing to do is check with your vet and make sure nothing is wrong with his feet. He could be in pain. It is normal for them to lick their feet some but not constantly.

[Wiztherewoz]

Licking his feet like that may very well be a nervous tic. Is he getting enough exercise? He needs at least an hour a day (walk or jog) to release his anxiety. Another thing to do is check with your vet and make sure nothing is wrong with his feet. He could be in pain. It is normal for them to lick their feet some but not constantly.

That would be great advice if he was licking his own feet.

As it is he's only licking Liz's. Coz she never washes 'em :p. He feels he has to do it for her. Bless him! (Just kidding, Liz. ;))

Is he like this with everyone's feet, Liz, or just yours?

[Llamalady]

Mine and my mom's. He leaves everyone else's alone. And we REALLY want him to leave my mom's feet alone because she has a bad hammer toe with a sore on it, and we don't need doggy saliva in it. Usually, she wears her crocs though - no matter the weather - so usually her feet are covered, but me, every once in a while, I just try to enjoy what little warm weather we have by going sans socks... :)

[juliekristin]

Oh, I'm sorry. I misunderstood. He is liking his owners feet??? That is so funny. That is probably just an expression of affection for him. It might still be linked a bit to pent up energy. Well, it is nice to have such personal attention: )

[diogy]

What on earth makes them do this? I know several dogs that do this too.

[tweener]

Hmm... why does he like yours and your mom's feet and leaves everyone else's alone? LOL..Our dog used to do this too but I'm the only one who's happy with it so we decided to buy him a few toys and make sure they're close when he starts licking our feet.

[Llamalady]

So you distract them when they start licking feet?

[pipsie71]

Tilly licks my feet sometimes and I've gotta say I don't mind it! So I don't discourage her! She doesn't do it very often though or for long! Pip

[Wiztherewoz]

So you distract them when they start licking feet?

You can distract him, yes.
If you don't want the little guy to do it, tell him "No" and send him away. Then call him back. If he goes for the feet again, repeat the "No" and send him away. Call him back, offer him a toy or a game. If he goes for the feet again stop any play/games/interaction immediately and send him away. (When I say send him away, I mean out of the room or even just out of your personal bubble.) Don't let him keep on doing it if you don't want him to. If you stay consistent he'll get the idea.

A way to get the attention of most dogs and stop them from doing a behaviour they're about to do, is to click you fingers and say a sharp "Ah!" as soon as he starts to head towards the feet. If he looks at you and doesn't continue to approach the feet, reward him with a toy or a treat or something.

If he licks your feet he gets sent away and gets nothing. If he leaves your feet alone he gets love, fuss, attention and fun. He'll soon know which is the best option.