Why Is My Dog Licking & Chewing?

Dogs lick and chew for a variety of reasons.

It is common for dogs to chew and lick. Normal habits include chewing on appropriate items for fun and exercise. Chewing exercises the gums and licking is their way of getting a taste for things. Inappropriate licking and chewing can be cause for concern. These activities are usually signs of medical or behavior problems that will need to be addressed by a veterinarian or professional canine trainer.

Appropriate Licking Behaviors

It is common for dogs to lick food, water, treats and toys.

Like cats, some dogs will lick areas of their body to groom themselves, cool themselves down or dry themselves off. They lick in attempts to eat, taste food, treats or toys and to funnel water into their mouths. It is also common for a dog to lick people from time to time as a greeting or simply to taste the salty quality of human skin.

Abnormal Licking Behaviors

Obsessive licking is an abnormal behavior.

Licking behaviors that are considered inappropriate or obsessive are usually caused by a problem. In an attempt to heal or soothe, dogs will lick open wounds, arthritic joints, injured paws or allergic skin. Dogs that have abnormalities or diseases of the mouth often lick in an attempt to make themselves feel better.
Obsessive licking behaviors associated with anxiety exhibit with almost human-like forms of obsessive compulsive behaviors. This type of licking of themselves, an object, another pet or person is most often a behavior problem associated with some form of anxiety, fear or an underlying medical condition. It can also be a learned behavior if the dog was allowed to lick excessively as a puppy. The root of abnormal licking can be as simple as the dog has a great fondness for your hand lotion to the dog is suffering from severe joint pain.

Appropriate Chewing Behaviors

Chewing is necessary for good dental hygiene.

Dogs are carnivores; they chew food, toys and, in rough play, on each other. A dog's mouth is the closest thing they have to hands so mouths are used to carry items and food to alternate locations. Mother dogs carry their young in their mouths when the need comes for canine transportation and retrievers use their mouths to collect game. These are common canine behaviors.

Abnormal Chewing Behaviors

Dogs who chew on themselves should be seen by a veterinarian.

If your dog has not been taught the difference between appropriate and inappropriate chew toys, the fact that they are chewing your new shoes is simply a matter of redirection and positive training to let them know what they can chew. Chewing on humans is another case most often rooted in misdirection of early training.
Abnormal chewing behaviors are most often noted when dogs chew on themselves to the point of causing damage. They may be chewing to scratch an itch caused by allergies, have hormonal imbalances, to ease the pain in a joint or on a wound, or out of boredom. Abnormal chewing, like abnormal licking, is most often caused by a broad spectrum of medical or behavior problems.

Guidance

Training methods can be used to rid your dog of unwanted behaviors.

When a dog is noted to have abnormal behaviors, the first course of action is to discuss the matter with your veterinarian to be certain the dog is free of injury, allergies, parasites or a disease that is causing the problem. Dogs that are found to be healthy are candidates for positive training programs or sessions with behavior consultants. These professionals can identify the specific reason for the abnormality and guide you through methods meant to lessen or eliminate the undesired behavior.

References

• WedMD.com: Healthy Dogs Guide: Dogs and Compulsive Scratching, Licking, and Chewing