Question about dog behavior

[Kubash16]

Totally random and off topic but seeing as how a lot of y’all have dogs. . . Here goes.

My oldest dog (golden retriever who is 8 years old) has recently (within the last few months) taken to licking everything. Over and over. The couch, my bed sheet, the floor, etc. at first I was thinking maybe something good tasting spilled but I don’t think so anymore. But he licks in a single spot until it’s sopping wet or we tell him to stop.

What gives? Is this anxiety or something else wrong? Just a quirk? Should I be concerned or just let him be?

 

[Eagle3]

My old dog loved to lick my brother's iron weights. To the point of causing rust. Couldn't get him to stop. Figured he likes the taste of iron. This dog hated licking people, but he'd lick everything else, including my bedsheets, any blanket he was on, the carpet, the couch, anything cloth. Smells are intensified when wet so maybe there was something fascinating he couldn't classify? Its a dog thing...

Your dog may be bored or anxious, may have a hankering for the taste or texture of whatever he's licking, or there could be something neurological going on. If it continues and it bothers you, might want to ask your vet.

 

[Sideways]

This does tend to happen in older dogs (hormones!), and all dogs can use licking to relieve anxiety. In fact, you can now buy “lickey mats” that you spread treats on )like pate or peanut butter) which can help a dog calm down when they’re stressed out.

When it starts happening excessively? It’s vet time. If the dog is licking themselves continuously it may be a skin condition. If they’re licking anything and everything continuously? It could be they’ve got a parasite.

If in doubt? Check with your vet:)

 

[Kubash16]

Thank you both! It really doesn’t bother me but he’s due for annual shots soon anyway so I will talk to the vet then. He doesn’t lick himself hardly at and doesn’t have any hot spots which is good. Watching him, Ive noticed his licking is focused on the couch, the bed, throw pillows and the rug, so maybe he likes the textures? We haven’t had any changes in the house so I don’t know what he would be stressed about. Unless it’s hormones like ya mentioned- stupid question, does this change if he’s fixed? Wouldn’t his hormones act different than an intact male?

 

[Eagle3]

My old dog was neutered before he was a year old, and still he licked. It did increase as he got older, but he always licked things with human smells/sweat on them. Glad you're checking with the vet. Always good to rule out anything physiological.

 

[Gs172003]

Maybe he's bored. Does he have enough to do?

 

[Kubash16]

Maybe he's bored. Does he have enough to do?

Honestly, I struggle with this with him. I genuinely don’t know the answer. My German Shepherd will spend hours playing with me, with a frisbee, ball, entertain himself with a hedgehog he has. My Pit/Boxer is much lazier but is generally content to occasionally steal the hedgehog and play tug o war and as long as she gets popsicles with treats inside, she’s happy as a clam.

But this guy, my old golden, doesn’t play. Literally. He will wrestle a little bit but tires out pretty quick, likes popsicles and treats well enough but doesn’t get excited about them, and if you try to use a toy with him he just stares at you like what? For as long as I’ve had him (since he was a year old) he’s been like that, just doesn’t like toys and only wants to cuddle as much as possible.

I do wonder if there is some depression going on, he was really attached to my ExH and at first would stay in the living room at night like he was waiting for ExH to come home. He’s since seemed to come to terms with it and sleeps in my bed again, but he just doesn’t play. All he wants to do is sleep and cuddle.

 

[Gs172003]

Honestly, I struggle with this with him. I genuinely don’t know the answer. My German Shepherd will spend hours playing with me, with a frisbee, ball, entertain himself with a hedgehog he has. My Pit/Boxer is much lazier but is generally content to occasionally steal the hedgehog and play tug o war and as long as she gets popsicles with treats inside, she’s happy as a clam.

But this guy, my old golden, doesn’t play. Literally. He will wrestle a little bit but tires out pretty quick, likes popsicles and treats well enough but doesn’t get excited about them, and if you try to use a toy with him he just stares at you like what? For as long as I’ve had him (since he was a year old) he’s been like that, just doesn’t like toys and only wants to cuddle as much as possible.

I do wonder if there is some depression going on, he was really attached to my ExH and at first would stay in the living room at night like he was waiting for ExH to come home. He’s since seemed to come to terms with it and sleeps in my bed again, but he just doesn’t play. All he wants to do is sleep and cuddle.

They make doggie ice creams ( and I think there are recipes too) maybe you can try those and see if that helps?

 

[Kubash16]

I will definitely look some recipes up! Thank you

 

[Gs172003]

I will definitely look some recipes up! Thank you

You're welcome

 

[siniang]

Just a quick reply since I'm only on my phone, more later.

But this guy, my old golden, doesn’t play. Literally.

Try mind work. Look into clicker training

A character-typical 8-year old Golden shouldn't be that desinterested, though I've seen rather laid back individuals who couldn't care less for retrieving (and playing) and preferred cuddling over everything. This has become particularly prominent in the show varieties.

 

[Sideways]

It may be he’s still effected by the loss of someone in his family (dogs are pretty indiscriminate with who they love, and they miss ‘family’ a lot). Speak to the vet when you see them definitely.

I’m really big on dog enrichment activities (google ‘dog enrichment’?) rather than just straight up treats. They get a treat in the process, but it may help doggo start to re-engage on an emotional level as well, and re-start the mental stimulation.

If he’s relieving anxiety then let him go at it I reckon (with vet all-clear for medical issues). I personally just used a textured silicone heat mat from a kitchen store (say about $2) and spread liverworst or pate on it for my fella as a calming form of enrichment activity, so that might be a good place to start, because it engages that self-same calming they get from licking, but get the happy bonus of a treat in the process.

Gets a bit miserable when even the dog is miserable, so I’m feeling you!