Licking is one of the common attributes seen in most dogs. When a dog is licking you, there could be several reasons behind the same. He is displaying his affection or even trying to communicate with you. If you find your pooch licking you when you’ve got home after a long day’s work, it isn’t anything unusual. By showing this gesture, he is likely trying to bond with you or seek your attention. Dogs lick other dogs as well. It is a part of their social behavior. They will do so while grooming or even when communicating with each other.
Shifting from people to objects, it’s not unusual for your dog to lick the objects lying around. The reason for doing the same varies. It’s possible that he is bored or is even trying to soothe or comfort himself.
Coming to the topic of discussion, have you seen your pooch continuously licking your pillow? Does it mostly happen at night or even during the day? The reasons for your dog doing the same is endless. Read on to know the cause behind this behavior of your pooch. Also, learn about the different ways in which you may stop the same.
Why Does Your Dog Lick Your Pillow? 7 Possible Reasons
If your dog has licked your pillow on one or two occasions, that’s fine. The behavior is just an outcome of curiosity. Your dog sees you sleeping on it throughout the night. Perhaps he wants to understand what makes the pillows so unique to you. If it has become a regular affair, you might have to get to the root cause and correct it immediately. Check out the reasons why your dog licks your pillow.
1. Your Dog is Going Through Separation Anxiety
If you have a kid at home, you will understand it better. When they were young, wouldn’t they be anxious when you would go out of their sight for a short or long time? This behavior can be seen in dogs as well. Do you have a busy schedule? Do you leave your dog all by himself for a long time? Then, there are chances that he would get anxious and develop separation anxiety.
Symptoms of separate anxiety vary from one dog to other. The intensity would range from mild to moderate. Some would cry for some time to reveal their agony. If this continues long, dogs could resort to destructive behavior. These include chewing or destroying belongings that they find around.
A few may even go the other way. They may try comforting themselves by getting inclined to things that remind them of their owner. What better for your dog than to cling to your pillow? That would remind him of you when you are away. It is soaked with your body scent, shampoo, oils, and sweat. Dogs have sensitive noses. So, holding on to your pillow and licking them excessively when you away mean he is missing you terribly. He’s trying to comfort himself by holding onto your pillow. Thus, if you stay out most of the time, you might come home to see your pillow wet with your dog’s saliva. Then chances are that he is going through separation anxiety.
2. He is Trying to Release His Stress
It’s a continuation of the above reason. Your dog is anxious when you are away, which results in stress. So to soothe himself, your dog resorts to several behavioral traits. It may include licking your pillow. It may be a sign of being stressed or anxious, or there could be other reasons. For example, there has been a change in the feeding schedule. Or you have brought another dog home with whom he would have to share his space, and so on.
A study has revealed that when a dog licks, his brain produces endorphins. It makes him feel relaxed and calm. Endorphins help the human brain as well to remain stress-free. Hence, it’s not just pillows. Your dog could lick any other object as well when stressed.
3. It’s a Case of OCD (Obsessive Compulsory Disorder)
Obsessive compulsory disorder, or OCD as it is commonly called, is a disorder where one feels the urge to repeat a certain behavior. This condition isn’t just seen in humans but in dogs as well. Common symptoms of this condition seen in canines are tail-chasing, spinning, increased vocalization, scratching to the point the area bleeds, and excessive licking or chewing of objects. So, if your dog is constantly licking the pillow or any other object, then there are chances he has OCD.
4. There’s Been a Change in His Diet
Dogs get used to a certain pattern of diet. So, when you bring a change in the same, most of them won’t be able to accept it readily. Of the several symptoms dogs show when there is a change in their diet, one is licking odd things. Has your dog started licking your pillows a lot of late? There are chances that his new diet needs more salt. Wondering how? Well, as you sleep throughout the night, salt gets soaked. No wonder your dog will try compensating for the low salt in his diet by licking your pillow.
5. He Likes the Taste
Your pillow smells of you, so it just likes the taste. That could be why your dog keeps licking it time and again. As simple as that. Your dog perhaps likes the fruity smell from your shampoo that filled your pillow when you slept last night. Or, you may have slept with the strawberry-scented face mask the other night. Your dog can’t get over the smell. Thus he keeps licking it. Your pillow has been washed with a scented detergent, attracting your dog a lot.
6. He’s Possibly Being Rewarded for His Behavior
When you do something, good or bad, and the deed is appreciated, you get encouraged to do that thing again. Don’t you? The same goes for your dog. Have you rewarded your dog with a treat upon seeing him licking your pillow? Do you often pat him when he is indulged in this behavior? Well, he would believe that you like and encourage this trait of his. So he will keep doing the same.
7. An Underlying Medical Condition
Excessive licking is often a symptom of several medical conditions. These include liver disease, ear infections, dental problems, and inflammatory bowel disease. However, under such circumstances, the dog will also show other symptoms. As for dental diseases, it would develop bad breath. The gums might bleed. Your dog may drool more than usual, and so on. In the case of liver disease, your dog may have a lessened appetite. He may also get fatigued, experience weight loss, and even vomit.
How to Stop Your Dog From Licking Your Pillow? 6 Possible Solutions
It isn’t too much of a problem if he does this once. However, repeating this too often may be a cause for concern. So, you should first find out what is causing your dog to lick your pillow so often. Once you understand the reason, you may act accordingly.
1. Address the Issue of Separation Anxiety
Separation anxiety cannot go away in an instant. It would take a considerable time to resolve the same. It should be addressed right from the dog’s puppy days. It would help to teach your dog to live in a crate for at least a day. When it stays on its own for a certain period of the day, reward him by giving him a treat.
You should also ensure that he is calm and relaxed when alone. You may fill his crate with his favorite toys and bedding he is most comfortable with. It is still important for you to spend quality time with your dog in whatever way you come. No matter how much you train him. Your dog could get irritable and destructive in the long run if he lives on his own for a prolonged period.
2. Keep Him Stress-Free
You should first identify what is stressing your dog to the core. Is it the loud music that you play each morning? Is it the presence of a second dog you have just brought home? Is it the busy ambiance of your home each morning? Once you have identified the reasons, you can work on them immediately to lessen your dog’s stress. If the loud music annoys him, you could lessen the volume or even replace it with soothing, soft music. Similarly, if he faces difficulties adjusting to the other dog in your home, keep interactions to a minimum. Do this until both get adjusted to each other.
3. Try Removing the Trigger
If it’s only the pillow he is attracted to and nothing else, then you must keep it out of your dog’s reach. You could lock your bedroom door or keep the pillows inside the closet whenever you are away. At the same time, try diverting your dog’s attention to something else, like a new toy, to keep him engaged. It might be out of boredom that he was licking your pillow. Once he finds something more interesting, he will move on.
4. Find an Alternative for the Salty Taste
Is your dog on a salt-restricted diet? Ask your vet for a proper supplement to compensate for the low sodium. He would then not have to lick objects when he isn’t getting the required amount of salt from his food.
5. Never Encourage the Behavior
Suppose your dog has gotten into the habit of licking your pillow. In that case, you should never encourage the behavior. If he has learned commands, then a firm ‘Stop’ or ‘No’ from your end should make your dog realize he isn’t doing the right thing. If he stops the behavior, reward him with a treat or praise.
6. Consult a Vet
If OCD is the reason behind your dog’s obsession with pillows. Then it would only be possible for you to tackle the matter with a grain of salt. The more you try to resist him, the more aggressive he gets. So, you would have to consult a vet in this regard. However, there are several management techniques that you may try at home. Some of them include increasing their exercise level and reducing their stress. Similarly, a vet’s intervention would also be needed if they have other symptoms alongside licking, like loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, etc.
FAQ’s
Q. Why do dogs lick?
Dogs have different ways of perceiving the world. They have a remarkably strong olfactory sense because of their sharp noses. So, licking is just one way to communicate and understand their surroundings.
Q. Is it bad for dogs to lick pillows?
It shouldn’t be a cause for concern if it’s done occasionally. However, if the activity is repetitive and is coming in the way of his daily life. Then, it may be a cause for worry.
Conclusion
To sum it up, when your dog licks your pillow every other day, don’t encourage the behavior. Instead, try understanding what is motivating him to do the same. Once you find out why, finding a solution and breaking the habit will be easier. Also, please keep your dog exercised well and give him ample playtime. In this way, he would remain energized and be able to use his energy in a better way.
Elena Gherman is a highly skilled and knowledgeable animal care expert. At the start of her career, she gained practical expertise with multiple animals. In addition to that, she works as a DVM veterinary editor for Joy Pet Products, which focuses on offering reliable information on pet health and wellbeing. She meticulously reviews each piece of writing before it is published to make sure pet owners get the most precise and updated information possible.