Willravel

Jack the beagle loves foot-licking. I don't really like it myself, so I end up wearing socks a lot, but I know a lot of people that have foot-lciking dogs. This started me thinking about why dogs lick feet.

My first thought was that dogs like the salt that accumulates on the surface of human skin, like mosquitoes. Still, dogs like licking feet more than, say, arms in my experience. I figured, then, it might be the smell or the pheromones, but they don't just stop at feet, they like to lick legs, too. Finally, I came up with the idea that it's a behavior of affection/submission. Dogs lick to clean, and lick other members of the pack similarly to keep them clean. While it's functional (the way most altruistic behaviors start, from an evolutionary perspective), more consciously it seems to be communicating appreciation.

What are your thoughts?

Plan9

I don't think it's just feet, bro.

I'm regularly bathed by a pitbull and a boxer. They're relentless. The boxer, given the chance, will pin me to the floor and shampoo my skull.

__________________
Whatever you can carry.

"You should not drink... and bake."

12Packaday

We have our second German Shepherd in our ten year relationship. The first one was my GFs before we met, by three yrs. When I was around regularly and pretty much took over training and most of the care of the dog she started licking my feet (the dog, not my GF). She would go crazy whenever I would start taking my shoes off. She would go at it like a crack fiend. I gotta say, I didn't hate it. I would wash them first (sometimes) but she didn't care. Well she passed away about five years later. No, It wasn't foot fungus related!! We got another GS because they are simply the best dog in the world and again I'm in charge of training and working her, feeding, maintenance and she is now 18 months old. Just a couple weeks ago she started licking my feet. She doesn't possess the enthusiasm of our other dog, but I was kinda' suprised since I never did anything to encourage it. The odd thing is neither dog ever had anything to do with my GFs feet.

Some people are going to have a real problem with getting their head around this but hey, it's not like I'm spreading peanut butter on my balls! (Remember - FULL SIZE GERMAN SHEPHERD !!!)

I want to figure out how to post pics. I have some really great shots of Leah.

KellyC

When I first came to the US and lived at my uncle's house, his dog would lick my feet whenever I'm at the dinner table. It was weird and ticklish at first. But then I learned to lived with it and forgo the need to wash my feet. I miss that.

__________________
Him: Ok, I have to ask, what do you believe?
Me: Shit happens.

dd3953

I don't have a dog. But a friend, who's house I am at regularly, has a dog (some type of flat nose bulldog), and she (the dog) is always licking her (the friend). It's usually her feet or arms, but she'll (the dog) lick any part of of her (the friend) that is not covered by clothes. My friend tells me it is because of the salt, after reading this, I'm not so sure, but I don't know what else there is to it. My friend had another dog, that recently died, and well he licked her feet, he did not lick the rest of her.

__________________
[Technically, I'm not possible, I'm made of exceptions. ]

wooÐs

Every dog I've ever had was a licker. Drove me nuts. But my beagle rarely 'gives kisses.' And I really like it this way lol.

Glory's Sun

QFT. GSDs are the best. I have two and I'm also in charge of training and working them.

Anyway, my dogs aren't feet lickers. I don't think I've ever had a dog that went after feet, especially not how everyone else here is talking about. However, a friend of mine has a Rottie that used to go after feet constantly. I got her out of the habit by simply using the snap and back method of training. Now everyone can walk around his house without being slobbered to death.

It's not really a sign of affection, it's a sign of ownership and a form of domination. They are using the tactic to gain some domination back from the alpha male/female. While dogs use it to clean themselves, the dominant ones also use it to clean other dogs, so basically, they're trying to clean you to show they have some power over you.

Snap and back is an easy training method. I would snap my fingers loudly when she tried to go after a foot, advance towards her to take ownership of her "space" and point and tell her to go back. I did this by myself to start with so she'd understand the rules and then brought other people into the mix. It wasn't instant, but as long as you're consistent, it's fairly simple and easy.

Willravel

Ah, I misread it. It's not submission, it's domination. I'm glad I put a stop to it, then. I'm okay with Jack the beagle being assertive with other dogs, but I need to be 100% alpha in my house or I'll start having trouble with him.

Good info, Gucci.