My Dog Keeps Licking Windows

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Almost any time a dog excessively and repeatedly licks inanimate objects for no apparent reason—whether she's licking windows, the furniture, or the floor—it typically has little to do with the object being licked. In most cases, these obsessive lickers are acting out of anxiety. Dogs with excess energy get anxious and develop compulsions, which you can treat by giving your pup the attention she craves. If your pup has chosen windows as her obsessive object of choice, try the following tips.

Spray the area surrounding the window, like the window sill, with a dog deterrent spray. Different brands utilize different ingredients, but are designed to have an unpleasant odor for dogs that keeps them away from furniture and other unwanted areas. Amazon has a variety to choose from. Emmy's Best Stop The Chew 3X Strength Anti Chew Bitter Spray Deterrent is often used to discourage chewing, but the spray can also be used on windows. Dogs don't like the flavor of bitter apply sprays like Grannicks Bitter Apple Taste Deterrent. Sprays like Rocco & Roxie No Chew Extreme Bitter Spray for Dogs can be sprayed anywhere, on furniture or on things like shoes, and the smell and taste should be enough to keep your dog away.

Your dog is licking the window for one of two reasons: anxiety or a neurological issue. Once you rule out neurological problems that can compel your dog to engage in unusual behaviors like window licking, you can address the likely fact of the matter: her anxious neuroses are making her develop an obsessive compulsion.

Increase the amount of time you spend exercising and playing with your dog every day. When a dog gets bored, she channels her excess energy any way she can, including destructive behaviors and OCD. It's not that she likes the taste of the glass or anything, but rather that she just doesn't know what to do with herself, and has fallen into a routine that calms her nerves. Increasing her exercise and giving her adequate attention calms those nerves, which are at the root of her behavior.

Chewing or licking provides relief from anxiety and boredom for many dogs, so channel that into something other than the window licking. Amazon has many toys that can keep dogs happy for hours. Try giving your dog a Kong Extreme Dog Toy. Not only does it bounce unpredictably if they drop it, it can be filled with peanut butter for hours of licking pleasure. Nearly 12,000 people rate the VanFine Dog Squeaky Toy as almost indestructible, giving it a nearly complete 5-star rating--it has both a squeak and enticing beef flavor. More than 22,500 people rate the Petstages Chewable Stick as nearly 5 stars. For dogs that like wood, this one mimics the flavor of real wood but doesn't splinter.