Dogs behaviour can be strange at times, and trying to understand why they do what they do can be challenging. Especially when your dog does something to your leather.
Here Is Why Dogs Lick Leather:
1.It tastes like food to them
2. It tastes like urine or faeces
3. Fungus or Bacteria is in your dogs mouth
4. Paracites or Wounds are in your dogs mouth
5. Allergy
We are going to discuss within this page why dogs lick leather (in detail) and easy ways you can prevent them from doing so in the future. Thanks for reading.
Why Do Dogs Lick Leather?
When you walk into your house and see your pooch with his face on the leather couch, it may be tempting to scold him.
But before you do so, consider that he is most likely licking the leather due to an instinctual behaviour called pica. This is not a bad habit; rather your dog’s way of naturally dealing with the earthy taste of the leather.
When it comes to this behaviour, dogs are actually quite different from one another. Some like chewing on rawhide bones; others like licking all kinds of surfaces.
While most owners don’t understand why their dog licks interior spaces, there are several reasons for these behaviours; let’s explore them in more detail.
Learned Behavior
As mentioned above, dogs do not learn this behaviour from their owners. Rather, they have an urge to do so due to some instinctual need that stems from the time in which dogs were pack animals with a clear leader-the alpha dog.
Just as wolves mark their territory with urine, dogs do so with saliva. This is why your dog most likely licks the leather seat in your car or something else that belongs to you.
Other 5 Reasons for Dogs Licking Leather
1.It Tastes Like Food To Them.
Many chewing behaviours start this way; dogs may believe they can find food on the leather couch, and if your pooch has never been properly house-trained, he may also mistake a piece of rotting food on the furniture for a tasty snack.
The same goes for other items such as sofas, pillows, and even shoes.
2. It Tastes Like Urine or Faeces.
Perhaps your dog has an issue with marking his territory by urinating on the same spots over and over again, including the leather furniture. When he licks this area, later on, he can taste the urine and gets confused for having left his own natural scent.
Here is a good article we have completed on why leather can smell like poo.
3. Fungus, Bacteria, or Mite Infestation in Your Dog’s Mouth
This is especially true if your pet has not had any recent check-ups or has experienced some sort of medical issue at one point. If you notice him licking leather constantly, it’s time to visit the vet for an examination.
4. Parasites or Wounds in Your Dog’s Mouth
If your dog has any kinds of sores in his mouth due to an injury or illness, he may try to lick them constantly, making them worse with each passing day. There are also parasites that can infest your dog’s mouth, causing him to lick everything in sight.
5. Your Dog is Licking His Paws Due to an Allergy
Many dogs develop allergies over time, and this can be due to chemicals used in the leather upholstery or other things found in your homes like dust mites or pollen. Your pet can show you he is trying to relieve himself of this skin irritation by licking his paws.
Is Leather Eating Dangerous?
Most dogs naturally grow out of the urge to lick leather over time; it’s not dangerous unless your four-legged family member has found something else to chew on or suckle like sweaters, socks, shoes, and even your own furniture.
If this is the case, it’s time to visit the vet for some testing to see if there are bigger health issues at hand.
Why Does My Dog Lick The Leather Couch After Eating?
If your dog licks the leather couch after eating, there are several potential reasons for this behavior.
First, the taste of food can linger on his tongue or in his mouth. He may also be trying to get rid of any foul tastes leftover from any garbage he may have gotten into before coming indoors.
How To Prevent Dogs Licking Your Leather Furniture
The best way to prevent this behaviour is to have your dog spayed or neutered at a young age. If you have an intact pet that shows any signs of a desire to lick leather furniture, you can purchase bitter sprays at most pet stores and apply them directly on these spots.
Other Ways To Prevent Dogs Licking Your Leather Furniture
1.Keep Your Leather Furniture Clean
While dogs can’t get to leather couches in the same way they would, say, a pair of shoes left on the floor, your dog will still be inspired to lick them if they are not clean. Vacuum your furniture frequently and dust with a dry cloth to keep all surfaces free of any crumbs or dirt that might tempt your pet to have a snack.
2. Give Your Dog an Alternative
To help deter your dog from licking leather furniture, always provide some sort of distraction if he shows any signs that he is ready to start licking or chewing on the couch. This could be as simple as putting his leash on and taking him for a walk around the block, or playtime with his favourite toys. Give him a new chew toy to keep him busy instead of your leather furniture.
3. Provide Plenty of Positive Reinforcement
When you catch your dog in the act, always make sure to voice your displeasure at this behaviour immediately. Then treat him with praise when he stops playing with or licking your leather furniture. This will help him to learn that if he doesn’t do what you ask, he won’t get any fun rewards later on.
4. Cover Your Leather Furniture If Necessary
If none of these tips seem to be working at deterring your dog from licking or chewing your leather furniture, then simply cover that area with a blanket. This way, your dog won’t be tempted to attack it because he can’t see what’s underneath the material.
5. Set Limits
Make sure that you set limits for your dog when you catch him licking or chewing on leather furniture.
For example, if he starts to get too passionate in his efforts to damage the furniture, do not give in to his demands for attention or affection. Instead, you can say something like “No,” and immediately put him in a different room with no access to your belongings for a few minutes.
In many cases, a dog’s natural instincts to be wary of or even curious to taste leather furniture can lead him to learn that this material isn’t tasty at all.
He will eventually stop licking the couch as he figures out it has nothing to offer him in terms of flavour. In other instances, you might have a pet that just enjoys spending time with you and doesn’t mean any harm. In this case, you can always reward his good behaviour with praise or treats so that he will continue to be good around your leather couch in the future.
