Our past experience has also shown a puppymill puppy who licks his owner as well as himself each night as he drifts off to sleep - almost as a pacifier or prelude to falling asleep... At times, this particular dog has 'licked-thin' the area on his front paws... Another rescue licks her owner each night (but not herself) until she falls asleep, but will lick during the day as well --- almost to the annoying level.
1) Ignore it - especially if it doesn't bother you
2) Exchange the licking for something else - like a Kong filled with peanut butter (although this can be a bit messy at times, depending on when the licking session is and where it occurs)
3) Stop the habit - using something like bitter apple
We have been told the bitter apple trick doesn't work, but because it evaporates so fast if not used in the gel formula, this is probably why...
It almost has to be used instantaneously... And that is not always convenient... But here is one example of having the product work... Catching a dog chewing the edge of a piece of furniture, squirt the furniture then immediately a SMALL amount into the dog's mouth... They won't like it - they'll hate it because dogs can taste sweet as easily as they can taste sour (unlike cats)... The dog has to connect the smell of what you squirted on the edge of the furniture (mentally) with the taste he has in his mouth... Left for even a few minutes, the product evaporates and becomes ineffective...
If you have a dog that is constantly licking you (and you have no open sores or wounds on the area), you can spray bitter apple on the area they favor licking... Again, it has to be immediately for them to get the idea "When I lick there, I get an awful taste in my mouth"...
Personally, I've usually ignored the habit and/or used the word "no", then gently pushed the dog away... Generally, they get the message fast enough if you are consistent enough...
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