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When ever my 3yr old doberman is near me ,if im not patting him he lays there and licks and licks and licks, I think there is a sore or cut he is working on but always nothing I can see.

Im starting to think this is an obsessive behavior starting up.

Sometimes its his belly, or his leg or paw. If I interupt him he starts again somewhere else. he will work on one spot for ages. I dont want him to give himself sores from doing it.

Can anyone shine some light, Have you seen this before?

He has a whole acre to run on, a companion (another dobe) and we are home alot ( I study). He goes to training every week and we also do practise and go walking.

Do you think giving him something else to lick might help(I just thought of that while typing, will try tommorrow with that) get out the old Kong thingo.

anyway thanks

I would also try nylabones and booda bones. They will help him with his oral fixation.

Definitely give him something else to play with..

Does he get annual vaccinations? There's been some research done indicating that excessive licking, particularly of his feet, could be an indication that the vaccinations are irritating his skin. Vaccinations seem to have many adverse side effect such as that one, and sometime a skin allergy and other skin conditions can develop. My dad's dog licks her paws so much that they bleed. Her former vet said she was just bored - her current vet said it may be the vaccines and stopped giving them to her about a year ago. It's still too early to know if that is enough though..

Many people are choosing now to only get annual vaccinations required by law (here dogs have to have all vaccines around 12 weeks old and a rabies booster at 1 year, nothing after that)..

I would check with your vet, do some research on your own, and get another opinion if possible. If that does seem to be the problem check out the laws where you are. Beware of asking a vet though, many here think it's law even though it's not, and some might tell you that it is because they make more money from you every year that way..

considering the areas you mentioned, I would think of food allergies or sensitivies.

>>When ever my 3yr old doberman is near me ,if im not patting him he lays there and licks and licks and licks, I think there is a sore or cut he is working on but always nothing I can see.
>>
>>Im starting to think this is an obsessive behavior starting up.
>>
>>Sometimes its his belly, or his leg or paw. If I interupt him he starts again somewhere else. he will work on one spot for ages. I dont want him to give himself sores from doing it.
>>
>>Can anyone shine some light, Have you seen this before?
>>
>>He has a whole acre to run on, a companion (another dobe) and we are home alot ( I study). He goes to training every week and we also do practise and go walking.
>>
>>Do you think giving him something else to lick might help(I just thought of that while typing, will try tommorrow with that) get out the old Kong thingo.
>>
>>anyway thanks

>>>>>>>>>

Lick granulomas are very serious and are common in Dobes. Have the vet check him, and find other things for him to use his mouth on. Keep working with him on this, or the results could be really bad.
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Kathy Diamond Davis, author, "Therapy Dogs: Training Your Dog to Reach Others," 2nd edition, and the free Canine Behavior Series at www.veterinaryforum.com

I had a brief experience with this. turned out my dog had a sprained back.

it sounds like the lick granuloma, but might want to rule out some physical ache, causing her to stress, since it sounds like she has lots of attention & mental stimulation too.

hope your baby gets better, let us hear