Why Does My Dog Lick Her Bed?

There are a few reasons why your dog might be licking her bed. She could be trying to tell you that she’s hungry or thirsty, or she could just enjoy the taste and texture of her bedding. If your dog is excessively licking her bed, it could also be a sign of anxiety or stress. To figure out what’s causing your dog to lick her bed, try paying attention to when she does it and see if there are any patterns.

One reason your dog might lick her bed is because she’s trying to tell you that she’s hungry or thirsty. If you notice that she only licks her bed when her food or water bowl is empty, then it’s likely that she’s just trying to get your attention so that you’ll refill them. You can try keeping a closer eye on her bowl levels and refilling them before they get too low, or you can train her to stop licking her bed by giving her a treat every time she does it.

Another possibility is that your dog licks her bed because she’s bored or anxious. If you notice that she only licks her bed while you’re not around, then it could be that she’s just looking for something to do. You can try giving her more toys to play with when you leave, like puzzle feeders and treats, so she has something else to focus on.

On the other hand, your dog might lick her bed because of an underlying medical condition. If your dog is licking her bed excessively, or if she seems tense and nervous as well, then you should take her to a vet as soon as possible.

Is it normal for a dog to lick their bed?

Licking is actually a normal dog behavior. Dogs can lick their beds as a sign of affection and self-soothing, or they may do so to be submissive to humans they’re around. Obsessively licking is usually an indication that there’s something wrong, though.

Some dogs turn to obsessively licking when they have allergies or skin diseases, but it’s also a sign of anxiety. If your dog is having separation anxiety and only licks her bed when you leave the house, she could be using licking as a way to self-soothe and relax herself during the stressful situation.

Can I stop my dog from licking her bed?

When you ask yourself, “why is my dog licking his bed so much?” the important thing to consider is really whether or not it’s a problem. Licking behaviors can be obsessive, and if that’s the case, you may want to try some training methods to stop your dog from licking herself raw. If your dog has a lot of fur, however, she might not be able to lick herself as badly as dogs who have less hair do.

If you notice your dog licking excessively but aren’t sure if it’s a problem or not, there are some ways you can tell:

  • Does she lose fur from the area she licks?
  • Is her tongue raw?
  • Has she lost weight?

Myths about dogs who lick their beds

A lot of people believe that when dogs lick their beds, it means they love their beds. This is not true. Dogs licking their beds is a sign that something else is going on in your dog’s life and you should dig deeper to find out what it is. When your dog licks her bed, she could be suffering from one of the following anxieties:

  • separation anxiety
  • nervousness about the fact that you recently re-arranged your furniture and now her bed isn’t in exactly the same place it was before
  • a previous owner taught her to lick her bed as a form of affection

If you want to know why your dog licks her bed, all you have to do is ask! That’s right—your dog can talk too! You don’t actually have to ask, but if you did ask (and if she could talk), she would probably tell you why she licks her bed.

If your dog shows obsessive behavior, it should be addressed.

Definitely, you can’t stop a dog from licking their bed, but you can change the reason for it! Your veterinarian will be able to help diagnose and treat your dog’s condition. Licking the bed is more common in some breeds than others. Some dogs may lick their bed if they are anxious or stressed out, or to relieve skin irritation (also known as Acral Lick Dermatitis).