excessive licking: floor, bedding, furniture

Question
About 3 years ago we adopted a rot/beagle mix from the East Texas Animal Rescue Fund. We were told that she was 3 months old. With in the first week of having her we suspected possible abuse in her background. She was terrified of brushes, mops, brooms, vacuum cleaners, any thing that made a loud noise or could be used to "beat" her. We have been working with her and can now brush her most of the time, and she doesn't try to attack the cleaning implements we use around the house unless it is something new or different. The main problem we have been having with her lately is that she constantly licks things. Mostly the floor, her bedding, the furniture, sometimes herself but not often. When I catch her doing this I usually try to make eye contact and tell her "no" or give her something like a rawhide chew, anything to distract her from the unwanted behavior. Sometimes this works but mostly she is licking again within 5 min. I wonder if she is doing it for attention, or out of boredom. We do have 3 other dogs and 5 cats. We try to give everyone adequate attention. The other dogs don't mind taking turns to receive our attention, but the "licker" thinks it is always her turn. Also I have noticed that if she doesn't get her way, she does the licking thing. Do you have any suggestions to stop this unwanted behavior?  

Answer
It may be boredom or attention seeking, but I would be concerned more about underlying anxiety/stress and obseesive compulsive disorder.

Continue redirecting her to appropriate behavior.  Consider DAP diffuser to help reduce anxiety as well as giving her Rescue Remedy several times a day.  

If the problem continues, I would recommend consulting a veterinary behaviorist as she may need anti-anxiety medication along with more intense behavior modification.