Licking Like Theres No Tomorrow

Question
Chris,

I know all pugs lick, and lick everything, but i was wondering if you knew the reason behind their obsessive licking. Our 6 year old pug is named Oscar. Oscar has always licked his forearms for extended periods of time when he's laying down. It's favorite thing to do! Well, his second favorite... Food comes first!

Thanks in advance!

Curdo

Answer
No, I can't say I know the reason - a lot of dogs lick themselves when they're bored.  Sometimes allergies are to blame.  You might want to do what you can to re-focus him on other activities when you can.  Some dogs lick themselves raw to the point of bleeding.

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http://www.marinhumanesociety.org/Behavior/Handouts/KongsHomeAlone.pdf