HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DOG TO STOP LICKING YOU
Ignore him.
The whole aim of your dog licking you is to elicit some kind of reaction from you. Now, whether the reaction is positive or negative, your dog will still see it as a good thing, even though they would prefer a positive interaction more. No reaction is not liked at all by dogs and that is what we aim for when we ignore them.
This we can do by first removing the part of the body they are licking out of their reach. Do not make any eye contact or initiate any form of communication. Just move that part of the body away from them and remain neutral. If that does not work, leave your current spot to another spot in the room. If that still does not work, remove yourself entirely from the room or the space where the dog is. With time, your dog will come to connect you abandoning them to them licking you.
That should be enough motivation for your dog to stop this habit.
Work on redirecting their attention.
This would be a follow-up to ignoring them. Keep in mind that this behavior in most cases is borne of instinct. Keeping away from your dog might not do all the trick. So you may need to redirect their attention to other things when they try to lick you. Some of the things you can do to redirect their attention are:
i. Provide alternative playthings: Toys work well for this purpose, kong toys, chew toys, puzzle toys, etc. can work very well in redirecting your dog’s attention from licking you to playing with the toys available.
ii. Exercise: Your dog licking you obsessively comes from the excess energy and unreleased stress they have in them. Exercising your dog will help to burn up this excess energy and release the stress your dog is experiencing thereby reducing the need for your dog to lick on you.
iii. Training: If you have not started yet, begin training your dog in basic commands, come, sit, heel, etc. If you have already taught your dog some basic commands, you can start training them on more complex ones. Every training you give your dog puts him or her on the path of being disciplined.
Reward acceptable behavior.
Rewarding your dog for good behavior helps to make sure your dog behaves the way you want it to. Using praise, giving your dog attention when they do what you want, and rewarding them with treats are all part of the Positive reinforcement technique which brings out the best in your dog.
Take your Shower Regularly.
Doing this reduces the salty sweat which your dog craves and gives your dog one less reason to obsessively lick on you.
Remain Consistent in your approach.
Once you start the process of training your dog to stop licking you. It is a must that you remain consistent in the training. If you don’t, you will only leave your dog confused. Whatever boundaries you set at the beginning of the training, you need to follow the same throughout the process.
There is also the option of training your dog in other ways of showing love and affection like hugging and cuddling with each other.
Contact a Professional.
When all fails get in contact with a professional, some dog licking although rare can bother near plain insanity. A behaviorist is likely to be your best bet in dealing with issues like this.