Large Munsterlander can't stop licking furniture! Help!

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keeperscottage

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Bryn, my Large Munsterlander, is driving me potty by constantly licking furniture! The problem started about six months ago and we would jokingly say "Oh, Bryn's doing his housework!" but now it's becoming an OCD! He licks the coffee table, leather sofas (his favourite!), TV cabinet, and garden furniture. WHY? He's the most adorable, gorgeous, soft, soppy, loving dog but he won't stop licking. He's currently sitting next to me and licking the arm of the leather sofa.....(hmm....he's just stopped!). Any ideas as to why my lovely, well adjusted dog should start this habit and how can I stop him? He's part of a happy multi-dog household, he's not bored, stressed, under-exercised, bullied, etc so I can't think of an excuse/reason for his behaviour. Ideas, anyone?
 
Sorry no ideas as to why he might be doing it... But if you want him to stop, you could put oil of clove on a few items to deter him? I don't mind the smell, my OH hates it but I really worked with our puppy!
 
Pogface, I knew someone would say this! (And I say it light heartedly!) If I applied something unpleasant to make him stop licking, I'd be plastering the entire house with the stuff - he licks over such a large area, it isn't workable! We always tell him off for licking, and he stops.......then starts somewhere else! He's SO gorgeous but SO annoying! Love him to bits! I'd love to know WHY he does it!
 
There was a Victoria Stillwell Positively episode on It's Me or The Dog for a similar situation with a dog fixated on reflection & shine, he would obsess over it & lick the windows! Worth a googling for a quick training solution..I think some dogs are able to get obsessive fixations on things just as humans can.Good luck
 
http://positively.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1164

Here you are..read the thread on this positively forum-half way down Victoria responds explaining about the gordon setter and below that a poster gives the link to the episode..also someones experiences of similar training with a deaf blind dog, the episode is well worth watching and youll see her distraction/reward techniques, removing the focus of the dog from the obsession to her to break the cycle then rewarding-he was impossible & it worked..please let us know how you get on!
 
Hello fellow Munster owner!!!

I have two :D

As for the licking issue, I would suggest using a dilute menthol solution (menthol crystals from chemist dissolved in warm water) and use a cloth to wipe over all the surfaces he usually licks.
To dogs menthol is very pungent and I doubt he will even want to sniff it let alone lick it!

How old is your boy and who did you buy him from??
 
Hi, Paint Me Proud! Bryn will be six at the end of May (time flies!). He was bred by Helen Evans of Stapleford, Cambridgeshire. My friend Annie has his litter mate brother, Chaos(!), and local farmer friend has another litter mate brother, Billy. Billy and Bryn look very similar but Chaos is HUGE (and Annie is only 4'11!). Bryn is the most fantastic dog - I would never be without a Munsterlander now - and I love him dearly despite his OCD!!!

I used to take him gun dog training. The lovely old boy dog trainer (he was an amazing trainer, sadly no longer with us) said to me "That's a bloody good dog you've got there, he's got a bloody good nose - pity about the handler!" - yup, I was the useless one, not Bryn!

At Badminton a few years ago, the heavens opened (whilst daughter, dogs and friend were walking the course!) so I walked several circuits of a large trade stand marquee trying to keep dry. I stopped at one trade stand to shop and the trade stand owner said to me "I've watched you walking round and your dog is the best behaved dog I've seen all day!" - he doesn't pull on the lead, he just ambles alongside me! Ooohhh - he's gorgeous!

Sadly, almost two years ago, daughter's other half was playing ball with Bryn on local cricket field. George threw the ball really high (being a strapping young farmer, he he!), Bryn jumped up to catch it, landed awkwardly and broke his leg so badly that he had to be referred to Cambridge Vet School Hospital to have it fixed, costing me £3,500!!!!! But he's worth every penny - fabulous dog! He's as good as new now!
 
keeperscottage said:
Hi, Paint Me Proud! Bryn will be six at the end of May (time flies!). He was bred by Helen Evans of Stapleford, Cambridgeshire. My friend Annie has his litter mate brother, Chaos(!), and local farmer friend has another litter mate brother, Billy. Billy and Bryn look very similar but Chaos is HUGE (and Annie is only 4'11!). Bryn is the most fantastic dog - I would never be without a Munsterlander now - and I love him dearly despite his OCD!!!
Click to expand...

I know Helen Evans, so your boy is a Tarkanya I guess.
I bet Chaos isnt any bigger than my boy, lol!

I too am smitten with the breed and wouldnt have anything else (well perhaps a german longhaired pointer, but thats just a brown munster, hee hee).
 
Yes, Tarkanya. No, Chaos is seriously huge! I have pictures in my mind of seeing Annie and Chaos at local country fair where he was dragging her diminutive frame around and she kept thumping him on the head with a small empty soft drink bottle in an attempt to distract him and get him to concentrate on her - it was hilarious! Bryn is currently lying on the sofa as part of a "Springer mountain" (I have three Springy Springers!). He really is the most gorgeous, friendly, docile dog. Please tell me about your Munsters! Bryn doesn't have a bad bone in his body - he puts up with puppies pulling on his ears and is just fab - just has this really annoying licking OCD!
 
My first Munster is Kaia. She is 6 years old, very light coloured and VERY small! She is also a little bit autistic so we call her our 'special needs dog'. She can be demanding but is the sweetest little girl, not a single bad bone anywhere in her body. She was born with elbow dysplacia and has arthritis in both elbows but you wouldnt know it as she is super fit and a pocket rocket.
Here she is - Ichbin Your Moonlight
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My second is Loki. Loki is the apple of my eye. He is 4 years old, beautifully roaned and VERY tall!
Loki is such a laid back gentleman at all times, a real gentle giant and often a big wimp. I show with Loki and he has had good success being placed at every show we have attended, including Crufts :) Love this boy to bits :D
My boy - Paddockridge Ortega
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Loki is absolutely gorgeous! We wanted a roan, but there were none in the litter. However, I wouldn't swap Bryn for the world! What really pees me off is the number of people who say things like "What sort of cross is your dog?" "I can see there's border collier (or springer!) in there" NO - he's a pure bred Munsterlander! Bryn's quite slight in build and rather girlie-looking! On iPad now so need to get onto my desktop and post some pics of him tomorrow! Good to chat with fellow Munster person! And don't you just love the noises they make!!!
 
Been so busy (bloomin' demanding liveries!!) that I've had no time to reply! Here's my lovely boy (well, I think he's lovely although probably a Munsterlander expert would say otherwise!!).

Since typing the above, I've discovered I have a problem on Photobucket and therefore, despite numereous attempts, I can't display the pics I want to share! All I've accessed is Bryn pre-broken leg surgery and leg xrays pre and post surgery (and an overdraft He, he!!)

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