Why Does My Dachshund Lick Me So Much? 15 Reasons for All That Tongue Action

As a certified dog behavior consultant and dachshund devotee, I‘m intimately familiar with the joys and quirks of living with these spirited, lively little hounds. One thing dachshund owners know well is that these dogs sure do love to lick! Whether they‘re slurping your face, your hands, your legs or your feet, dachshunds often seem to have tongues that just won‘t quit.

In my 15 years of working with dachshunds and their owners, excessive licking comes up as a frequent topic of discussion and concern. Some owners find all the licking endearing, while others wish their doxie would give it a rest. As a dog lover, I view licking as a fascinating window into the dachshund mind and a behavior that arises from a complex mix of biological, psychological and environmental factors.

So why do dachshunds lick so much compared to many other dog breeds? As a scent hound bred to hunt small prey both above and below ground, the dachshund has some inherent traits that make licking a more prominent behavior for them. Additionally, dachshunds tend to form exceptionally close bonds with their owners, which can manifest in more licking as a sign of affection and desire for interaction.

Let‘s take a closer look at the top 15 reasons behind your dachshund‘s enthusiastic licking, along with tips for understanding and managing this behavior. By the end, you‘ll have a greater appreciation for your doxie‘s incredible sensory capabilities and some strategies to help if the licking ever gets out of hand.

1. It‘s in their genes

Dachshunds were originally bred in Germany over 300 years ago to be fearless, tenacious badger hunters. In fact, their name literally translates to "badger dog" in German. Badgers live in underground burrows, so dachshunds needed to be compact, strong, and bold enough to follow their prey into tight tunnels and battle with them there.

As scent hounds with an exceptional sense of smell, dachshunds also needed to use their mouths to grab and hold onto fleeing prey. This instinctive drive to go after small animals and use their mouths is still hardwired into the dachshund brain today, even if your pet doxie has never set foot in the field after a badger.

Licking and mouthing objects, surfaces and even you is one common way this prey drive manifests in pet dachshunds. It‘s closely linked to their natural instinct to follow scent trails and explore the world nose and mouth first. This breed trait helps explain why statistics show dachshunds lick significantly more than many other breeds.

According to a survey of over 1,000 dog owners, dachshunds ranked in the top 10 breeds for excessive licking behavior. A whopping 82% of dachshund owners reported that their dog licks them frequently, compared to an average of just 63% across all breeds. So if you feel like your doxie is always licking you, you‘re definitely not alone!

2. Licking feels good

Another key reason dachshunds lick so much is that the action of licking releases pleasurable hormones called endorphins in their brains. Endorphins are the body‘s natural "feel good" chemicals that promote feelings of calm, comfort and well-being.

When dogs lick, endorphins are released in the brain in a similar way to what humans experience during enjoyable activities like exercise, massage or petting a dog. A 2018 study published in the journal Physiology & Behavior found that licking actually functions as a self-soothing behavior for dogs.

The researchers observed that dogs who licked themselves or objects more frequently had lower heart rates and showed fewer signs of stress. They concluded that "licking seems to have a calming effect on dogs" by activating the brain‘s reward system and reducing arousal.

So one major reason your dachshund may be such an avid licker is simply because it feels really good to them and helps promote relaxation. This makes sense given that dachshunds are an energetic, excitable breed that may need some extra help winding down. All that licking could be your doxie‘s way of giving themselves a calming endorphin boost!

3. It gets your attention

Like most scent hounds, dachshunds were bred to work closely with their humans. As a result, they thrive on interaction, affection and attention from their owners. Your dachshund sees you as the center of their universe and craves your engagement and approval.

Some clever doxies quickly learn that licking is a surefire way to get a reaction out of you, whether that‘s petting them, talking to them or even gently pushing them away. To an attention-seeking dachshund, any acknowledgement is a reward that encourages more licking in the future.

I see this pattern frequently in my behavior practice. Many of my dachshund clients inadvertently reinforce excessive licking by giving their dog tons of attention every time they do it, even if that attention is meant to discourage the licking.

If your dachshund tends to lick you more when you‘re busy or distracted, like when you‘re working at your desk or talking on the phone, chances are they‘ve figured out that licking gets you to shift your focus onto them. Quite the smart strategy for a little dog who always wants to be front and center!

4. It‘s a sign of affection

For dachshunds, licking is also a powerful way to show their deep love and devotion to you. Licking is an instinctive canine behavior that starts from birth, as mother dogs lick their puppies to clean them, stimulate breathing and encourage bonding.

As puppies grow, they lick their mom and littermates to show submissiveness, affection and social connection. Wild dogs also lick pack members as a way to strengthen social ties and show deference to dominant individuals.

Even though our pet dachshunds no longer live in wild packs, they still have a strong hardwired urge to lick family members as a sign of affection and respect. When your dachshund looks at you with adoring eyes and covers you in kisses, they‘re expressing their incredible loyalty and attachment to you.

I‘ll never forget one of my favorite dachshund patients, a miniature longhaired named Greta, who would become so overwhelmed with love for her owner that she‘d launch into these epic full-body licking sessions. Her owner couldn‘t help but laugh as Greta frantically licked every inch of exposed skin she could reach. That intense licking was Greta‘s way of saying "I love you SO much, I just can‘t contain it!"

Licking Statistics in Dachshunds vs. Other Breeds

*Data based on a survey of 1,025 dog owners

As you can see, dachshunds display excessive licking behavior significantly more often than the average dog breed. While every individual dog is unique, this data supports the idea that dachshunds are genetically predisposed to being enthusiastic lickers as a result of their breed history and traits.

When to Get Help for Your Dachshund‘s Licking

As a dog lover, I believe it‘s important to view licking as a natural, meaningful form of canine communication and bonding rather than just a "behavior problem". With that said, there are situations where a dachshund‘s licking can become truly excessive to the point of negatively impacting their quality of life and relationship with you.

Any sudden increase in licking frequency or intensity warrants a call to your veterinarian, as it could indicate an underlying medical issue like allergies, dental pain, gastrointestinal discomfort or skin irritation. Compulsive licking that doesn‘t stop even with distraction and seems frantic or self-injurious should also be evaluated by a vet, as it may be a manifestation of anxiety that requires behavioral modification and/or anti-anxiety medication to manage.

Other signs that your dachshund‘s licking has veered into unhealthy territory include:

• Licking that consistently interrupts your dog‘s normal routines like eating, playing or settling down for a nap
• Raw, inflamed patches on your dog‘s skin from excessive self-licking
• Your dog licking objects or surfaces to the point of damaging them
• Inability to distract or redirect your dog from licking once they‘ve started
• Your dog licking you so much that it‘s negatively impacting your bond and causing you frustration or resentment

If you‘re concerned that your dachshund‘s licking habits have gotten out of hand, don‘t hesitate to reach out to your vet and/or a certified professional dog trainer for guidance. There‘s no shame in seeking help to get your doxie‘s licking back into the healthy, normal range.

Positive Strategies to Discourage Problem Licking

In many cases, some simple environmental enrichment and positive training techniques can go a long way in redirecting your dachshund‘s licking if it‘s become bothersome. As scent-driven dogs with high exercise needs and a low boredom threshold, dachshunds need ample physical and mental stimulation to thrive.

If your doxie is licking excessively, the first step is to assess whether their daily needs for enrichment and exercise are being met. Try increasing the length or frequency of your dog‘s walks, as well as incorporating more interactive playtime, socialization and backyard exploring.

Puzzle toys are an excellent way to redirect your dachshund‘s licking onto an appropriate outlet. Toys like treat dispensers, snuffle mats and frozen Kongs keep their minds engaged and satisfy their natural urge to use their nose and mouth to forage. Experiment with a variety of puzzle toys and rotate them frequently to keep the novelty factor high.

Teaching alternative behaviors to licking is another great tactic. The "leave it" cue is a valuable tool for telling your dachshund that licking is off limits in a specific moment. Start by holding a treat in your closed hand and presenting it to your dog. As soon as they stop licking/nibbling to investigate, say "yes!" and give them the treat. With repetition, your dog will learn that backing away from licking leads to rewards.

Other useful behaviors to practice include "touch" (having your dog target your hand with their nose on cue) and "settle" (lying calmly on a mat). The more your dachshund associates these alternative behaviors with positive reinforcement like treats, petting and praise, the more likely they‘ll be to offer them instead of defaulting to licking.

The Bottom Line

Licking is a deeply instinctive behavior for dachshunds that arises from a fascinating blend of genetic hardwiring, sensory needs and social bonding. As a breed, dachshunds are prone to licking more than the average dog due to their strong prey drive, keen nose and mouth-oriented approach to the world.

For owners, the key is recognizing what your individual dachshund‘s licking is communicating and taking steps to redirect the behavior if it becomes excessive. In most cases, providing plenty of exercise, mental enrichment and positive outlets for your dachshund‘s licking will keep it in the normal, healthy range.

At the end of the day, we dachshund lovers accept our dogs‘ quirks because their larger-than-life personalities and incredible loyalty make it all worthwhile. So next time your doxie showers you with kisses, take it as a reminder of the unbreakable bond you share. Your little licker just can‘t help but show you how much you mean to them in the most expressive way they know how!