Why Do Dachshunds Lick So Much? People, Floors and Dogs

Dachshunds lick so much because licking does several jobs at once. They like the salt on your skin, they get attention every time they do it, and licking itself feels good.

So why do dachshunds lick so much? Mostly for harmless reasons. The licking to watch is the kind that’s new, frantic or aimed at floors and walls, because that can be a sign of a stomach problem.

The trick is working out which kind you’ve got. Who your dog licks, and when, tells you more than how often.

Why your dachshund licks you

The AKC’s article on licking gives a few plain reasons, and none of them are mysterious. Your skin is “sweaty, salty” and interesting, dogs explore the world with their mouths, and your scent is comforting to them.

There’s also a loop you probably built without meaning to. Every time your dog licks you and you laugh, talk to them or push them away, you’ve paid attention to them.

The AKC calls that positive reinforcement, and it notes that licking also releases endorphins, which “adds to the reward.” No wonder the habit sticks.

Owners on r/Dachshund see the pattern clearly: one said a former partner encouraged face licking when the dog was a puppy, “so now she does it every time I lie down or sit on the couch.”

Lotion is another common trigger. One owner’s dog chases them around the house after they’ve put some on, and another’s goes for lotion and leftover shower water while ignoring the fresh water in the bowl.

So if your dachshund goes straight for your legs after a shower or a run, that’s most likely taste. If they lick hardest when you’re on the couch with your phone, that’s probably attention.

Smooth dachshund on a couch licking the hand of a person sitting beside it — Illustration: most licking aimed at people comes down to taste and the attention it earns.

Why dachshunds lick other dogs

If you’ve got two dogs, you’ve probably watched one lick the other’s face for minutes at a time. A post on r/Dachshund asking whether other people’s dogs lick “the literal TEETH” of their other dachshund got more than 600 upvotes, so you’re not alone.

The AKC article quotes veterinarian Nicholas Dodman on where this comes from. Wild puppies lick their mother’s mouth, and in adult dogs licking another dog’s muzzle is linked to showing deference. It’s a social gesture, not a hygiene routine.

Red dachshund gently licking the muzzle of a dapple dachshund on a dog bed — Illustration: licking another dog's muzzle is a social gesture that starts with puppies licking their mother's mouth.

Licking floors, carpets and walls: the one to take seriously

Licking people is mostly behavior, but licking the floor over and over can be something else. This is the kind of licking where a vet visit is worth it before you start training.

A 2012 study from the University of Montreal’s veterinary hospital looked at this exact habit, which vets call excessive licking of surfaces. It compared 19 dogs that licked floors, walls and furniture with 10 healthy dogs. According to a 2013 dvm360 review by two veterinary behavior consultants, 14 of the 19 lickers had gastrointestinal problems, including inflammation of the gut lining and chronic pancreatitis.

Treating the stomach problem improved the licking in most of them. Even among the five lickers with no stomach diagnosis, four got better on a hypoallergenic diet plus an antacid or anti-nausea medicine.

Dot chart: 14 of 19 dogs that licked surfaces excessively had a gastrointestinal disorder, and 4 of the 5 without one improved on diet plus antacid — In the 2012 study, most surface lickers turned out to have a stomach or gut problem.

One r/Dachshund owner’s story matches that closely:

“One of our dachshunds was licking our tiles floors. Vet said he may have acid reflux and the only way he can interpret the discomfort is to try to ‘cool’ his throat down by licking the floor. Got him on some acid reflux meds and we’ve noticed a huge difference.”
– r/Dachshund, April 2022

Not every floor licker is sick. In the same April 2022 r/Dachshund thread, another owner said their dog “incessantly licks the floor. Kitchen floor, bathroom floor.” No diagnosis came up. But you can’t tell which kind your dog is just by watching.

Where did the habit start? If it showed up suddenly, comes with a poor appetite or a change in poop, or happens at the same time of day every day, mention that to your vet. Those details help them decide where to look.

Chocolate and tan dachshund licking a clean tile kitchen floor — Illustration: repeated licking of floors and other surfaces is the kind worth raising with a vet.

When your dachshund licks itself

Licking paws, legs or the base of the tail is a different question with different causes. The AKC lists a persistent itch from allergies as a common reason for paw licking, and frequent licking at the rear end as a possible sign of allergies or full anal glands.

Our guide on why your dachshund licks their paws goes through allergies, yeast, parasites and pain one by one.

Has the licking left a bald, red or damp patch? Skip the guesswork and book a vet visit. That’s what every reply told one r/Dachshund owner whose dog was licking herself bald.

When licking is a problem

The AKC’s line is simple: talk to your vet if your dog is “obsessively licking themselves, a person, or an object.”

Obsessive is the key word. A few licks when you come home isn’t it. A dog that can’t settle until it’s licked the same spot for half an hour might be.

Here’s what I’d watch for:

Licking floors, walls, carpet or furniture again and again
Licking that’s fast and frantic rather than slow and relaxed
A bald, red or wet patch where your dog keeps licking itself
Licking alongside vomiting, diarrhea or a change in appetite

Stress can drive it too, and the AKC mentions anxiety and obsessive-compulsive behavior as possible causes of repeated licking.

One owner noticed their dog’s licking changes with mood: if it’s “fast, hard and obsessive”, the dog is stressed or needs to go outside. If your dog struggles when left alone, our dachshund separation anxiety guide may help.

If it’s just habit: teaching your dog to lick less

If your vet’s happy and the licking is simply too much for you, work with the reinforcement loop instead of against it. The licking keeps going because it gets a reaction. Take the reaction away and give the dog something better to do.

One owner shared a method that worked for them: every time the dog licks, gently move the snout away, say “Stop” quietly and firmly, then carry on as if you’d brushed away a fly.

They warned that it won’t work for the first day or two, or even five, but that it does sink in if you’re consistent.

Tomorrow morning, I’d keep it simple and not laugh or talk when the licking starts. Move away calmly, and reward your dog with attention when they’re lying quietly next to you instead. If lotion is the trigger, put it on after the dogs have gone to bed.

Why do dachshunds lick so much? Quick answers

Why does my dachshund lick my legs and feet?

Most likely salt and smell. The AKC points out that dogs find sweaty, salty skin interesting, and legs and feet are where most of it is after a walk, a run or a long day. Lotion makes it more appealing, not less.

Why does my dachshund lick the floor?

Sometimes it’s crumbs or a habit, but repeated floor licking can be a sign of nausea or another stomach problem. In a 2012 study, 14 of 19 dogs with excessive licking of surfaces had a gastrointestinal disorder, so it’s worth a vet visit before you treat it as behavior.

Should I stop my dachshund from licking me?

You don’t have to. If it doesn’t bother you and your dog isn’t obsessive about it, it’s a normal dog behavior. If it does bother you, stop rewarding it with attention and reward calm behavior instead.