Growing up I had a Yorkie that licked everything in sight! She would lick me, herself, furniture, and everything in between! The funniest and most annoying thing is she would just sit and lick the air. Looking back I definitely think she had some underlying issues, but if your dog is obsessive about licking you may wonder like I did if there is anything to be done and why on earth they need to lick sooooo much!
Yorkshire Terriers lick because of instinct, it can be a sign of affection, stress, boredom, anxiety or allergies. Licking can be soothing and therapeutic because it releases endorphins. Your Yorkshire Terrier may try to lick other dogs as a show of dominance, and they may lick you because they like the taste of salt on your skin.
So for the most part licking is normal, but when does it become abnormal and something to be concerned about? Let’s take a deeper dive into this behavior to see what we can learn.
Here is a Quick Solution Guide to Solve Your Yorkshire Terrier Problematic Licking (Find more details below)
Reasons for Licking | Quick Solutions |
Stressed or Anxious | |
Allergies | |
Boredom | Give them more mental stimulation. Snuffle Mat, Lick Mat |
Attention Seeking | Completely ignore / Redirect |
Obsessive Licking | Vet Checkup for underlying medical problems |
Reasons Yorkshire Terriers Lick
Even before dogs were domesticated licking has been a part of their language. Puppies start out in the first stages of life being licked clean by their mothers. Their mothers lick them to clean them, keep them warm, bond with them, and to help keep their den clean and free of disease.
As they grow into their pack, licking each other is a way for them to communicate. Licking the pack leader for example is a way for a dog to ask if he can get in on the next meal or that he is submitting to the Alpha dogs leadership.
So not only are dogs introduced at a very young age to the licking behavior they also have an instinct to continue to do it throughout their life. Let’s look at some other reasons why Yorkies love to lick.
Your Yorkshire Terrier is showing you affection
When your Yorkshire Terrier licks you he is showing you affection. This is probably the most common reason that we think about when wondering why our dogs lick us. It was also the most common answer I got from owners when I asked them for reasons why they thought their dog licked them.
Just like we give kisses as a show of affection our dogs give licks! It stems all the way back to their puppyhood.
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Like we talked about earlier, mothers lick their puppies to show them love and affection so your dog has learned that this is one way to show you he loves and cares for you. When your Yorkshire Terrier licks you it could be a sign that he is trying to groom you, which is also a form of affection and care.
Your Yorkshire Terrier is submitting to You
Another reason your Yorkshire Terrier may lick your face is that he is trying to appease you and submit to your dominance over him. Dogs are pack creatures and will often greet members of their pack with a nice wet lick in the face. Their body position will be slightly lower than the pack leader and with this gesture, they are showing that they submit.
Your Yorkshire Terrier may do this with another dog or pet in your house or when he just meets them if he has chosen to be submissive to that animal’s dominance over him.
Your Yorkshire Terrier Wants Your Attention
Yorkshire Terriers were made for companionship. They love to stare at you, play with you, and generally be with you all day if you let them.
There are a lot of ways your Yorkshire Terrier will try to get your attention such as whining, barking, staring at, or licking you. One of the more subtle ways for him to get your attention and probably less annoying than barking or crying is to lick you.
Your dog is smart and probably knows that licking you will be Yorkshire Terrier is trying to tell you something he may lick you as a sign that he wants something. That something could be as simple as to say he loves you, or it could mean that he’s hungry, needs to go to the bathroom, or wants you to play.
Either way, we need to work on getting good at reading our dog’s body language so that we can understand them better and provide for their needs accordingly.
If you respond to your Yorkies licking by patting his head, giving him a cuddle, or talking sweet calming words then his way of getting your attention by licking you worked!
This will reinforce this behavior and he will continue to do it. If you find this behavior annoying and want them to stop licking you to get your attention then ignoring them is your best step forward.
Solution
Decide if you should reward his licking behavior with attention or not. If you don’t like it and want it to stop, then ignore and redirect. If you don’t mind it or want to encourage your dog to continue to get your attention by licking them reward them with your attention.
Your Yorkshire Terrrier is Bored
Some…. and to be honest most Yorkshire Terriers can be pretty high energy, at least when they are not sleeping. They were originally bred to hunt down and chase small rodents. This is a really fun and fulfilling game for them, so they need to be well exercised and given mental stimulation or they will find their own not-so-great ways to display their extra energy.
If they don’t have much to do they can be pretty creative in finding something to keep their minds occupied, and that can include some heavy-duty licking!
If you have noticed your Yorkshire Terrier randomly licking your furniture, the walls, your floors, or other strange things it’s possible that they are bored and need some mental stimulation.
Solution
Channeling that boredom into something more constructive will help to release some energy and create those feel-good endorphins your dog is trying to create by licking.
Working on training together or taking an extra walk sometime in your day may just be the thing your dog needs to get him focused on something else.
This widely popular program has helped a lot of owners bond with their dogs and creates better behavior and habits to replace the not-so-great ones including obsessive licking. Here’s the link in case you are interested.
A lot of owners have also had great success with getting something like this lick mat or snuffle mat Amazon (affiliate link). This will give them something to lick on that won’t leave a yucky film of slobber all over your floors and furniture.
If you are thinking about getting another Yorkie to ease your dog’s boredom be sure to read this first.
When Should You Get Your Yorkie a Friend? (A Guide to Yorkie Pairs) – Paws and Learn
Your Yorkshire Terrier is Stressed or Anxious
You will be able to tell if your Yorkshire Terrier is stressed by paying close attention to his body language. If you notice your dog has whale eyes (wide eyes where you can see the white part), tucked ears, tucked tail, and a lot of lip-licking this is is a sign of stress. Your Yorkshire Terrier may start to lick as a coping mechanism in order to calm himself down.
Licking can be very self-soothing to dogs, it releases chemicals called endorphins that trigger a positive feeling and lowers stress.
Some dog owners told me that their dogs like to lick themselves before curling up in a ball to go to sleep it was somewhat of a ritual to them and it seemed to help them calm and fall asleep more quickly. Licking may also remind them of when they were young and their mother licked them a lot. It brings them to a place of comfort and calm.
Solution
Some dogs have specific triggers that cause them stress and anxiety, so if you are able to pinpoint the stress trigger then getting to the root of that problem and trying to fix it is the best long-term plan for your pup.
For example, if your dog always starts licking at a certain time of day, try to figure out what is happening at that time of day that is stressing him out. Is it when the mail delivery comes, or when traffic gets louder outside? If so work on solutions to help address these fears in your dog.
You can also try helping them achieve a state of calm in other ways like using these calming treats, or a Pheromone spray.
Licking Tastes Good
This one is pretty self-explanatory. If something smells yummy your dog is going to lick it to see how it tastes. Much of their random licking of the floor or furniture can be explained by some sweet-smelling something that spilled there last week?
If your Yorkshire Terrier is licking you a lot he also probably likes the taste of salt from your skin. Your smell and taste are unique to you and licking you can help cement that into your Yorkies mind which will build a stronger bond between you both.
Something Hurts or Itches
If your Yorkshire Terrier is licking himself a lot he may be trying to self-groom, or it could be a sign of allergies or a sore or wound.
Yorkshire Terrier Wound Care:
When your dog gets hurt its instinct will be to lick the wound. Licking does a few things for their wounds, the warmth and moistness of their tounges can help to make the pain lessen, and their saliva may also help to clean the area and have some healing capacity.
There is a belief that dog saliva can heal wounds, which dates back to Egyptian times. Studies have found that while this is mostly true it’s not sufficient enough to actually heal wounds.
Most veterinarians and experts agree that you should not allow your dog to lick its wounds. While licking their wounds may initially get rid of debris and dirt continued licking will cause irritation to the wound which can reopen it and not allow it to heal properly.
There are also other germs and bacteria in your dog’s saliva that will do more harm than good and could cause an infection.
If your dog has a wound please take them to your vet to get a thorough check done. Your vet may suggest something like this cone (Amazon affiliate link) to keep your dog from licking its wound so it can properly heal.
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What Yorkie Owners Have to Say
After learning from many Yorkshire Terrier owners about their dogs and why they like to lick I found quite a few interesting reasons for the impulse behind the behavior. Here is what they said.
- “Mine licks everything. He even licks the air waiting to come in contact with anything” Bobette A.
- “My baby girl licks
her lips when she sees me preparing my food and or hers … that’s her “YUMMY” look” Michelle H. - “Mine licked constantly…to the point of losing whiskers and irritating the skin. I had to break her of it…and it worked pretty well. I just kept telling her ‘no lick’ and a lil bitter apple spray helped. I was going to make her a t shirt that said Lickaholic.” Terri H.
me preparing my food and or hers 
… that’s her “YUMMY” look” Michelle H. - ” I have one, no licker, the other one…walls, floors, ottoman, her feet, you name it she has licked it. You tell her no, she looks at you and goes right back to it.” Debbie R.
- “Mine likes to lick feet. And he gives kisses whenever close to my face but his ultimate goal is to catch me talking or off guard and lick my tongue! LOL! It’s gross but I swear I can’t do anything but laugh & generally that gets me another lick on the tongue.” Schelly C.
Yorkshire Terrier Allergies:
If your dog is licking their fur a lot, particularly if your Yorkshire Terrier is licking or chewing their paws it could be a sign of allergies, if you have checked their paws for injuries or wounds and they look normal the licking could indicate a skin condition called dermatitis, which is often the result of bacterial problems, allergies, or food sensitivities.
“Canine atopic dermatitis (allergic dermatitis, canine atopy) is an inherited predisposition to develop allergic symptoms following repeated exposure to some otherwise harmless substance, an “allergen”. Most dogs begin to show their allergic signs between 1 and 3 years of age.”
See full article on Animal Med Center
Your Yorkshire Terrier may have developed an allergy to chemicals used in your yard like grass or weed killers, or any other harsh chemicals or products used in or around your home. Your dog may also have a severe reaction to fleas, or an overreaction to a common staph bacteria that is normal to be on your dog’s skin.
Your dog’s food could also be causing itchiness. Even if your dog has been eating the same food all its life, it is possible for there to be an ingredient in it that your dog has developed a sensitivity to over time.
Solution
Some owners would suggest that you try a grain-free diet for your dog if he is itching a lot, but I would caution you that there have been studies shown linking this diet to heart problems. It’s best to talk to your vet to get safe recommendations tailored to your specific situation.
It can also be helpful to keep a bucket or bowl with water or something like this highly rated dog paw washer from Amazon (affiliate link) next to your door to clean your dog’s paws off when they come in the house.
If your Yorkshire Terrier suffers from seasonal or airborne allergies then having a good air purifier (affiliate link) can help to remove allergens from the air.
Having filtered water can also help reduce the amount of toxins your dog takes in. Not only can it help your dog, but it can also be really good for you. Even ‘filtered’ tap water can contain traces of chemicals or metals that can build up in our dogs and us and cause problems.
My family has this Berkey water filter, (affiliate link) and we love it for us and our little pooch!
If Your Yorkshire Terrier is Obsessive About Licking
If your Yorkshire Terrier is obsessively licking you will want to do your best to figure out why and do what you can to correct the problem.
Your Yorkshire Terrier licking is considered obsessive when they continue to do it for a long period of time (more than 5-10 minutes), and they repeatedly do it throughout the day.
If when you distract your Yorkshire Terrier from their licking they just go right back to it after a few minutes, they are constantly licking all day, they are licking themselves and leaving patches of raw skin, then it could be considered a compulsive problem for your dog.
One of the dangers of obsessive licking is the possibility of it causing a lick granuloma, also known as acral lick dermatitis.
This is a skin disorder caused by the constant licking of one area to the point that it becomes swollen red and may even bleed
Lick granulomas are especially seen in active dogs left alone for long periods of time.
Added to the reasons we already talked about above a few other things that could be causing your Yorkshire Terrier to lick obsessively is dry skin.
A variety of things, including dry winter weather and fatty acid deficiencies, can cause dry skin in dogs. Your dog may scratch or lick their fur or skin so much that it starts to get red and raw and they may lose hair and have bald patches.
Hormonal imbalances can also cause problems. If your Yorkshire Terrier’s body is not producing enough thyroid hormone or putting out too much of the hormone cortisol, superficial skin infections can occur. You might start to see bald spots, and your dog may scratch or lick as if bothered by allergies.
Solution
Obsessive licking is more than just licking out of affection and boredom. If not addressed it can cause your dog to be compulsive about it and may keep them in an anxious stressed state.
If you suspect your dog has obsessive licking and it is lowering its quality of life, it’s best to work with a vet and a behaviorist. To give you an idea of what your vet may do, they may offer some medications such as over-the-counter Benadryl, or prescribe something stronger.
Your vet will know if your dog needs to be treated with an ointment, antibiotics, or medicated shampoo to treat fungal and yeast infections.
Why Does My Yorkshire Terrier Lick Me in the Face, and Should I Allow it?
Dogs love to lick you as a way of showing affection that’s very true, but there may be a darker side to why your dog wants to lick your face.
The face-licking behavior goes back to before dogs were domesticated and they would lick the mouths of adult dogs to prompt the regurgitation of partially digested food. This is how puppies transition from suckling their mother’s milk to eating partially digested food to more solid food.
This is not to say that your dog expects you to give her some partially chewed food when she licks your face, but if you are trying to eat something and your dog all of a sudden attacks you with licks this would explain that!
Most of the time your dog will try and lick you on the face when they are excited and want to show you affection.
For most healthy people getting licked by your dog will not cause any problems, but dogs do harbor certain germs and bacteria that could be harmful to some.
“When dog saliva touches intact human skin, especially in a healthy person, it is extremely unlikely to cause any problems, as there will be very little absorption through the skin,” (See full article from the New York Times)
Dr. Leni K. Kaplan at Cornell University’s College of Veterinary Medicine told the New York Times
If you think about some of the behaviors of your dog like licking their bottoms or eating nasty things including their own poop (If your Yorkshire Terrier eats strange things this article I wrote is a must-read!!) then its no wonder that they harbor a lot of bacteria and germs in their mouths.
Many medical professionals as well as vets recommend that you avoid letting your dog lick your mouth, eyes, nose, or any open wound as this is more likely to cause an infection or illness. If you enjoy the doggy kisses a good alternative is to let your dog lick your neck and then clean it off afterward.
If you prefer your dog to not lick you then distracting them with another behavior like petting or playing and rewarding them for that will reinforce them to choose that behavior as a form of affection rather than the licking. Just remember that for some dogs who have a very strong instinct to lick, it may take some time and patience to consistently get them to redirect.
Other Articles all about your Yorkshire Terrier
Are Yorkies Jealous Dogs? (What to Do)
When Should You Get Your Yorkie a Friend? (A Guide to Yorkie Pairs)
Do Yorkies Like to Cuddle and Be Held? (What Owners Say!)
While we strive to give the most accurate and helpful information about your pet’s health that we can, this article is meant to be informational only and not medical advice. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere.
