How to stop a dog from licking my face?

[Anonymous]

Tell the relative you need to put the dog in another room. You can’t be the dog trainer in addition to helping the relative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again. Is it crazy to think I could do a little basic training in the week I'm here? Learn from YouTube or something. Or is that way overstepping?

When I'd asked in the past if they were going to do any training, the owner basically said "that's probably a good idea but she's just a puppy." But now she's less mobile, at least for a few months, and the dog is now one. I guess that's still a puppy? Aren't they easiest to train as puppies?

Yes, you can absolutely train the dog in a week! You may only train them on how to behave for YOU, but they can learn. Each time the dog goes to lick your face, with your two hands put them under the dog's front armpits, move the dog down, and say "Toy!" and hand them one of their toys, and then scratch them behind the ears. Be super, super consistent. Then they will learn you don't like the face licking (I don't either).

Thanks! I'll try the armpits thing. Part of my problem is I don't really know how to move dogs. I think maybe I've been too gentle and tentative, just sort of nudging.

I might have to buy a toy. What's an attractive toy? There are a few things around here but I've never seen the dog interact with them.

Hoe much does the dog weigh?

You are definitely too gentle. Dogs aren't genteel humans. Be at least as rough as young men are with other lying men

[Anonymous]

Young men not lying men

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:^ or use your elbow to swat the head away. if you make it disagreeable for the dog, the behavior will stop.

This thread is making me nervous with the casual references to physically pushing the dog around. Please stop at the level of force that you would consider appropriate for a small child.

That said, redirecting the behavior is the best approach and one week is enough time. Dogs respond to what works for their goal, and they are intelligent. Scattering treats will get the dog away from you and occupied briefly elsewhere. The suggestions about a toy are good ones. The dog wants attention, so denying that attention by turning away or leaving the room during unwanted behaviors will lessen them.

You are basically dealing with a furry two year old human in terms of having wants and seeking to fulfill them.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again. Is it crazy to think I could do a little basic training in the week I'm here? Learn from YouTube or something. Or is that way overstepping?

When I'd asked in the past if they were going to do any training, the owner basically said "that's probably a good idea but she's just a puppy." But now she's less mobile, at least for a few months, and the dog is now one. I guess that's still a puppy? Aren't they easiest to train as puppies?

Yes, you can absolutely train the dog in a week! You may only train them on how to behave for YOU, but they can learn. Each time the dog goes to lick your face, with your two hands put them under the dog's front armpits, move the dog down, and say "Toy!" and hand them one of their toys, and then scratch them behind the ears. Be super, super consistent. Then they will learn you don't like the face licking (I don't either).

Thanks! I'll try the armpits thing. Part of my problem is I don't really know how to move dogs. I think maybe I've been too gentle and tentative, just sort of nudging.

I might have to buy a toy. What's an attractive toy? There are a few things around here but I've never seen the dog interact with them.

Hoe much does the dog weigh?

You are definitely too gentle. Dogs aren't genteel humans. Be at least as rough as young men are with other lying men

This is strange advice. You’d be hurling a toy poodle across the room.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:^ or use your elbow to swat the head away. if you make it disagreeable for the dog, the behavior will stop.

This thread is making me nervous with the casual references to physically pushing the dog around. Please stop at the level of force that you would consider appropriate for a small child.

That said, redirecting the behavior is the best approach and one week is enough time. Dogs respond to what works for their goal, and they are intelligent. Scattering treats will get the dog away from you and occupied briefly elsewhere. The suggestions about a toy are good ones. The dog wants attention, so denying that attention by turning away or leaving the room during unwanted behaviors will lessen them.

You are basically dealing with a furry two year old human in terms of having wants and seeking to fulfill them.

This "gentle" nonsense is exactly that: nonsense. No, I will not be reinforcing behavior I don't want by offering toys and treats. A dog that jumps up on me catches a knee. A dog in my face will get scruffed and forced away from me with a sharp "NO! Off." and then a redirect to something the dog knows, like "sit". The secondary command, that sit, THAT gets a treat. But if your dog is in your face and being rewarded with attention and toys, well, you're training it that being in your face gets rewards.

As for OP's question about whether or not it'll make a damned bit of different to try to train this dog differently for a week, probably not. PP upthread was right that any training you try will need consistent reinforcement to stick. The dog may learn not to lick YOU, but as soon as you're no longer regularly there, it'll go back to its normal.

The best way to teach a dog is to correct them and mean it the first time. Humans often think this is "mean", but if you watch how dogs tell other dogs to back off, that's the goal. Anything less may be interpreted as a game, especially by pushier dogs. Say it, mean it, be consistent about it. The dog will learn, eventually. If you want the truly "gentle" approach, you should look at why the dog is licking and what it's trying to say. Is it getting enough exercise? Enough mental stimulation? Does it need something and it's trying to get your attention? Understanding the behavior is key to reducing/eliminating the behavior. But definitely don't reward the behavior unless you want more of it!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Op again. Is it crazy to think I could do a little basic training in the week I'm here? Learn from YouTube or something. Or is that way overstepping?

When I'd asked in the past if they were going to do any training, the owner basically said "that's probably a good idea but she's just a puppy." But now she's less mobile, at least for a few months, and the dog is now one. I guess that's still a puppy? Aren't they easiest to train as puppies?

Yes, you can absolutely train the dog in a week! You may only train them on how to behave for YOU, but they can learn. Each time the dog goes to lick your face, with your two hands put them under the dog's front armpits, move the dog down, and say "Toy!" and hand them one of their toys, and then scratch them behind the ears. Be super, super consistent. Then they will learn you don't like the face licking (I don't either).

Thanks! I'll try the armpits thing. Part of my problem is I don't really know how to move dogs. I think maybe I've been too gentle and tentative, just sort of nudging.

I might have to buy a toy. What's an attractive toy? There are a few things around here but I've never seen the dog interact with them.

Hoe much does the dog weigh?

You are definitely too gentle. Dogs aren't genteel humans. Be at least as rough as young men are with other lying men

This is strange advice. You’d be hurling a toy poodle across the room.

If you can't figure out how to keep a toy poodle away from your face, you deserve the buttlick!

[Anonymous]

You just say no and turn your face away. they are pretty smart and they understand this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Tell the relative you need to put the dog in another room. You can’t be the dog trainer in addition to helping the relative.

There's a lot of downtime. I think we're getting better at "no lick!" This dog thrives on attention so I'm practicing standing up and walking away when she tries to lick.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I've never had pets and they make me a little nervous. I'm staying to help take care of a relative after a surgery. Her dog is about one years old and not well trained. Every time I sit down the dog is trying to lick my face. The dog does it to everyone who comes over, so it's not that I'm extra tasty or anything. The owner likes it and just laughs when I ask how to get the dog to stop.

"You'll get used to it," she says.
I'm not.

With other dogs, saying "down" firmly generally gets them off of me, but this one doesn't seem to know what that means.

Any advice?

You won't be able to train a dog of an owner who doesn't know how to train. Same as a kid with bad parents.

[Anonymous]

Licking is their way of showing affection.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Licking is their way of showing affection.

If only humans were as loving.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Licking is their way of showing affection.

And sniffing asses is their way of saying hello. Decent dog owners train their dogs to behave in ways humans find less disgusting. This is what's properly called "socialization": socializing the dog to the human norms it's expected to conform to.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Licking is their way of showing affection.

And sniffing asses is their way of saying hello. Decent dog owners train their dogs to behave in ways humans find less disgusting. This is what's properly called "socialization": socializing the dog to the human norms it's expected to conform to.

I kiss my dog. She licks back. Its called being affectionate.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Licking is their way of showing affection.

And sniffing asses is their way of saying hello. Decent dog owners train their dogs to behave in ways humans find less disgusting. This is what's properly called "socialization": socializing the dog to the human norms it's expected to conform to.

I kiss my dog. She licks back. Its called being affectionate.

Careful, that could be misinterpreted.