Dogs licking windows

Speaking with The Dodo in , Kenny Lamberti, then the director of strategic engagement for the companion animal department for the Humane Society, said that licking is a normal behavior for dogs.

Other examples of displacement behavior include circling or excessive chewing. Once a dog begins to engage in this kind of behavior , it may become compulsive—that is, the dog will return to the window again and again. When it comes to car windows, the answer is typically some form of transient anxiety.

Because dogs riding in cars may experience some measure of uncertainty in their constantly changing surroundings, window-licking may help alleviate it. If your dog is a chronic glass sampler, you may want to increase their activity level to help offset any boredom they may be feeling.

Giving them a rotation of toys could also help keep them engaged. Thankfully, there are various ways that we can help our dogs learn how to stay relaxed in the car. Perhaps you have noticed that your dog continually returns to the same piece of glass and spends hours licking away at the stuff?

There are several ways this can be helped. Toys are a good place to start. Food-based toys that involve your dog having to use their tongue to get treats can be a great way to give them what they want without having to lick the windows. Taking them for a walk or hiring a pet sitter could also alleviate some of the boredom. There are reasons dogs like to lick glass, but they might not all be so obvious.