Hi there, Our dog has started to perform an unusual ritual this week. He sits at the foot of a leather arm chair and will lick a patch of it. It's not always the same bit, and the spurt will last around 3-5 minutes and then he will just stop. He is not always in this particular room, but we noticed over the weekend that he has started to do this when he comes in this room. It's just a bit random how it's suddenly started. Is this anything to be worried about, particularly the repetitive nature? We try to distract him. I have taken to not sitting in this chair as he generally lays down at the foot of where I sit. He doesn't do this anywhere else. I wondered whether it was the leather or something that he likes. Any ideas?
I would say it just smells and tastes nice to him. I don't think it's anything to worry about. It's not typical 'obsessive' behaviour. If you want to stop it you could try using a leather cleaner and conditioner on it (not saying it's dirty! But that just might make it not taste so nice).
I woyldn'the be particularly worried if the behaviour has just started but you don'the want it to become a habit. So I'm with @Oberon on giving the leather a little clean and I would work on distraction when he goes to lick either with a short tug game or a few minutes of training, even just asking for some eye contact should help
Tatze tries to lick our leather sofa. I don't let her, but I assume it tastes nice, like a rawhide chew? .
Thanks for your replies. It's great that I can ask for people's advice and not just aimlessly wonder what on earth is going on! I've given the chair a clean with some leather cleaner/restorer. I have been giving it a wipe with a damp cloth after his little episodes, but as you say @Oberon perhaps that's not enough to discourage him. I rather like the chair, so I will also work on some distractions so that I don't have to move!
Our leather sofas are a bit old and shabby now...and yes Casper will spend a good few minutes contently licking the sofa if I don't gently distract him. God knows what stuff is now deeply ingrained in the leather, sort of like seasoned sofas in more ways that one!
I would be concerned about the fire retardant chemical in the leather, so would definitely stop the habit.
Thanks for your replies. I think I have solved this, and got to the root of the random phase of behaviour. After I had cleaned the leather he didn't go near the chair. However, after I had been sitting there one evening, he went for it again. I then stopped using the chair. I then noticed that fr a couple of days he was sniffing and nuzzling my legs a lot. I have been wearing short trousers due to the weather. I have also used a new moisturiser. So, I've come to the conclusion that the smell of the moisturiser had transferred on to the chair, and that's what he liked so much! I've been back to wearing trousers and the behaviour has stopped!
Simba likes to try and lick our sofas we try and stop him each time he tries. I've never noticed our other dogs trying this. When we are home they have a free roam between kitchen, dining room and lounge. They are not allowed in the main hall or in the study nor are they allowed upstairs. Lisa x
