This may seem weird, but it happens to me all the time. My beagle has a weird habit of licking my bare feet when I’m walking around my house at night! At first I had no idea why she did it. She doesn’t even seem to enjoy it and stops after a few minutes at most.
After talking with other beagle owners, I learned that it’s actually kind of a common occurance for the breed. It seems like a really strange behavior, but it’s really not that rare.
That being said, it’s still definitely unsettling and annoying, so I tried a few different ways to get it to stop. After a lot of trial and error, I feel that I finally figured my beagle out, and want to share my success story to hopefully help you train your beagle out of this peculiar behavior.
In this article, I’ll break down some of the most common reasons why your beagle might be licking your feet, and what steps you can take to curb this behavior.
Main Reasons Your Beagle Might Lick Your Feet
They want attention.
One of the biggest reasons for a lot of compulsive, annoying behaviors in the beagle breed is simply out of frustration and need for attention. If for whatever reason your beagle doesn’t feel that they are getting enough attention,then they’ll try to compensate by doing something to draw your attention.
A lot of these behaviors that can be annoying and even destructive like chewing on things or stealing food, and others will just be downright weird – like licking your feet whenever they get the chance!
Because beagles are pack dogs, they’re bred to be around lots of others, and are genetically accustomed to a certain level of attention.
If your beagle exhibits wacky behaviors like constant feet licking, it could be a sign that they need some one on one play time or exercise to help them get back to normal.
They’re Having Anxiety
Another common reason for obsessive compulsive behaviors like constantly licking your feet has to do with anxiety that your dog is experiencing.
A lot of behaviors that occur due to anxiety can be pretty simply trained away, but some can be more serious and require medication or treatment.
While the behavior of compulsively licking isn’t necessarily a debilitating symptom of anxiety, it could be underlying a much more serious problem. If you notice feet licking in conjunction with other more obvious signs of anxiety, you may want to consult with a behavioral trainer or vet.
They’re showing affection for you
Whether you’re aware of it or not, dogs can exhibit affection towards their owners through body language and little licks or nudges on their owner’s arms or legs. A lot of the time they do this out of affection or playfulness, and other times they do it out of habit or convenience.
The reason your beagle might be licking your feet is because it’s their favorite way to show affection towards you.
While this isn’t a bad thing, obviously certain signs of affection are much more tolerable than others from the owner’s perspective, which is why you may want to try and redirect this behavior to something a little more normal, like cuddling or nuzzling.
Your feet probably have a distinct smell
It could be as simple as your beagle is interested in the smell of your feet. Everyone knows that feet stink, and beagle noses are in a league of their own because they were bred to be hunting dogs.
Even if you think your feet might not have any smell to them, there could be something about the way your beagle can sense them that’s piquing their interest.
You’ll usually see some validation of this theory if your beagle also likes licking your socks or your shoes, as those pieces of clothing will likely have a lot of the same smells that your beagle is so interested in with your feet.
They’re bored
A lot of unwanted behaviors in dogs can be an indirect result of boredom or lack of exercise. Just like us humans need exercise or time outdoors to stay happy and healthy, dogs do too!
Beagles can be pretty active dogs, but if they’re being cooped up inside all day or not getting enough play time outside with their owners, they’re more likely to develop these quirky behaviors that are a direct manifestation of boredom.
If you think your beagle’s licking your feet is due to a boredom, try giving them more exercise! While it might be difficult with an energetic and rambunctious beagle, you should always be able to find something fun to do together inside or outside.
Should You Wash Your Feet After Your Beagle Licks Them?
While it isn’t super important to wash your feet after your beagle licks them, it is the hygenic thing to do.
It’s much more essential to quickly wash your hands or face after your dog licks those parts of your body, because those are more often in contact with food and can be accessories to pathogens entering your body.
These pathogens can vary widely in how they can affect the body, but the most common symptoms are digestive issues and flu-like symptoms.
With your feet, it’s much less likely for pathogens to be able to get in this way, but it’s still recommended as the most hygienic solution to simply wash or disinfect your feet after your beagle licks them for a while.
This can really feel like a chore over time, all the more reason to try and discourage your beagle from licking them in the first place! I’ll get into some of the best discourage methods next.
How to Discourage Your Beagle From Licking Your Feet
Help Entertain Them
One of the best ways to get your dog to stop doing something that you don’t like is to simply distract them and redirect their attention.
In the case of feet licking, one of the best things you can do is play with your beagle to bond with them and tire them out enough to sleep.
Even if you can’t go out for a walk every day, there are great ways to help entertain your beagle indoors.
These can include mentally stimulating brain games, which are often recommended even more than physical exercise.
Dogs crave mental stimulation, and they kind that they can get from just 20-30 minutes of playing a puzzle game can ease their bad behaviors for hours.
Give Them Proper Exercise
Another great way to redirect your beagle’s attention is to give them a proper amount of exercise everyday.
This only needs to be a little exercise like 10-20 minutes of quality playtime or a few minutes of running around the house, but it’s often a neglected aspect that can make a world of a difference.
It’s also recommended for beagles to at least get 30 minutes of outdoor walking per day.
If your beagle leads a sedentary life when they start this licking behavior, it’s likely that a regular exercise routine would greatly help.
Check for Anxiety Triggers in Their Behavior
If your beagle is giving into this compulsive behavior out of anxiety, you may want to try and determine what external factors are triggering the anxiety in them.
These can include sudden noises and movements, new people in the home, and everyday stress such as your beagle being alone too much or spending a boring day inside.
If you can’t remove the factors that are causing your dog’s anxiety, you may need to seek the help of a trainer or veterinarian.
One thing I’ve found that’s worked wonders for my beagle Maple is hemp oil chews, which help keep her calm on a day to day basis, and less likely to act out with compulsive or destructive behaviors.
Consider Talking To Your Doctor About Your Own Feet
It may be hard to admit, but you might have a foot problem causing this behavior! Foot fungus is a fairly common ailment, especially among more active people.
If you think your beagle is attracted to a specific type of smell coming from your feet, you may want to check with your own doctor to see if your feet’s smell is more pungent than it should be.
Final Thoughts
While it’s not the end of the world if your beagle starts licking your feet, it can definitely get annoying. Hopefully this article will help you be able to better identify why the behavior is happening and stop your dog from doing it in the future!