What's the deal with dogs licking their own urine?

Dogs licking their own urine may be caused by reasons such as thirst and pica, or it may be due to a lack of education and guidance in their early childhood, resulting in the formation of this unhealthy habit. Regardless of the cause, however, licking their own urine is not a healthy behavior for dogs, and it may even lead to health problems and affect household hygiene. Therefore, if your dog exhibits this behavior, it is recommended to take timely measures such as providing ample and clean drinking water, taking the dog to the pet hospital for inspection and treatment, and conducting proper training.

Thirst

If the owner forgets to prepare water for the dog, when the dog feels thirsty, it might consider drinking its own urine to quench its thirst. However, this is not a healthy behavior because the urine excreted by dogs contains various toxins and waste products that are not suitable for re-ingestion. Therefore, it is advised that owners ensure their dogs have access to sufficient and clean drinking water in their daily care, and regularly replace the water. Moreover, when going out for extended periods, owners should also prepare enough water for their dogs to avoid situations where they have no water to drink.

Pica

If owners only feed their dogs a single type of food for a long period, it can lead to a deficiency of trace elements in the dog's body, resulting in abnormal eating behaviors such as drinking their own urine, gnawing on walls, and consuming feces. Therefore, it is recommended that owners provide dogs with a diverse and balanced diet, including meat, vegetables, and fruits, to ensure they receive adequate nutrients. Additionally, owners should regularly supplement their dogs with trace elements and vitamins. If a dog exhibits pica behaviors, owners should promptly stop them and investigate the cause.

Behavioral Habits

If dogs do not receive enough education and guidance in their early life, they may exhibit behaviors such as drinking their own urine. In this case, owners need to clean the dog's urine promptly and train them correctly. For example, when discovering that a dog is drinking its own urine, owners can gently command them to stop and immediately clean up the urine. Afterward, they can provide the dog with clean drinking water and offer other food or toys to distract it. If the dog behaves well, owners can reward them with treats to encourage them to maintain good habits.

Note: When training a dog, do not be overly punitive or apply excessive pressure, as this will only make the dog more anxious and tense. Instead, it is recommended to use positive reinforcement training methods and to be patient, persistent, and consistent, as it takes time to change a dog's habits.