Licking after a bath

[brandysmama]

Maybe this is a common occurrence for dogs, but I've never seen my ILs' dogs do it after their baths...

After giving Brandy a bath on Saturday and towel-drying her, she started licking her lower legs and feet. She wasn't 100% dry yet, but she was getting there. It's kind of funny to watch her reaching her lower extremities given how long-legged she is. She's almost like a swan or something, the way she cranes her neck. She hates being wet, but what would be her logic for licking herself? I'm sure I rinsed her thoroughly. She does this pretty much every time I bathe her. Is this her way of telling me that I didn't bathe her well enough? :P

[Ritz459]

Chloe does the exact same thing, and so does Rose. Blackie could care less about being wet, but then again, he's a Lab.

I've always thought it was because they were trying to dry themselves off - just like a cat would lick itself when it gets wet. But IDK. *shrugs*

[Swiftwind]

Harley always licks himself after a bath as well. He actually goes crazy after we bathe him (or spray him with flea spray). Even if we towel dry him really, really well, he still runs around crazily and rubs himself all over the ground/carpet, and licks at his legs. He also licks himself when he's in the bath.

I always thought it was some weird psychological thing going on with him!