Has any owner had a problem with their dog constantly licking the tail. I have a 2 year old Dalmatian bitch who has been spade. About six months ago she started to lick her tail and mouth at it in what I whought was a cleaning action. She would normally clean parts of her body and then finished with the tail. However she then continued licking it and not biting it but running the tail through her mouth. I groomed it and washed it and eventually she stopped. Now six months later she has again started to do it. I have taken her to the Vets today and all he could say was "Well it may be a physchological action which we must try and stop or she may have banged it"
Any suggestions please

Dogs can get fixated ideas like that -I had one who licked his leg for years until it was bleeding and it can be hard to stop that type of behaviour. However has your dog had the anal glands checked?

Have to say that I had an OES boy that use to lick his stump (he was docked) and the surrounding area.  He was diagnosed with anal gland problems.  My OES girl who has a tail also started to pay attention to this area too.  Again anal gland problems diagnosed by the vet.  Maybe worth checking that out with the vet.

Thanks for the replies. When visiting the Vet he said that her anal glands appear to be o.k. I am inclined to think that it may be a habit that she has got into. Like the vet said they need a lot of stimulation. I must try and reinforce  the fact that it must not happen. She can be very stubborn.