[paulapoo]

My Oliver has a serious licking habit. He is a shih poo. Kind of a nervous soul. I'm trying to increase his exercise daily, I've heard that is supposed to help. He is nervous by nature and I've recently (in december) taken in a stray cat, so that is new to his environment. He gets along ok with the cat, but growls occasionally when the cat walks by him. Also, I babysit dogs a lot for extra money. He is almost 4, and in the last year he has started licking the bend of his back legs more and more. I don't know if having the 'guest' dogs in house every now and then encourages it, or if he would do it no matter what. He doesn't lick sores on himself, thank God, but he licks knots in the in the hair on his belly. It's a soothing thing for him, he does it at night and first thing in the morning before he gets out of bed. He is also a toy boy. When I come home form work or call him for attention, he has to pick a toy up to be in his mouth as well. I've tried to google for help on how to build confience but I've come up empty. Any tips on how to deter this habit and help him to be more confidnet like my yorkie?