Are dog licks like kisses

How To Tell What Your Dog's Kisses Really Mean

Dog lovers tend to interpret the licks dogs give them as kisses - but are these sloppy slurps really signs of affection?

"The meaning of a dog lick can depend on how the licks are offered to their people," Dana Ebbecke, animal behavior counselor at the ASPCA Adoption Center, told The Dodo.

According to Ebbecke, "long, slurpy kisses that are accompanied by a soft, wiggly body are usually very affectionate gestures."

But some small kisses around the mouth can mean something different.

"Sometimes small licks near the mouth are ways for the dogs to get more information into their nose," Ebbecke said, adding that the licking helps the smells get to the dog's vomeronasal organ, which gathers information on his surroundings.

Some dogs even lick people to give themselves some space. "Some dogs are even unintentionally taught to give kisses as a way to get space from their people," Ebbecke said. "This usually happens when a person puts their face too close to the dog's face before they are comfortable."

This is what Ebbecke calls an "appeasement" lick: "After the 'kisses' the person moves away and the dog learns that you can get a person's face further away by licking it," Ebbecke said.

The best way to tell what kind of lick your dog is giving you is to look at her body language. "If the dog looks loose and wiggly and is trying to get to your face, they're probably very comfortable," Ebbecke said. "If they offer a lick and slink away, they probably weren't trying to French kiss you."

But licks aren't the only way you can tell your dog's head-over-heels for you. "Dogs show affection to humans in lots of ways," Ebbecke said. If your dog leans into you or rests his head or paw on you, it's a really good sign.

And there's one thing that people don't often realize is a real sign of love, Ebbecke said. "Sometimes when dogs offer a soft stretch towards a person, especially if they haven't been resting or lying down recently, it's actually very close to an 'I love you' gesture," Ebbeck said.

But you know your dog best - and he may have ways of expressing his love largely unique to him.

"Each dog is an individual, like all people are individuals, and they don't all show affection and affiliation the same way," Ebbeck said. "Some dogs, like some people, offer grand gestures and proclaim their love loudly. Others prefer to show their affection in less obvious ways, like simply cuddling up next to you on the couch."

Do Dogs Like Kisses? How Dogs Feel About Human Affection

We all cant resist showering our dogs with kisses. But have you ever wondered if dogs actually like kisses? After all, we want to ensure that our babies are comfortable.

Just like us, dogs have their preferences when it comes to affection. Some researchers propose that kissing your dog increases the oxytocin levels- the love hormone.

Highlights

• Kissing increases oxytocin levels in dogs, varying by their personality and experiences.
• Dogs don't naturally understand kisses but may associate them with positive experiences.
• Dog licks aren't quite kisses but can show affection and gather sensory information.
• Signs your dog likes kisses include tail wagging, licking back, and relaxed body language.
• It's vital to respect a dog's boundaries as some may not enjoy kisses; look for cues.

However, oxytocin release in dogs can vary based on personality, prior experiences, and the nature of your relationship with the dog.

The information provided herein is for informational purposes only. Please refer to our disclaimer for more details..

Do dogs even understand human affection?

Dogs arent called mans best friend for no reason. Dogs have evolved alongside humans, adapting to our lifestyles. Over the centuries, theyve learned to interpret our cues and gestures, becoming skilled at recognizing our emotions.

Dogs are incredibly attuned to actions associated with affection, and this gets better the more we interact with them. According to Online Dog Trainer, dogs are good at reading beyond literal words, instead placing greater emphasis on our tone and body language.

Image credits: Pixabay

Do dogs understand kisses?

Well, dogs dont understand kissing the way that humans do. However, they are clever animals who recognize patterns. Over time, they learn that human kisses often mean something good, by picking up on our body language.

While kissing is a normal form of display of affection in humans, dogs simply cannot relate. Our furry buddies dont perceive kisses the same way because kisses arent a part of their natural social behavior.

According to Elle Vet Sciences, dogs show affection to humans in ways other than hugs and smiles. These include nuzzling, licking, and various body cues.

Dogs may not fully understand the concept, but they associate kisses with love from their owners.

Are dog licks the same as dog kisses?

Image credits: Pixabay

Not exactly! Dogs lick one another to greet, show submission, and yes, sometimes to show affection. Oftentimes, dogs have learned that we appreciate kisses and do it to make us happy.

Other times, your best friend could simply be licking you because you smell sweet. However, most dog owners refer to these licks as dog kisses.

While its tempting to see dog licks as a sign of affection, they are rooted in natural instincts. Licking is a way dogs gather information about their surroundings. Dogs also possess a unique sensory organ, the Jacobsons organ, in the roof of their mouth. It lets them detect pheromones from humans, gathering extra information when they lick people.

Additionally, lickingcould also be a show of affection.

Kiss your dog: Five signs your dog loves human kisses

Some dogs absolutely love human kisses while other dogs tolerate them. Here are some clear signs your dog likes kisses:

1. Your dog responds with the tail wag

Tail wags are a universal sign of canine affection. If your dog is wagging his tail when he is being kissed or hugged, he definitely enjoys the attention.

2. Your dog shows a relaxed body language

During kisses does your dog have loose muscles? When you lean in to kiss a dog, and they respond like this, it shows that he is having the time of his life. For dog owners, theres no better feeling than knowing that your pup is relishing moments of kisses and cuddles.

3. Your dog is licking you back

When your dog responds to your kisses with a return lick, its a sign that they want to kiss you back. According to Danna Ebbecke, an animal behavior counselor at the ASPCA adoption center, long, slurpy kisses that are accompanied by a soft, wiggly body are usually affectionate gestures.

4. Your dog maintains soft eye contact

Soft eye contact is like a secret language of love in dogs. When your dog maintains a gentle gaze during kisses, its their way of saying, Im right here with you, and Im loving every moment of this.

Every dog has their unique way of expressing their feelings, and these soft, adoring eyes let you know if your dog is truly savoring those moments you share.

5. Your dog is cuddling up to you

If your dog snuggles up to you after a kiss, its a clear indication that they want to be closer to you. According to Dr Chyrle Bonk, a veterinarian at Hepper, when your dog cuddles with you, theyre showing their complete trust in your relationship.

When dogs may not like kisses and hugs

Image credits: Unsplash

Okay, so weve established that dogs and kisses can be like avocados and toast not always a perfect match. Here are some situations where most dogs dont want to be kissed:

1. Do not kiss a dog if you are a stranger

You wouldnt love it if a stranger shoved their face into yours now, would you? Its the same with our fur pals! They might not be into kisses if youre not someone they know. In fact, some dogs may even feel threatened when they receive a kiss from a human they dont know.

2. Dont kiss a dog if it is sick

If your dog is feeling under the weather, he might not be open to receiving smooches. A sick dog is usually uncomfortable and stressed. Physical contact like hugging or kissing might add to their discomfort.

3. Dont kiss a dog if he doesnt like kisses

Some dogs are just plain picky when it comes to kisses and thats that! They may prefer belly rubs or even cuddles. Pay close attention to your dogs behavior and learn to love your dog the way he wants. Dogs thrive in environments where they feel safe.

Other ways to show your dog affection

If your dog isnt the kissing type, theres no reason to worry. There are other ways to show your dog that you love him.

1. Belly rubs

Most dogs absolutely adore belly rubs and chances are so does your dog. Many dogs cant resist belly rubs because the fur on their bellies isusually softer and thinner.

2. Ear scratches

Dogs adore ear scratches because they have a bunch of nerves in their ears. When you scratch, youre stimulating these nerves, which sends pleasure signals to their brain. Its like turning on their personal happy button.

Ear scratches can also stimulate the pituitary and hypothalamus glands and cause them to release endorphins. These are hormones that act as natural painkillers and mood elevators. Ear scratches are a win-win for both you and your pet.

3. Reward-based training

When you use treats, praise, and even playtime as rewards during training, its like a round of applause for their hard work. Training sessions are like a special date for the two of you. Its a chance to bond and grow even closer.

4. Grooming and pampering

Grooming sessions are quality time spent together, a health check, and a relaxation session rolled into one. When done right, grooming can be a bonding experience with your dog, This is a great alternative to showering them with kisses.

5. Respecting boundaries

Respecting your dogs boundaries is a way of building trust with your furry friend. To do this, pay attention to your dogs cues and learn what they dont like. When you respect your dogs boundaries, youre also showing them that you understand and care about their needs.

Conclusion: Should you kiss a dog?

It depends on the individual dog and how they feel about being kissed. Some dogs enjoy receiving kisses and see it as a form of affection, while others may not be as comfortable with it. So, if you like kissing dogs, make sure the dog appreciates the gesture.

Frequently asked questions

Should you give kisses and cuddles to dogs?

Absolutely, if theyre into it! Just like us, our dogs are individuals and the secret to a solid connection with them is respecting their signals. Whether its ear scratches or kisses, affection is all about making your furry friend feel absolutely loved.

Do dogs like to be hugged and kissed?

A dogs personal preference for physical touch might vary. While one pup might adore kisses and hugs, another might find it overwhelming and annoying. Remember that dogs do not particularly understand hugs or kisses.

Some dogs may not associate kisses with affection so watch for signs of discomfort. Growling, nipping, or turning away could mean they dont like kisses. Ultimately, respecting your dogs preferences is important in all physical interactions.

Do dogs feel love when you kiss them?

Dogs can feel loved when you kiss them, but it varies from one dog to the other. While some dogs respond well to getting kisses, others may not. Pay attention to their reactions if theyre wagging their tails and enjoying it, thats their way of saying they feel the affection and love.

How do you show your dog you love him?

You can show your dog you love him through gentle pets, kind words, and quality time together. Pay attention to cues and respond to their needs, whether its giving kisses or petting your dog. Your dog understands your love through the moments you share and the care you provide.

Do Dogs Like Kisses? What Your Pets Behavior Might Be Telling You

We kiss and cuddle to show affection and naturally we want to do the same with the dogs we love. Yet kissing is not a natural part of doggie behavior. When dogs lick your face back, this isnt always a sign of returning affection. Dogs licking can mean many things from showing affection and relieving stress, to showing submission. Lets take a look at whether kissing your dog is sending them the right message, and what your dogs smooches in return might really mean.

Do Dogs Understand Kisses?

Dogs and humans communicate in completely different ways. Unfortunately, we often make the mistake of interpreting dog behavior in human terms. Humans rely on verbal or sign language to express ideas and emotions. Dogs primarily depend on body posturing and facial expressions to communicate with each other.

Researchers have studied dogs for years to try and understand them better. Its tempting to compare dogs to their wild ancestors, wolves. Much like dogs themselves, though, dog language has also evolved over the 30 000 years since they started living with humans. Now researchers estimate that, amongst todays domestic dog breeds, Huskies have retained the most wolf-like language traits. German Shepherds have only retained about three quarters of wolf-like social signaling. Cavalier King Charles Spaniels have retained the least wolf-speak in the dog kingdom. These variations even make it hard for dogs to communicate with other breeds. So its no wonder that we sometimes struggle to understand our pets.

Lost in Translation

Since we dont speak dog, some of the things we take for granted can easily get lost in translation especially signs of affection, like hugging and kissing. Kissing is a human trait. Researchers have yet to find a comparable behavior in dogs that reflects the same range of emotions as human kisses.

Dogs do not innately understand what kisses mean. However, just like we learn what their different behaviors mean, dogs are also very good at learning how to interpret our behavior.

Do Dogs Like Kisses?

The act of kissing your dog means we place our faces right up against theirs. Sometimes we even go so far as to hug them, throwing our arms around their shoulders. We might enjoy this from a select number of humans. But think about the last time a relative stranger gave you a hug or a kiss, or someone tried to do this when you werent in the mood.

Dogs rarely approach each other straight on. Instead, two dogs greeting each other will approach from the side. Putting your face close to a dog is a very assertive behavior in dog language. If he hasnt learnt what this is all about he might feel very threatened.

Aggressive dogs may loom over more submissive dogs, trying to make themselves appear larger. In this context, it is easy to see how a dog could confuse a child leaning in for a kiss with a threat. Because dogs learn what our behaviors mean, the good news is that most dogs can learn to associate our kisses with affection. Even enjoy them reciprocate in their own way.

But Watch Their Reactions

Some dogs, however, only tolerate kisses because weve trained them to accept this behavior as normal. Others always find human kisses uncomfortable. Some find kisses downright threatening. You can usually determine whether a dog likes kisses or not by watching their reactions. Use the following signs to see if your dog likes it when you kiss them.

Dog-talk signs that a pup finds kisses stressful include turning their head away, stiffening their body, licking their lips, or yawning and even licking your face forcefully to try and make you retreat. So do dogs like kisses? They will show you!

Why Do Dogs Lick?

You may have seen dogs lick the muzzles of other dogs, or perhaps your dog licks your face on a regular basis. Is this like kissing your dog? This may feel like a kiss to us, but what is your dog actually trying to say? It can mean many different things.

Licking is one of the instinctive behaviors through which dogs communicate. Licking is often used to show affection and greeting between dogs. In fact when dogs lick themselves or others it releases endorphins the feel good hormones which relieves stress and comforts the dog. Licking is also used as a sign of submission, to explore scents, to get attention, or even as a warning to back off.

Mothers and Puppies

Do dogs like kisses from each other? The mother licks her pups not only to help them to eliminate, but also to groom and comfort them. While this is not a kiss in the same way that a human mother might kiss her baby, it is still a gesture that carries affection. As pups grow older they lick their mothers mouth. This is instinctive behavior left over from their wolf ancestry when the mother would regurgitate food.

Licking can also be a submissive behavior between dogs. A dog may lick the muzzle of a more dominant dog to avoid retribution. Or your dog could simply be curious about something another dog has eaten. But why do dogs kiss people?

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?

Dogs lick people for all the reasons mentioned above, and more. You should learn how to interpret the rest of their body signals to know whether its an affectionate kiss or not. Dogs are observant. If you reacted positively to kisses in the past, theyre more likely to do it again. This becomes an attention-seeking behavior, and could be your dogs way of saying, Hello, human friend, pay attention to me.

Dogs explore the world with sight, sound, smell, and taste. You dog could kiss your face simply to get more information about the delicious snack youve just eaten, or to find out where youve been. They might even lick you to draw your attention to something thats worrying them. It might be as simple as that their water bowl is empty. They could even be trying to tell you that theres something up elsewhere in the house.

An injured or anxious dog might lick a person in the same way a submissive dog licks a more dominant dog. They could be licking because they feel threatened when you, your child, or even a stranger bends over and kisses them. You might think that theyre kissing you back. In the meantime, their intended meaning could be the complete opposite and then your further approach could create a dangerous situation. So even if you believe the answer to do dogs understand kisses is a resounding yes for your own pup there are still some dangers to watch out for.

Do Dogs Know What Kisses Are?

Most dogs tolerate kisses from their owners fairly well. Some may even come to associate kisses with love and attention, and quite a few even enjoy kisses from their people. Theyll usually show their pleasure by wagging their tails, looking alert and happy, and licking you back. Unfortunately hugging and kissing behaviors are some of the most common triggers for dog bites to the face, especially with children. Every year about 400 000 children in the US are bitten by dogs. Most of the bites happen at home, to children younger than 7 years old, and with dogs that theyre familiar with.

Children are impulsive and often appear as a threat to dogs by approaching them when theyre eating. Or they might surprise them with a hug and a kiss while theyre sleeping. Children are also usually not able to interpret the warning signals when a dog doesnt want to be kissed. In some cases, dogs who are punished for growling or baring their teeth may even learn to skip more assertive warning signs. They may move straight to a nip, creating an even more dangerous situation.

Play it Safe

So its always best to play it safe and avoid kissing unfamiliar dogs. Keep this is mind especially if you adopt an older dog. You never know whether they might have been abused and have serious trust issues. Its definitely a good idea to instruct children to engage in respectful behaviors. They should wait for your dog to come to them for gentle pets. This shows that the dog is comfortable and confident with the interaction. By now you know that dogs dont kiss each other in the same way we kiss our loved ones. So, how do dogs show affection?

When Do Dogs Like Being Kissed?

When dogs have been well socialised from a young age they can come to understand kisses and cuddles as your way for showing affection. So do dogs know what kisses are? Many do and also learn to enjoy them. They may lick you to show affection back, despite it not being natural dog behavior. Your dog has learned that you respond positively to a big, slobbery dog kiss for better or for worse.

On their part physical proximity is a sign of trust and affection. When your dog is near or snuggled up to you, theyre showing that they love you. Deep sighs reveal that your dog is relaxed in your presence. Many dogs learn to enjoy pets and scratches. Just like people, dogs are unique. Some dogs express love and affection differently from others. It is up to you to observe them, and do your own research into dog behavior, to interpret their messages.

Does My Dog Love Me?

Our emotions have evolved for a reason. Love is no different. Human love is a driving force that builds bonds between friends and family and most important, helps us to support and protect one another. Dogs are social, family animals too. They share much of our genetic make up. And they also are driven to support and protect one another.

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So there is no reason to believe that the emotion we call love, which powers that support and protection, feels any different to them than it does to us. And its likely that your dog does love you, very much. He or she may have different ways of expressing that love. But the underlying feelings are likely very similar.

Whether your dogs favorite way to spend time is to give you kisses or howl along to your top music tracks together, they definitely feel strongly about you.

Do dogs like kisses? Summary

Dogs do plenty of things like licking the air, which can look like cute air kisses. But do dogs like actual kisses? There is still a great deal we dont know about dog behavior. And the answer to do dogs like being kissed and do dogs understand kisses is often a no. Furthermore, dogs lick for many reasons and if your dog licks your face it is not necessarily a kiss.

Luckily for humans, dogs are pretty good at interpreting most of our body language. They know when were happy, sad, and angry. They adapt their behavior to live harmoniously with us. In turn, we teach them commands so that they can further abide by our rules.

Whether or not its okay to kiss your dog depends largely on your dog watch how they react when you when you kiss them. If there are any signs of stress, it is a good idea to respect their natural instincts and give them a little space.

If your dog seems totally unfazed, kissing is probably okay, but bear in mind that just because your dog lets you kiss them doesnt mean theyll appreciate a kiss from someone else. Most importantly, teach your own and any other children who may come into contact with your dog how to interact with dogs safely and respectfully. For more information about dog behavior, talk to your veterinarian or consult with a behavioral specialist.