Is it healthy to let your dog lick you
Why Do Dogs Lick You?
You may love your dog, but not all of us like slobbery kisses from our furry canine friends. Many pet parents believe their dogs lick them to show affection, and while this may be true some of the time, there are also many other functions for licking.
So, why do dogs lick us? And are there different reasons for why dogs lick your hands, face, ears, feet, or legs?
Key Takeaways
- Dogs lick people (including our faces, hands, legs, ears, and feet) for many different reasons.
- This behavior can mean something different depending on where your dog is licking you.
- While licking is a normal dog behavior, in some cases it can indicate a medical or behavioral issue.
Why Do Dogs Lick People?
Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. Studies have shown that licking releases endorphins in a dogs brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that make dogs (and us!) feel calmer and more relaxed. This then leads to a release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation.
There are many things that dogs licksome more repulsive than others. So, what does it mean when a dog licks you? There isnt one straight answer. Dogs lick people for a variety of reasons, including affection, communication, grooming, exploration, attention, and taste.
Dogs Learn to Lick as Puppies
Mother dogs lick their pups to clean and stimulate them as soon as they are born. For the first few weeks of their lives, puppies are prompted to urinate and defecate by moms licking. So, dogs learn very early that tongues are useful tools in communicating and interacting with the world around them.
Puppies lick to appease older dogs, including their mom, and clear the way for safe social interactions. Pups will lick one another to show affection, and to comfort themselves and sometimes their littermates.
Dogs Lick People to Enhance Smell
Licking also enhances yourdogs sense of smell.Like humans, dogs can taste bitter, salty, sweet, and sour. But due to their small number of taste buds, they actually use their sense of smell far more than their sense of taste when deciding what to lick or eat. This is likely why dogs enjoy licking areas of our bodies that tend to have strong tastes and smells: our hands, faces, ears, and feet.
To understand why dogs really enjoy licking certain areas of our bodies, lets take a quick look at the anatomy of human sweat. We have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.
Eccrine glands secrete a thin, odorless, clear fluid made of salt, protein, etc., and are found in large numbers on the soles of the feet, the palms, the forehead, the cheeks, and in the armpits.
Apocrine glands secrete a thicker fluid that reacts with the bacteria on your skin to create body odor and are found in the armpits and groin, but also in the ear canals, eyelids, and nostrils.
With all of this fun physiology, how could dogs resist licking parts of us that contain so much scent and taste?
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Hands?
As you move through the world, your hands collect smells and flavors that your dog wants to investigate once you come home. You might touch other people or animals, and you very likely touch food. Your hands are like a roadmap for your pup that tells the story of your day, and they want to taste and smell every destination your hands visited.
The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin for your dog to enjoy.
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?
Along with your hands, your face gets constant exposure to the world, so it picks up a lot of interesting smells and tastes. Also, youre likely to touch your face regularly,giving your dog even morereasons to lick your face!
Your face contains both types of sweat glands. Eccrine glands on your cheeks and forehead leave a salty flavor many dogs are certain to enjoy. But your eyelids and nostrils contain apocrine glands, which give those areas a mild but distinct odor easily identified by your dogs super-powered nose.
Thanks to the food you eat, your lips and mouth contain all sorts of attractive smells and tastes for your dog. This may explain why some pups really want to plant a slobbery kiss right on your lips after you eat.
Aside from all the scents and flavors your face offers, licking your face is likely an instinctual behavior for your dog. Dogs lick each other's faces for mutual grooming, affection, and to communicate appeasement or harmlessness. Pet parents who love when their dogs lick them may also reinforce the behavior with their excited responses.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Ears?
Your dog may be licking your ears to taste them, keep them clean, or possibly to show you some extra love.
The apocrine glands in your ear canals secrete a thick fluid that creates an odor when it mixes with the natural bacteria on your skin. Combined with the ceruminous glands, which create earwax, your ears offer a collection of enticing smells and tastes.
Dogs lick each others ears to groom one another. And because its a very vulnerable interaction, dogs that allow this likely feel very safe with the other dog.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet?
All of those eccrine glands on the soles of your feet create a lot of sweat, and that sweat creates a lot of salt. Your feet and toes offer a salty treat for your pupand if youre ticklish, it also makes for a fun game between you and your dog.
If you smile or laugh as your dog licks your feet, you could be providing positive reinforcement for the behavior. They quickly learn that licking your feet gets them attention from you. This may not only extend the licking session, but make it more likely to happen when your sockless feet emerge in the future.
Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs?
If youre fresh from the shower, your dog may want to lick the water droplets from your skin. This doesnt mean your dog is thirstyrather, theyre interested in all the smells and tastes youre bringing out of the shower with you.
Shampoo, body wash, and shaving creams all leave an interesting scent and taste on your skin. Nicking yourself with a razor may also attract some attention, since dogs also lick to keep wounds clean.
If the leg-licking has nothing to do with shower time, it could be a lotion you applied, salt on your skin after exercise, or something completely random you werent even aware you came into contact with.
When Is Licking a Problem?
Dogs lick for many reasons. They may lick out of boredom, in which case increasing enrichment could reduce the behavior. Activities like lick mats can provide an outlet for bored dogs who like to use their tongues.
But there are times licking indicates a problem behaviorally and/or medically. Behaviorally, licking that occurs frequently in response to an event but is difficult to interrupt can be a sign of anxiety. Licking a person excessively can mean that the dog is not comfortable with that person and is either trying to sooth themselves, gather more intel, or move the person away.
Licking can be a canine calming signal or a displacement behavior. When a dog feels stressed, anxious, or conflicted about what to do, they may use a behavior to buy sometime and communicate that they are not ready to engage. Licking, because of the physiological effect on endorphins and dopamine, can be used to sooth themselves in anxiety-provoking social situations. It is also a common behavior involved in compulsive disorders.
Medically, chronic lickingnot just groomingof a specific area of their bodies can be evidence of allergies, infections, or pain. If they are licking everything, like couches, rugs, or floors, there may be GI issues with your companion.
If you recognize any problematic forms of licking, seek help from a professional. Reach out to your vet to determine whether there is a medical issue first. Then, a certified behavior consultant can lend their expertise to take a look at the behavior. Complex cases would benefit from contacting a veterinary behaviorist as soon as possible.
Featured image: iStock.com/Art_rich
WRITTEN BY
Kasey Stopp, DVM, CVAVeterinarian
Dr. Kasey Stopp was born in rural Illinoisbut spent most of her life in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended the University of Cincinnati where...
Why do dogs lick you?
Remember, always check with your vet to make sure there isnt an underlying problem thats causing your dogs licks. If there isnt a medical issue and you find your dogs licking behavior problematic or uncomfortable, here are some strategies to manage and redirect their licking tendencies:
Move away and stay neutral Yelling and punishment never help dogs understand what theyre doing wrong, so its important not to get mad at your dog for excessive licking. When the licking starts, try moving away from them without giving positive or negative attention. If this doesnt work, you may have to move to another room entirely. This gradually reinforces the idea that excessive licking isnt something people enjoy.
Keep yourself clean If you find your dog licks you more after you eat or exercise, you may be able to curb the problem just by keeping yourself clean. Shower regularly, and give the area around your mouth a good rinse after meals to rid yourself of any enticing crumbs and scents.
Reinforce alternate behaviors You can always redirect your dogs attention and provide alternative behaviors to replace excessive licking. Engage them in interactive play sessions, offer puzzle toys, or teach them new commands to redirect their energy positively.
You can also use a lick mat to give your dog a safe, non-destructive outlet for their licking. Put a little dog-safe yogurt or peanut butter over the top of it, and theyll take care of the rest.
Positive reinforcement Positive reinforcement techniques, such as treats, praise, and affection, can help reinforce good behavior and discourage unwanted licking. Reward your dog when they exhibit desirable behaviors and refrain from excessive licking.
Provide mental and physical stimulation Ensure that your dogs daily routine includes ample opportunities for physical exercise, mental stimulation, and social interaction. This can help alleviate boredom and reduce the likelihood of excessive licking.
Consistency and training Consistency is key when addressing any behavior. Establish clear boundaries and use positive training methods to discourage excessive licking. Professional dog trainers or behaviorists can provide valuable guidance and support in addressing specific behavioral concerns.
Why You Should (And Shouldnt) Let Your Dog Lick You
Dogs love to give people plenty of love, which often comes in the form of licks. But why do dogs lick, and can a dog lick too much?
Although regular licking is a healthy way for a dog to show affection to people, it can become excessive at times.
Here, well walk you through all you need to know about dog licking, as well as how you can train your dog to keep their tongue to themselves.
Whats The Point Of Licking
Dogs dont have hands to explore the world, so they often turn to their nose and mouth. Dogs use licking for a wide range of different reasons, from showing affection to getting your attention.
1. Showing Affection
Many people wonder if a dogs kisses are really a sign of affection. Although researchers dont know all of the reasons why dogs lick, it does appear that they do give out kisses as a sign of affection.
Puppies likely lick as an instinct. But they could also learn it from their mothers, who lick as a way of grooming their puppies and showing affection.
Since a puppy often looks up to you as a parent, they take this behavior they learned when they were young and use it to show you affection.
Dogs prefer to lick faces, although theyll kiss just about anything they can get their mouth on, from your arms and legs to your back.
Although many dogs lick as a sign of affection, not all will. That doesnt mean that you puppy doesnt love you.
2. Getting Your Attention
Dogs will also use licking to get your attention. When they give you affection, you also give it back with petting and praise.
Since dogs know that when they lick youll give them love back, they may start doing it as a way of getting your attention.
If youre getting tired of your dogs licking, try to not give them attention when they kiss you. Pushing them away may actually encourage them even more.
3. They Taste Something
Dogs will also start licking if they think you taste good. They use their sense of taste to explore and learn more about the world.
This is part of the reason why dogs like to lick other animals as well. They use it as a way of socializing and getting a taste of other dogs.
4. Licking Out Of Instinct
Dogs are descended from wolves, and they have a lot of the same licking behaviors. When a mother wolf comes back from a hunt, she shares some of the food with her pups, who will lick around her mouth to try to get a scrap or two of food.
Dogs may still have some of these same behaviors, built in through instinct. Even though theyre not wolves, they still use their tongue to explore the world.
5. Obsessive Licking
In some cases, excess licking may be a sign of a serious behavioral issue. Dogs may lick obsessively, even though there is no real reason for them to be doing so.
This could mean that your dog has obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), a serious behavioral problem that can cause them a lot of stress and anxiety if not treated.
If you notice that your dog is licking too much, you should speak to your vet. They can diagnose the problem and discuss treatment options.
The best way to treat obsessive licking in a dog is with training. You may need to reach out to a pro to help you structure the training and use the right kinds of exercises.
In more serious cases, you may also have to supplement training with medication. It can help them manage the anxiety as you train them to control their licking. Your vet can recommend medication that is right for your dog.
Should You Let Your Dog Lick People?
In general, its safe when a dog licks a human. However, you should keep in mind that your dogs mouth is a pretty dirty place. There are a lot of bacteria swimming around in there, and these will be left behind after every lick.
The good news is that there is little safety risk to letting your dog lick you. Although there saliva has a lot of bacteria, they are unlikely to cause an infection unless you have any open cuts on your face.
Making Your Dog Stop Licking
If youve had enough of your dogs licking, there are a few easy ways to make them stop. Remember, dogs often lick as a way of getting attention. The best way to stop them is to not give them attention.
When your dog is licking, get up and walk away without giving them any attention. When they stop licking, give them plenty of praise and treats. Slowly, theyll start to learn that not licking you is a great way of getting a reward.
You can also train your dog to only kiss on command. Only give them a reward when they kiss after you give them a cue word.
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