Why Do Dogs Lick You?

But we cannot definitively judge that every lick directed at you by your dog is evidence of love and affection towards you , As in some cases, licking is not normal, such as frequent licking, especially if it is in the same place, And here, this cannot be explained by love and affection, as there are other reasons for licking, Such as health problems, stress, excessive anxiety, or love for submission to you ,So why do dogs lick? and what are the reasons that lead to abnormal licking? To answer this problem, I invite you to complete this article.

As we mentioned earlier, licking is one of the common behaviors among dogs and differs from one dog to another, and it is not a dangerous matter unless this behavior bother you and irritate your mood, especially during times of rest or work. Licking has several reasons that differ from one dog to another, which are as follows :

Affection :

Dog licking has always been and is often a sign of love and affection and that is why the licking directed by your dog to every place on your body is evidence that he wants to show you a lot of love, affection and gratitude.

Puppies learn to lick from birth, and this is through the mother, where the latter licking her young in specific places of their bodies, such as the nose, and this is to clean it and facilitate the breathing process, as well as stimulate blood flow, and this licking provided by the mother is an evidence of love and affection.

So, your dog’s licking you is evidence of his great love for you ,your dog may lick anywhere on your body, such as the face, arm, or foot, and other places..and you may notice that some dogs tend to lick a lot and others to a lesser extent. This is not an accurate measure of love. Each dog has its own way of licking and expressing love.

Communication :

Licking is an effective method of communication for dogs, and these dogs often lick the mouth and face of other dogs they meet as a form of communication and bonding between each other .In addition to that, dogs use licking behavior to find out intentions, whether between them and other dogs or even with their owners or strangers.

Dogs often use licking in order to create a bridge of communication between them and their owners, and this is evident in giving sharp and short licking to the chin or nose, as licks can be sporadic at the level of the face and this is to show love, gratitude and submission to its owners.

Puppies often lick their mother, to convey the message that we are hungry , and a dog may lick another dog to tell him he wants to be his friend.As well the dog may also lick its owner in order to tell him something he wants, such as the need to drink water, and this is what makes licking an effective method of communication between dogs and their owners.

We taste good :

Be aware that dogs greatly prefer smells and flavors, especially if it is related to their owners, As dogs like the salty taste of the skin, as well as the leftovers scattered on the skin ,this matter is somewhat strange, but believe me, it is the truth. Dogs like to taste everything that is contained in their world.

The matter will not be limited only to dogs licking their owners and savoring their taste, but can also include licking the bowls or the ground after any liquid is spilled on it or the table after cooking, you may easily reach the conclusion that it is simply that dogs love the taste.

To show submission :

Dogs also use licking as an effective way to show submission to either their owners or to other dogs, which often have the characteristics of strength and leadership.

Where dogs with the characteristics of strength and leadership lick the mouths of other dogs to prove their superiority or that they do not want to cause any harm and this is a kind of unique communication between dogs.

Enjoyment :

Dogs use licking as a means of entertainment and enjoyment, especially when their mood changes for the worse, for example boredom, loneliness or anxiety, and this licking provides high secretions of the hormone endorphin, or as many call it the hormone of happiness.

For a medical issue :

Sometimes licking your dog for you is an indication that he suffers from health problems, especially if the licking is frequent and in a specific area of ​​your body, and among these health problems are anxiety and sensitive skin that results from an allergy to some foods, and for this I advise you to visit the veterinarian to give you a suitable diet for your dog as well as to diagnose other health problems accurately.

Attention-Seeking :

Your dog will feel lonely and bored at times and it will be obligatory for him to lick you and this is in search of attention ,and any reaction from you, such as smiling, laughing, or even caressing, your dog will interpret it as being able to attract your attention ,Even if this negative attention, such as pushing or punishing, will enhance the feeling of good in your dog, and thus he will continue to lick in an attempt to attract more attention to him.

Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior :

In some cases, your dog may suffer from excessive anxiety and tension, which may cause him to have obsessive-compulsive disorder, which is a common psychological disease among dogs where the latter becomes licked frequently with everything that they encounter, such as surfaces, the ground, or even people, and if you notice the same behavior in your dog, it is recommended that you visit the veterinarian and this is in order to put an end to this problem before it gets worse and your veterinarian will likely give you medication to relieve anxiety and tension, and be aware that dogs do not train while they are in a bad mood, and therefore you will have to train your dog and give him medicine in parallel with the training period.

Investigation :

Dogs have the advantage of curiosity as they want to explore everything that is going on around them, and among the methods they use in this is their tongue full of sensors, which makes it easy for them to lick and taste things, as well as use the sense of smell in this process,so from now on, do not be surprised if you take your dog for a walk and notice that he smells and tastes everything in the garden because in fact he is trying to discover his external world in all its details.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Lick You?

Your dog’s licking is normal and not harmful in general, but sometimes licking may hurt, and this is if the dog’s tongue touches some open wounds, as the dog’s mouths contain a lot of natural bacteria, which is part of the reason why dog ​​bites are dangerous, so we recommend that you do not allow your dog to lick you in places where there are open wounds on your body, or at least protect those wounds from your dog’s tongue by bandaging them.

How to Get Your Dog to Stop Licking You?

We mentioned in the previous title of this article that dog licking is a normal thing in general, but there are some dog owners who do not like licking out of control and repetitively, as some see that licking is disgusting and if you are one of those who want to stop licking out of control, all you have to do is deny attention when your dog starts licking you, where you can stop touching him, petting him, and even looking into his eyes, and try to stay away from your dog whenever he wants to lick you. Once the licking stops, reward him with attention, affection, or even rewards.

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***Important note:

This article is purely informational. We do not have the authority to prescribe any veterinary treatment or establish a diagnosis. We invite you to take your pet to the vet if he is experiencing any conditions or pain.