Mary Allen
When dogs put their tongues near human ears or hands, it elicits different reactions. What one person finds cute, another disgusts. But why do dogs lick people?
Whether hands, feet or even the face – what exactly does a dog want to express when it licks people? Does it make sense to ban? Or is the wet “dog kisses” a sign of affection? To answer these questions, it must first be clarified where this behavior of your four-legged friend has its roots.
Dog Licks People: Early Origins for the Behavior
Immediately after the birth, the mother dog begins to lick her puppies thoroughly. She does this for several reasons. Licking promotes hygiene, stimulates the newborn’s circulation, and helps the mother to smell every pup. In addition, the bitch makes sure that her little ones feel comfortable with her right from the start. Licking also promotes digestion in the puppies once they have eaten.
It only takes a few weeks for the young animals to lick other four-legged friends from the pack – it could be that these dogs are also suitable as a food source. In addition, the young animals show that they recognize their counterpart as a higher-ranking pack member. So behind the licking, there is initially a practical food motive as well as submissiveness and feelings such as affection, love, and security.
Why Do Dogs Lick People? Possible Meanings
With this prior knowledge, the question of why dogs lick people can be answered almost completely, because: As with the dog mother, the four-legged friends also want to show their people affection in this way, but also submissiveness. Other possible meanings of “dog kisses” are:
- communication
- attracting attention
- exploration
- picking up the taste
If it is a baby that is being licked, the fur nose is showing its affection. When dogs lick an adult, they usually do so out of a mixture of affection and subservience. It is also possible that the dog wants to communicate something else. For example: “Feed me”. Or the four-legged friend feels that he is not being given enough attention and wants to attract your attention.
The mere attempt to get to know the respective person better could also be behind the licking. After all, dogs mainly perceive their environment with their muzzle and tongue. In addition, every dog owner has a distinctive, unique smell and taste for their four-legged friend. So what could be more obvious than regularly insuring yourself of this identifying feature?
Hygienic Concerns & Weaning
But can’t this behavior be trained out of the dogs? After all, dog saliva is not harmless for us: the four-legged friends are out and about in many places where they can ingest pathogens that are unhealthy for humans in their mouths. In this respect, it is recommended to avoid licking the face.
But why do dogs lick people’s ears and faces in the first place? Most of the time your pet licks you to show affection or to soothe you when you’re tense. Accordingly, it would be wrong to completely forbid the dog to lick. A ban could not classify your four-legged friend correctly. The solution: simply offer your furry friend your hands if she wants to lick your ears or face. This strengthens your bond and washing your hands afterward is quick and easy.
If your animal keeps trying to lick your head, turn away completely and ignore your dog for 30 seconds. If the situation repeats itself, the four-legged friend will sooner or later understand that licking the head does not lead to more attention and treats – quite the opposite. The behavior is changed.
Caution! Even more, caution is required with babies, as they are more susceptible to pathogens. In this case, you should always clean the licked hand or foot immediately to be on the safe side. Babies and dogs should also never be left alone in a room, always keep an eye on the situation.