Why do dogs lick me? If you are wondering this then you are in the right place! It’s a well-known question in the community of dog owners. And today we are putting some light on it! Dogs lick you for plenty of reasons ranging from affection to fear or maybe they just think you are tasty. Here are some of the reasons why your dog licks you. Let us begin and find out the truth.
Why Do Dogs Lick People?
There could be many reasons why your dog licks you. Many dog owners struggle to find out why so here are some of the main reasons why your dog might be licking you:
1. Affection and Bonding
Another key purpose for which dogs lick people is to illustrate affection. As seen in humans where a partner expresses his or her love through physical affection like hugs and kisses, dogs do it through licking. Such an action can be rooted in their nature. This behavior goes back to their days as puppies when they would lick their mother’s mouth to stimulate her to vomit the predigested food she laid. In the same way, licking you can signal to you that they feel safe and loved and are grateful for your presence and care
2. Communication
Simply put when a dog wants to talk it cannot do as humans do so it does its talking in as much as it can gesture and make other forms of signals. Licking is also used as a way to convey something to another person. For instance, your dog might lick you when he wants your attention or he is hungry or when innumerable other things. This may involve trying to get to play to be fed or even being comforted.
3. Taste and Exploration
Sensory perception: As we mentioned before, dogs interact with their environment using all senses including taste which is very developed. They might be testing your skin or the things that are on your skin when they use their rough little tongues to lick you. People always have some sort of smell, lotion, or even the residue from foods on their skin, and dogs are nosy by nature. Through the licking, the pets are able to gather info on the prevailing conditions of their environment and other people.
4. Grooming Behavior
Licking also lies under the grooming activity that is well inherited by the ancestors of the dogs. Even in the wild dogs lick each and every part of the body of each other. This is where your dog is checking up on you like any other member of the pack who needs his attention. It is done to clean as well as to assert social relations with other members of the pack.
5. Stress Relief and Comfort
Licking can serve as a behavior of self-soothing for a dog. If a dog is nervous or stressed, licking helps to make him calm. Similarly, as in case some humans bite nails or fidget when they are nervous. If a dog licks you more during stressful situations, for example, during a thunderstorm or when there are loud noises, it might be his way of seeking comfort and reassurance from you.
6. Health Implications
Though licking is generally regarded as normal, excessive licking can be taken as a probable indication of health problems. Dogs that overly lick may have allergies, dermatitis, or even disorders of anxiety. In case you detect that your dog licks too much or seems to be in distress, it is important to consult with a veterinarian to exclude health concerns.
Is Dog Licking Safe?
Yes, your dog licking is mostly safe and harmless unless you have an open wound, using lotions and creams, or are on medications. In such cases, you should not let your dog lick you. Dogs also carry bacteria in their mouth so you should avoid letting them lick on your mouth and wash your face after being licked by them. If you want to learn more about why do dogs lick your face click here right now.
What To Do If Your Dog Is Licking Too Much?
If your dog is obsessed with licking and won’t stop then it might be time to consult a behaviourist. However, you might want to try some other things beforehand to try and resolve the issue. Here is what you can do to make your dog stop licking you:
- Push them away or move away: The easiest way to stop you from licking you is to stop giving it positive attention every time it licks you. Push it away or get up and move away when your dog tries to lick you. Most of the time dogs lick you to get attention. They are attention-hungry animals so when you stop giving them attention they will stop licking you.
- Distract them with a toy, Treat, or a licking mat: When your dog tries to lick you distract them with a toy. This way they will stop licking you and engage in other activities.
- Use the “Stop” and “No” commands: Most dogs are trained to react to the stop and no command. Using them will make your dog stop.
- Behavioral training: If all else fails consult a dog behavioral expert to help guide you. They can train your dog to stop licking and give you useful tips, A professional is always a big help in situations where you dont know what to do.
Why Is My Dog Licking My Foot?
Dogs sometimes lick the feet of their owner as well. They do it for attention or for the taste of the salt present in the sweat. It is usually a harmless behavior but if you find it annoying it is best to train your dog not to lick you on the feet. Click here to learn more about why does dogs lick my feet.
Conclusion
Here is everything you need to know about why do dogs lick you. We hope this article was help for you. Gogs licking is cute but too much of it gets a bit weird. So next time you see your dog obsessively licking, it might be the time to step in and have them stop!
Dogs also lick their paws sometimes. It can mean a number of things. If you want to know why do dogs lick their paws then click here right now and find out!
