Many Reasons for Face-Licking
So, other than that, why do dogs lick faces? There are lots of other reasons. Young puppies will sometimes get pre-digested food from mom, and they will lick momâs face to get snacks. You may get those doggie âkisses,â too, because you are likely giving your dog attention and treats. Besides this, your face may smell good or interesting. Maybe your furry baby can smell the snack you had last and wants to share!
Another reason has to do with pacifying or subservient behaviors. You probably already know dogs are pack creatures, and there is a âpack leader.â Hopefully, in your house, thatâs you! When a dog greets other members of their pack, they will often lick faces. When one dog is pacifying or showing submissive behavior, they will often lick another dogâs face, all while staying a little lower.
The dog getting the face lick often stands tall and does not return the licks. This behavior is seen in wolves, too. If youâre wondering why your puppy licks your face, part of it may be communicating your position in your pack. Or, your furry baby may be feeling submissive or even guilty about something â maybe itâs time to check on that new pair of shoes.
Licking begins in the whelping box, along with most of the behaviors that your dog displays. A mother dog licks her pups to stimulate them when they’re first born. Licking encourages their circulation, it rouses them, it removes the membrane covering them when they’re first born, and it stimulates them to nurse. Later on the mother will lick them to encourage their bowel movements and to wash them.
Dogs also engage in licking behavior out of nervousness or because of feelings of anxiety. Licking may help to relieve the nervousness. A dog may lick as a way to try to appease someone higher in the “pack” and the pack may include their owner. If your dog is nervous or anxious, or fears that he has made you angry, he may try to lick around your face as a way to make up with you.
Some dogs can lick things compulsively. This licking is usually directed at their own grooming but it can also include things such as woodwork or furniture. In some cases it may also include the owner. Dogs may lick toes, feet, hands and faces in a compulsive way. The Baxter & Bella training program teaches owners how to train their dog into a well-rounded member of their family, relieving & even eliminating unnatural stress & anxiety.
As they get older, puppies will lick their mothers (and other adult dogs) around the lips to try to stimulate them to regurgitate partially digested food for them. This is quite normal for wolves and wild dogs, but our domesticated dogs can do it, too. This behavior — licking a mother figure around the face — may be retained later in life. Perhaps this is the reason why dogs try to lick people around the face? In some cases this could be true.
Dogs can also lick people as a way of getting attention. Like other behaviors, licking can be learned and become a habit if you reinforce it. For instance, if your dog licks you and you think it’s cute, you may laugh or pet your dog. This will encourage your dog to lick you again in the future because he’s getting positive attention (or any attention) for performing this behavior. If your dog is very socially bold he may become very pushy about this behavior and try to lick your face whenever he feels like it. It can be difficult to break this habit once it gets started.
Should you encourage your dog to lick your hands?
Yes! If you don’t mind a little slobber it is totally okay to let your dog lick your hands. You should not punish your dog for licking you. If you punish your dog for licking it is similar to pushing away a partner or child who wants to give you a hug or kiss. That isn’t the message you want to send to your dog! As we mentioned, licking is an important method of communication too, so if you push away your pup when they are licking you might be shutting down their communication with you.
That said, not everyone likes to be covered in slobber at all times.
Why Does My DOG LICK ME? (Face, Feet, Hand and Ear Licking)
Love it or hate it some dogs like to lick people. For a lot of dogs, the most popular places to lick are our hands and our faces. Why do they like to do this and what does this behavior mean?
Unlike us, dogs use their senses of touch, smell and taste to communicate. Since they can’t talk these other ways to communicate are very important. Licking your hands might be your dog’s way of saying hello. Sometimes your dog might give you a sniff or two before they start licking. By smelling and tasting your skin they are learning about you.
If you’ve recently been handling food or petting another puppy your dog will know when then sniff and lick you! Some dogs get very upset or jealous when they smell other dogs on their favorite humans! Another thing to be conscious of if a dog is licking you is makeup and lotions. Some dogs love the smell of face cream, lotion or lip gloss and might go to town. While these products are generally safe for us, be careful not to let your dog lick any products that could make them sick!