2 Answers 2 Sorted by:
There are different types of lip licking and there are different reasons for them.
She might like your petting so much and becomes so relaxed that she actually starts drooling. Once you stop petting that sweet spot, she notices her drooling and licks her lips.
She might also have been taught that she shouldnt lick people. Some dog owners allow their pets to lick their hands or faces, others dont. Since licking is an ingrained instinct, the dog licks her lips instead of your face.
If she licks the side of the whole mouth all the way to the cheek, its a sign of anxiety. This is often accompanied by loud yawning (which has nothing to do with her being tired). You might be petting spot she actually doesnt like you to pet. Or she might ponder how she could get you to per her sweet spot again.
Another way of lip licking is right in the center of the mouth. The tip of the tongue flicks out and rapidly licks just the upper lip. This is a sign that the dog is uncomfortable and wants you to stop doing whatever youre doing now. It could be accompanied by some growling and is a sign that the dog strongly disagrees with what youre doing.
This is an easy question that I speak from experience. It means youve hit a “sweet spot” and your dog likes it. For example, my dogs “sweet spot” is near the base of her tail. Its nothing to worry about and is just like you sighing when you scratch an itchy spot.
Thanks for contributing an answer to Pets Stack Exchange!
To learn more, see our tips on writing great answers. Draft saved Draft discarded
Why Dogs Smack Their Lips When You Pet Them
Dogs smack their lips when they are being petted because lip-smacking is a calming signal that helps the dog to calm down.
Lip-smacking is a self-soothing behavior that dogs often do either to relieve stress or to help them relax.
So, assuming your dog enjoys being petted, it is most likely licking and smacking its lips to further relax and enjoy the petting.
This behavior is similar to a human letting out a big sigh as they sit in a comfy chair.
Of course, if your dog shows any sign of discomfort or sickness (more on this further down), you should stop petting them and figure out what is wrong.
But generally speaking, if your dog seems happy and content and the lip-smacking occurs when they are enjoying the pets, it’s nothing to worry about.
You can just enjoy petting your dog and let them relax and enjoy it as well.
Canine lip-smacking is when the dog opens and closes its mouth so that its lips make a gentle smacking noise.
The dog might also lick their lips and nose at the same time. Here’s a great example of a dog lip-smacking and licking lips:
Why Dogs Lick People
Affection: Theres a pretty good chance that your dog is licking you because it loves you. Its why many people call them “kisses.” Dogs show affection by licking people and sometimes even other dogs. Licking is a natural action for dogs. They learned it from the grooming and affection given to them as puppies by their mothers. Dogs might lick your face if they can get to it. If not, they might just go for any available patch of skin, such as hands, arms, legs, and feet. Some dogs tend to lick less than others. This does not necessarily mean that a dog is less affectionate if it does not lick. It might have just learned things differently as a puppy or just not prefer licking.
While we dont know for certain why dogs lick, most experts agree that there is probably a combination of reasons. Licking is not considered a serious behavior problem unless it bothers you. Knowing the reason for your dogs licking might even change the way you feel about it.
Attention-Seeking: Licking behavior that starts as affection often gets reinforced by a persons reaction: laughing, smiling, petting, etc. Maybe your dog is bored or lonely. There you are and it wants your attention. Even negative attention can encourage licking. When a dog is seeking attention, it will feel rewarded by any kind of attention, even the negative type. Pushing it away, saying “no,” or even punishing it still means youre not ignoring it. This can encourage licking.
Instinct: When wolves (and sometimes dogs in the wild) return to their pups after a meal, they regurgitate meat from the hunt. The pups, too young to hunt on their own, will lick the meat from around the mothers mouth. It is believed by some that this licking behavior has been passed down in the DNA, causing dogs to instinctively do it sometimes.
You Taste Good: Once that dog gets to licking you, it might realize you have an intriguing human taste that is a bit salty. Dogs love anything that has an interesting taste. Plus, licking is a way for your dog to explore his world. Youre part of that world after all.
Obsessive-Compulsive Behavior: Although its rare, dogs can suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, often brought on by prolonged stress and anxiety. Licking that occurs constantly (and usually involves the licking of objects, surfaces, and self in addition to humans) may be a real problem. Talk to your veterinarian about your concerns about your dog. Your vet might refer you to an animal behaviorist for help. Your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist may also prescribe medication to help relieve anxiety. Though you may think medication should be a last resort, its important to understand that animals cannot learn while in a high state of anxiety. Medication may be used as a tool in conjunction with training. Pharmaceutical treatment may even be used temporarily while your dog goes through training and behavior modification.
Why Does Your Dog Lick You?
Do you ever ask yourself “Why do dogs lick?” Although licking is a common behavior in dogs, many dog owners don’t fully understand what this manner means. Dog licking may occur when he’s physically hurt himself, when his environment has changed or simply when you offer him affection.
But why do dogs lick and what is it that they’re trying to communicate with us?
Let’s uncover the truths behind dog licking and what this behavior means. Dogs lick their pack members and themselves for many reasons, and if you want to curb the behavior, it helps to understand its cause.
When a dog licks their bowl, cleans the floor after you spill something or reaches for the counter, it’s quite obvious that he’s licking because he simply likes the taste.
But did you know that the same thing can be true when dogs are licking us?
Whether you realize it or not, we humans often have tiny food particles on our skin that our dogs can taste. Additionally, our skin has salt that dogs enjoy licking. Because of this, it is common for dogs to lick our faces and hands after we eat something.
So although it’s possible your dog is licking you out of affection, there’s also a great chance he’s licking because he loves the taste of your skin.
Grooming is another common reason for dog licking. Similar to cats, it’s in a dog’s nature to groom themselves by licking their skin and fur. One of the most common places for dogs to lick is their paws. After being outside, dogs often lick their paws to remove the dirt and anything else they may have stepped on.
Pay close attention, though, to how much your dog licks himself. Moderate licking is normal behavior, but excessive licking may be caused by an underlying medical issue. Specifically, continuous anal cleaning can indicate that the glands need to be expressed. Consult your vet for possible reasons and solutions for your dog’s licking.
Do you ask yourself the question, “Why do dogs lick wounds?” Licking wounds is an instinctive nature of dogs with themselves and their human owners. From cuts to grazes, dogs lick any wound that is painful or irritated.
Dog saliva has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can aid in fighting against certain bacterias. Furthermore, when a dog licks himself, it helps remove dead tissue and clean dirt from wounds.
In addition to licking his own wounds, your dog may also lick yours. As previously mentioned, it’s in a dog’s instinct to lick cuts and injuries. They do this to cleanse the wound and help speed up the healing process.
Although licking wounds has some benefits, too much licking may be harmful to your pup. Dogs who lick continuously may reopen wounds, create hotspots or cause infections. If you notice your dog licking his wound excessively, consult your vet for solutions to stop this behavior.
The same advice goes for dogs who lick human wounds. Although dog saliva has some healing properties, the risks outweigh the benefits. It is likely that your dog’s mouth contains bacteria that could cause infections. And although it isn’t necessary to punish your pup for licking your wounds, it’s important that you don’t encourage this behavior either.