Does This Action Express Your Dog’s Feelings?
Animal behaviorists say that licking your hands is a way for your dog to show love. Dogs release endorphins to calm themselves down when they do this. In a way, licks from your dog are kisses. Your dog licks your hand as a response to your affections. As long as you reciprocate your dog’s affections, he will continue to lick your hands.
Your dog can practice empathy as well. Licking your hands can be a way to show some empathy when you are upset or stressed. Research shows that dogs are capable of empathizing with their humans. After all, they do this with each other and other people. That is why dogs are ideal emotional support or therapy animals.
Of course, licking may be done for less adorable reasons than “my dog loves me!” Sometimes, a dog will lick an open wound on skin in an effort to heal it, while others may just enjoy the salty taste of skin, which occurs especially if you greet your dog after a workout, or pretty much anytime during the hot, summer months.
If your dog licks you, its likely a sign of affection, appreciation, or even admiration. We may not offer our own dogs a tongue bath to fulfill their shared-grooming needs, but a friendly and adoring pet on the head, neck, or elsewhere on their bodies can trigger that social aspect most dogs naturally crave.
Additionally, dogs in pack settings will lick other canines in more senior social positions than themselves as a way to greet, show submission, and even beg for food. Youve probably seen videos of young wolves licking adults around the mouth who will then regurgitate their fresh kill for the pups to eat, which is believed to be where this current behavior stems from.
If you live with a dog or have one of your own, youve probably found yourself in this situation before: you come home from work, offer your four-legged friend an affectionate pet and a friendly “hello,” only to get covered in a sea of slobber from your hand right up to your face.
Dogs communicate their wants, needs, and moods to us in a number of ways, and licking is just one of the many methods a dog can use to get her point across. So, if youve ever found yourself wondering why your dog licks you every time you reach down to pet her, just know that shes “speaking” to you in one of the only ways she knows how. Exactly what shes saying with those licks will depend on a few factors, including the setting, and possibly, your dogs overall health.
You Taste Good
Dogs can eat anything with an exquisite taste, from food crumbs to cleaning up after a spill. Once your dog begins to lick your hand and realize the interesting human taste that feels a bit salty, it’ll never stop. Plus, it may be licking up the last bits of food after you’ve eaten.