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.
Why Do Dogs Lick Faces?
When dogs are puppies, their mothers lick them to groom them and to get them to urinate and even digest food. Before a pup even opens its eyes, it knows the calming and familiar experience of being groomed by mom. Young puppies will groom each other, too.
Licking is a habit that is learned almost right at birth. The mother will lick her puppies to clean them, show affection and stimulate their elimination systems.
Although people and dogs have different habits, chances are you are the top dog in your house. Your dog might be licking your face to acknowledge that.
Our dogs are excited to see us when we come home, and some of them express that excitement through (really slobbery) face licking.
Puppies learn from their mother, so they will use their tongues to discover the world around them — just like your toddler “learns” about the world around her by putting everything in her mouth.
Don’t worry — you aren’t required to do any regurgitating. Dog food will be just fine for your pup.
Why Does My DOG LICK ME? (Face, Feet, Hand and Ear Licking)
Licking is an instinctive dog behavior that dogs use to communicate with their owners and other animals. A dog’s lick can mean a lot of different things. They could be trying to give you a message, gather some information about you, keep you clean or maybe they just love the taste of your skin. A dog lick can serve multiple purposes, making it a little hard to figure out at times. So why do dogs lick? Here are some reasons: