Why does my dog lick me?

There is no doubt that when a dog licks you, it is because he feels a great affection for you. Knowing that dogs lick to prove their love, the time has come to understand this behavior from a clinical and ethological point of view.

You ask yourself "Why does my dog lick me?".

If your dog licks you all the time, we invite you to continue reading this article from The Pretty Pets in which we will explain why your dog licks you a lot!

You may also be interested in this article: Why does my dog lick my ear?

1-Why does my dog lick me?

My dog licks me for the following reasons:

- Behavior inherited from wolves

- To prove his love, affection and well-being

- Because he's been used to doing it since he was a child.

- Because you reinforce this behavior

- Because he is nervous (behaviour to follow)

In the rest of our article Why my dog licks me we will take the time to develop all these points.

2-Why  dogs lick? - Origin of this behavior

The origin of this behavior is atavistic and has its innate roots in the behavior of wolves, more precisely in the behavior of cubs. One of the main characteristics of wolves, which has been passed on to their canine cousins, is related to hunting.

Wolves generally hunt in groups, which can travel very long distances to get away from the den where the cubs are. The cubs anxiously await the arrival of the adults. When the group has hunted well, the animals eat quickly and voraciously whatever they can. This way of feeding is possible thanks to their particular stomach, which is like an internal "supermarket bag".

Then they return to the den and, when the cubs see them coming, they come to meet them very excited and they start compulsively licking the muzzles of the adult hunters. These incessant licks generate a nervous reflex in the adult that stimulates a specific area of the brain that causes vomiting and regurgitation of previously swallowed food, allowing the cubs to feed. You can see how quickly this behaviour settles into babies' brains.

Over time, dogs have inherited this behaviour, which is why when a dog licks you, he shows you his love, respect and affection.

 

3-Why does my dog lick my feet, hands, mouth and face?

Although the origin of dog licking is related to Cub Scouting behaviour, this behaviour can also be influenced by other factors, such as the complicity and approval of his guardian. When a person likes his dog to lick him, not only does he accept this behaviour, but he reinforces and compensates for it, or at least does not repress or inhibit it. In this way, the behaviour becomes established in the puppy's brain, which is why he will continue to reproduce it once adult.

When this happens, it is possible that the behaviour becomes generalized, so that over time, dogs no longer just lick their guardian's face, but start licking other parts of the body as well, such as feet or hands.

For more information, check out the following video from PlanèteAnimal in which they explain why a dog licks!

4-My dog licks me all the time - Causes and what to do?

Nevertheless, when a dog licks a person too much, it is possible that this behavior is not a simple demonstration of affection, but rather a proof of his anxiety.

But, why is a dog that licks anxious? The answer to this question is very simple, they do it because, in this way, they calm down and calm down. For the same reason, many dogs, when they are stressed or excited, also lick objects such as tables, chairs or even the floor. This compulsive licking behavior can be seen as a counterpart to the human behavior of nail biting.

When the licking of an animal is related to nervous situations, it is the moment to ask for professional help so that this problem does not turn into a compulsive behavior with more serious consequences, such as "hunting and biting one's own tail", which can end up causing severe dermatological damage.

5- Let my dog lick me, yes or no?

Finally, an important topic to address is whether or not to allow a dog to lick your face, hands or feet. From a social point of view, if it's wrong or not, no one raises their voice to say it's right or wrong. Everyone has the freedom to decide what form of relationship they want to have with their dog.

From a sanitary and hygienic point of view, it's another story. The mouth of animals of any species is a place where a large quantity and variety of microbes abound. The mouth of dogs is not an exception and, therefore, it is a possible source of infection. Beware, this does not mean that every time a dog licks your mouth you will get sick, it just means that the possibility exists. People who, for one reason or another, are immunocompromised should not have this type of contact with their dog. You should also be very careful with young and old people.

Preventing a dog from getting into the habit of "kissing" is as simple as not allowing him to do so at a young age.

Ultimately, as in many aspects of life, the problem lies in excess. It is one thing for your dog to give you a "kiss" once in a while to show you his affection, well-being and joy, but it is quite another thing for your dog to try to lick your mouth all day long.