Why do Dogs Lick

I distinctly remember, when I was a young child, our pet dog 'Patchie' loved to kiss me. And by kissing I mean, his long, wet tongue running down my cheeks, ears, hands, I think all over me. He would wag his tail happily, while I was covered in his slobber. My mom would give out a scream and punish him by tying him on his leash in the corner. But that never deterred him from giving up his licking habits. Patchie is long gone, but his memories are still afresh in my mind. In fact, just the other day I met a friend who owns a cute dog. She too complained of excessive licking by her pet. This made me wonder why do dogs lick people excessively? They do wag their tails to show us they are happy around us. But licking? Is it necessary to cover us in dog saliva? I set out to in search of answers regarding why do dogs lick people excessively. You will be surprised to learn the answers related to what does it mean when dogs lick people or other animals.

What Does it Mean When Dogs Lick
It seems like a natural instinct for dogs to jump up to their owner and lick all over their arms and face. If you have guests in the house, not all seem alright with this excessive licking. Some 'dog people' think of it as a way to express love and affection. For some licking is plain nuisance. So, why do dogs lick? Let's find out.

You may have often wondered why do dogs lick your face and ears? The main reason for why do dogs lick your face is for cleaning. Yes. Dogs love to clean themselves with their tongue. They use the same cleaning instinct to clean you too. They think cleaning and washing your face is their obligatory duty. Other than your protection, your cleanliness is their job too.

Another reason for why do dogs lick you is because it is part of the dog behavior they learn as a pup. The mother licks her puppies to clean up the placenta on her newborn. This is a part of dog grooming that not only cleans her pups, but also stimulates bonding. The mother shows her affection to her pups by licking. This also helps in increasing the blood circulation and digestion in the little puppy body. This licking stimulates maternal instinct and affection. Thus, maybe the dog is trying to show its affection to his human friend with his excessive licking.

When puppies lick their mother's face, it is a way to stimulate her to regurgitate the food she ate. This regurgitated food is a good snack for hungry pups. Maybe this is one of the reason why dogs lick your face (well, I hope not!). A dog may lick you, if his instincts tell him you are sad. Just to liven up your spirits he will lick you. You may feel a bit ticklish and give out a million dollar smile. That is what a dog wants, isn't it? For you to be happy at all times. This is what makes them man's best friend.

Attention with a capital A. This can be one important reason as to why do dogs lick people excessively. The dog seeks attention and there is no better way than to stick their tongue on your face and bare arms. Or maybe they love the taste of your salty skin or the lotion you applied. Maybe you did not clean your mouth properly after eating a delicious ice cream cone. The dog loves the taste and thinks it is his job to help you clean up properly.

An adult dog continues to lick for a few other reasons. Dogs are pack animals. They tend to follow the alpha male of the pack. The one who proves to be dominant in the pack commands respect. The other dogs may show their respect and submission by licking. The same thing applies to a pet dog. He may look up to his human owner as the alpha male and lick as a sign of submission to his human commands. Also, licking helps the dog pick up a lot of information about the human. You see, there are sweat glands on our skin. When we sweat we unknowing send out signals along with the salt, water, other waste products along with chemical signals (hormones). The dog licks you and gets information that helps him understand whether the human is happy, sad or afraid.

One should always look out for compulsive licking. A dog who continuously licks and grooms himself may indicate sign of stress or dog health problem. The dog maybe suffering from separation anxiety, if you are leaving him alone for long hours or some close family member leaves. Upsetting a routine may also lead to compulsive licking. Injury or lesion of the skin may cause the dog to lick continuously. An anxious dog may lick himself, the furniture around the house, even you excessively. The best way to solve this problem is find out what is disturbing your dog. If it is an injury or illness, take him to a veterinarian for further treatment. Separation anxiety in dogs maybe treated with some more care and affection. You can speak to a vet to prescribe medications that will help the dog overcome his anxiety problem.

Licking is a part of dog behavior. Not many people have a problem with licking and do not mind getting all wet. However, to discourage licking you may show displeasure by saying 'Eeewweee' or 'Dirty'. You may also use the usual 'bad dog' phrase to show the dog you don't appreciate licking. Most dog breeds are eager to please their human friends and will eventually refrain from licking. One more thing that owners dislike about licking is bad breath in dogs. If your dogs breath is really, really unbearable, he may need the vet's help. It may be a sign of dental decay or plaque build up in your dog's mouth. Dental care for dogs is as important as other dog health problems.

This was some information related to why do dogs lick. It is generally a sign of affection and love. Hope this article has helped you understand what does it mean when dogs lick. I enjoyed being showered with love when my Patchie licked or in his words kissed me. Do you love it when your dog licks you?