Why Do Dogs Lick You?

You may love your dog, but not all of us like slimy kisses from our furry canine friends. Many pet parents believe that their dogs lick them to show affection, and while this can sometimes be true, there are many other functions to licking as well.

Then why do dogs lick us? And are there different reasons why dogs lick hands, face, ears, feet or legs?

Why do dogs lick people?

Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. Studies have shown that licking releases endorphins in a dog’s brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that make dogs (and us!) feel calmer and more relaxed. This then leads to a release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation.

There are many things that dogs lick, some more icky than others. So what does it mean when a dog licks you? There is no direct answer. Dogs lick people for a variety of reasons, including affection, communication, grooming, exploration, attention, and taste.

Dogs learn to lick when they are puppies.

Mothers lick their pups clean and stimulate them as soon as they hatch. During the first weeks of their lives, puppies are prompted to urinate and defecate by licking from their mother. So dogs learn very early that languages ​​are useful tools for communicating and interacting with the world around them.

Puppies lick to appease older dogs, including their mother, and clear the way for safe social interactions. Pups will lick each other to show affection and to comfort themselves and sometimes their littermates.

Dogs lick people to improve smell

Licking also improves your dog’s sense of smell. Just like humans, dogs can taste bitter, salty, sweet, and sour. But because of their small number of taste buds, they actually use their sense of smell much more than their sense of taste when deciding what to lick or eat. This is probably why dogs enjoy licking areas of our bodies that tend to have strong tastes and odors: our hands, faces, ears, and feet.

To understand why dogs like to lick certain areas of our bodies, let’s take a quick look at the anatomy of human sweat. We have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.

• eccrine glands they secrete a clear, odorless, thin fluid made of salt, protein, etc., and are found in large numbers on the soles of the feet, the palms of the hands, the forehead, cheeks, and armpits.

• apocrine glands they secrete a thicker fluid that reacts with bacteria on the skin to create body odor and are found in the armpits and groin, but also in the ear canals, eyelids, and nostrils.

With all this fun physiology, how could dogs resist licking up parts of us that contain so much smell and taste?

Why do dogs lick your hands?

As you move through the world, your hands pick up scents and tastes that your dog wants to investigate once you get home. He may touch other people or animals, and most likely touch food. Your hands are like a road map for your pup that tells the story of your day, and they want to taste and smell every “destination” your hands visited.

The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin for your dog to enjoy.

Why do dogs lick your face?

Along with your hands, your face is constantly exposed to the world, so it takes on many interesting smells and flavors. Plus, you probably touch your face on a regular basis, giving your dog even more reason to lick your face!

Your face contains both types of sweat glands. The eccrine glands on the cheeks and forehead leave a salty taste that many dogs are sure to enjoy. But their eyelids and nostrils contain apocrine glands, which give those areas a mild but distinctive scent that’s easily identified by your dog’s super-powerful nose.

Thanks to the food you eat, your lips and mouth contain all kinds of attractive smells and flavors for your dog. This may explain why some pups really want to plant a slimy kiss right on your lips after eating.

Aside from all the scents and flavors your face offers, licking your face is probably an instinctive behavior for your dog. Dogs lick each other’s faces for mutual grooming, affection, and to communicate appeasement or harmlessness. Pet parents who love when their dogs lick them can also reinforce the behavior with their excited responses.

Why does my dog ​​lick my ears?

Your dog may be licking your ears to test them, keep them clean, or possibly to show you a little more love.

Apocrine glands in the ear canals secrete a thick fluid that creates an odor when mixed with the natural bacteria on the skin. Combined with the ceruminous glands, which create earwax, your ears offer a collection of enticing smells and tastes.

dogs lick the others ears to groom each other. And because it’s a very vulnerable interaction, dogs that allow this are likely to feel very safe around the other dog.

Why does my dog ​​lick my feet?

All those eccrine glands on the soles of your feet produce a lot of sweat, and that sweat creates a batch of salt. Your feet and toes offer a salty treat for your pup, and if you’re ticklish, it’s also a fun game between you and your dog.

If you smile or laugh when your dog licks your feet, you could be providing positive reinforcement for the behavior. They quickly learn that licking their feet gets their attention. This can not only extend the licking session, but it can also make it more likely to happen when your sockless feet emerge in the future.

Why does my dog ​​lick my legs?

If you’re fresh out of the shower, your dog may want to lick the water droplets off your skin. This does not mean that your dog is thirsty, but rather that he is interested in all the smells and tastes that you bring out of the shower with you.

Shampoo, body wash, and shaving creams leave an interesting scent and taste on the skin. Cutting yourself with a razor can also attract attention, as dogs also lick themselves to keep wounds clean.

If licking your legs has nothing to do with shower time, it could be a lotion you applied to yourself, salt on your skin after exercise, or something completely random you didn’t even know you came into contact with.

When is licking a problem?

Dogs lick for many reasons. They may lick out of boredom, in which case increasing the enrichment might reduce the behavior. Activities like licking mats can provide an outlet for bored dogs who like to use their tongues.

But there are times when licking indicates a behavioral and/or medical problem. Behaviorally, licking that occurs frequently in response to an event but is difficult to interrupt may be a sign of anxiety. Excessive licking of a person can mean that the dog is not comfortable with that person and is trying to calm down, gather more information, or push the person away.

Licking can be a canine calming signal or displacement behavior. When a dog is feeling stressed, anxious or conflicted about what to do, he may use a behavior to buy time to communicate that he is not ready to participate. Licking, due to the physiological effect on endorphins and dopamine, can be used to calm down in anxiety-provoking social situations. It is also a common behavior implicated in compulsive disorders.

From a medical point of view, chronic licking, not just grooming, of a specific area of ​​your body may be evidence of allergies, infection, or pain. If he’s licking everything, like sofas, carpets, or floors, there may be GI issues with your partner.

If you recognize any problematic forms of licking, seek the help of a professional. Contact your vet first to determine if there is a medical problem. Then a certified behavior consultant can provide expertise to observe the behavior. Complex cases would benefit from contacting a veterinary behaviorist as soon as possible.

Featured Image: iStock.com/Art_rich