Your face, along with your hands, is the part of your body that is exposed to the outside world the most, so it takes in a lot of unique tastes and scents. Additionally, since you probably touch your face frequently, your dog will have even more opportunities to lick your face!
Both types of sweat glands are located on your face, as was previously described. Dogs are sure to like the salty taste left by the eccrine glands on your cheeks and forehead. However, the apocrine glands in your eyelids and nostrils give those locations a moderate but distinctive odor that your dog’s highly developed nose can easily detect.
Your mouth and lips contain a variety of tasty and appealing smells for your dog as a result of the food you eat, which may help to explain why some puppies really want to place a slobbery kiss directly on your lips!
Apart from all the aromas and scents your face offers, your dog is probably licking your face out of habit. Licking your face is a genuine indication of affection since dogs groom and communicate with one another by licking each other’s faces.
Do you allow dogs to lick your face?
“There will be very little absorption through the skin when canine saliva contacts undamaged human skin, especially in a healthy individual, thus it is exceedingly unlikely to create any difficulties,” stated Dr. Kaplan in an email.
However, a person’s nose, mouth, and eyes have mucous membranes that can absorb a dog’s saliva and viruses more easily. Despite the rarity of infections being spread in this way, Dr. Kaplan advised against letting your dog lick specific areas of your face.
According to The Hippocratic Post, John Oxford, a professor of virology and microbiology at Queen Mary University of London, stated he would never permit a dog to lick his face.
He stated, “It is not just what is carried in saliva.
Dogs spend the majority of their lives with their noses in unsanitary areas or close to canine waste, which leaves their muzzles covered in a variety of bacteria, viruses, and other germs.
When dogs lick you, what does that mean?
Your dog may lick you repeatedly for several reasons, including affection, attention-seeking, or to satisfy a primal urge. Dog owners commonly refer to a dog licking their hand as “offering kisses” and see it as a sign of devotion.
Generally speaking, letting your dog lick you is harmless, but some dogs appear to enjoy doing so more than others. Although this activity is typically not bothersome, we explain why dogs enjoy licking people, if it is safe for them to do so, and how to teach your dog to lick less in case it is.
Why lick owners do dogs?
For a variety of reasons, dogs lick. Periodic licking can appear loving or strengthen your relationship with your dog. It is less endearing when your dog licks your face repeatedly. If your dog keeps licking you, you might lose patience with them. Licking could be your dog’s way of expressing their love for you, therefore they may not understand your frustration. The action soothes your dog and releases endorphins.
For a dog, licking is an innate behavior. When they were puppies, their mother used her tongue to groom them, which comforted them. Puppies also lick their mother and one another.
They’re scouting. Dogs use their tongues to detect scents and tastes in their environment. It is their manner of contacting things like we do to lick people and stuff.
Self-grooming is being done. Dogs’ tongues have some antibacterial qualities that help to better clean their fur. After going potty, they lick their paws to clean them. However, contrary to popular belief, their tongues are not antibacterial. On their tongues, there are both healthy and dangerous microorganisms.
They need your focus. Your dog may lick you to communicate that they want to play or be loved. Your dog’s behavior is reinforced when you pet them and smile when they lick you. Puppies frequently kiss other dogs to get their attention. When young dogs lick, they typically do so with great eagerness.
They’re being kind to you. Dogs get a flood of positive emotions when they lick. Dogs lick their mothers’ mouths and are licked by their mothers when they are puppies. Even as they age, they might still feel comfortable. As a sign of respect, it can also be done by licking you.
They enjoy your flavor. They might find scented body washes and lotions appealing. After an exercise, they can enjoy the taste of salty skin. Watch out for when your dog licks you. They might want to taste anything on you. Your natural skin can simply taste good to your dog. Dogs explore and learn about their surroundings through taste.
There could be a medical issue with your dog. They could lick sore or diseased areas. Licking a place repeatedly indicates pain or discomfort. Your dog may lick their lips excessively if they are nauseated. A senior dog who licks frequently may be showing signs of dementia. When anxious, stressed out, or afraid, they could lick. For solace, they could lick you or anything close by repeatedly. Anxiety of leaving could be the problem.
It’s possible that your dog suffers from OCD (OCD). Dogs may get licking compulsively. Extreme anxiety and stress are the causes of OCD. Your dog may lick excessively and possibly have tongue sores if they have OCD. You might want to speak with a veterinarian.
Do dogs become upset if you refuse to let them lick them?
It might be challenging to know when to stop cuddling and becoming close to our canine friends. They are so charming and lavish their pet parents with love and affection, to the point where they are occasionally even tempted to behave just like their four-legged family member. The majority of the time, the behavior should not be imitated, notwithstanding human curiosity. A good example of this behavior is licking your pet. Recognizing that human psychology and canine psychology are different will help us comprehend why it is improper to respond to certain canine behaviors. As a result, different acts will signify and express different meanings. Face licking is a canine expression of deference and submission to the pack leader. If you have more than one dog, you may have observed this behavior between the siblings. There is typically a dominating, alpha-dog, or pack leader in a home. All the other dogs obey, respect, and submit to this dog.
Licking the alpha’s face and shrinking in size in his presence are two ways they demonstrate their submissiveness. Since doing so would bring down his status in the pack and encourage the other dogs to challenge him for leadership, the alpha dog never returns the licks. There is always a pack leader, and in most circumstances, that person is the dog’s owner, regardless of whether your furry friend has canine siblings or is only a member of the human family. Your dog may occasionally lick or make an effort to lick your face as a sign of respect because he likely sees you as the dominant person in the family. It could be tempting to repay the favor, especially when it resembles giving someone a second high-five or returning a cheek kiss of goodwill. Sadly, no, it is not. Instead, your dog will probably become quite confused and dislike having his mouth licked by you. It can also entirely confuse him, surprise and annoy him, and even cause an unanticipated outburst of aggressiveness.
Does your dog deserve a hug?
Hugging your dog buddies isn’t always a smart idea, even if it’s only natural to desire to do so with your loved ones. Dr. Vanessa Spano, DVM at Behavior Vets, explains that hugging is a form of handling, and handling can make some dogs fearful, anxious, and stressed out. Similar to people, not everyone enjoys receiving hugs, let alone frequent hugs; dogs deserve permission.
How can you tell whether your dog is anxious when receiving hugs? Dogs who are afraid or anxious may yawn, lick their lips, show the whites of their eyes, back away, tremble, stiffen, growl, lunge, bite, and more, according to Dr. Spano. “Your dog is indicating that he or she is stressed out and does not want to be hugged if he or she exhibits any of these indicators when being hugged.” Fortunately, there are also non-frightening ways to physically adore your dog.
How can I tell whether my dog loves me?
You can know if your dog is loving you by looking for the following signs:
They can’t wait to see you. This scene is one that all dog owners have seen. When you open your front entrance, a playful fur storm greets you. It’s possible that your dog will leap up on you, lick your face, and wag its tail. One way to know someone loves and misses you is by their excitement and joy when they see you.
They want to be touched. The infamous lean, a short nuzzle, or a cuddle are all examples of this. These are all indications that your dog wants to demonstrate affection. The best course of action is to let them complete this on their own terms, so resist the impulse to tightly hug them.
They wish to rest close to you. Dogs naturally sleep adjacent to each other in packs. They put their noses to the breeze to detect any odors that might indicate danger. Your dog is expressing trust and security when it curls up next to you or wants to sleep in your room.
They look at you sweetly. Dogs reserve the ability to maintain eye contact with someone they love and trust since it is a huge move. Direct eye contact is an aggressive action in the wild. They employ this strategy to scare one another and assert their supremacy. Your dog is staring affectionately in your direction when they meet your right in the eyes and maintain eye contact without their pupils expanding.
They inquire after you. cooking, watching TV, and using the restroom Your dog tries to be there for you throughout the entire experience. Your dog might visit you in bed once or they might follow you around the home all the time. One of the many ways your dog displays affection is by checking in on you. They are checking on your wellbeing!
When they lick you. There are a variety of reasons why your dog might lick you, but in the end, it’s always out of affection. They want to talk to you and get your attention. They can be getting ready to play or simply giving a kiss before a snuggle. They want to let you know they care in either case.
Their toys are shared. When your dog wants to play, they may occasionally tease you with their toy, but when they truly want to show their love, they’ll give it to you as a gift. They want to give the person they care about their most precious thing. It certainly sounds like a lot of love.
Only when there is food involved are you second. A dog that loves you will put you before everything—even a full bowl of food. Only then will they fall head over heels in love with anything else.
Do dogs comprehend your kisses?
When you kiss your dog, you might see indications that they regard the act as an expression of love.
However, as dogs age, they could begin to relate kisses and cuddling to their owners’ happiness because stroking and goodies frequently follow.
Dogs may also get excited and wag their tails while running around you. When you kiss a dog, many of them will look right into your eyes, and you can usually tell how much they trust you because of this kind of affection.
When giving their pets kisses, many dog owners speak to them in a sweet or kind way. The dog therefore comes to associate the kisses with a warmer tone, which could cause them to react as such.
Dogs can gradually come to understand that kisses are pleasant messages even though they do not fully understand what kisses mean.
Wagging their tail, looking alert, licking your hand or face, acting excitedly, and running around are a few signs your dog may exhibit. If your dog doesn’t react this way, it’s best to find another way to express your affection.
Why do dogs kiss each other?
Like you might expect, doggie kisses are an expression of affection. That is, it is endearing when accompanied by butt wiggles and other happy gestures. For instance, your dog might want to say hello after you get home from a long day at work “Hi Mom! I’m so happy you’re back home! The doggie kisses are a natural display of affection after that.
“Your dog releases endorphins when you lick him out of affection, which helps him feel secure and relaxed. He wants you to understand that you are the most significant person in his life. (Source)
Early-life bonding
The early months of a puppy’s existence, also referred to as the “socialization stage,” have a significant influence on its growth. As a result, during this crucial period, dogs frequently develop strong, lifelong ties with whoever feeds, plays, and generally looks after them the most.
Even if the person they developed a link with has passed away, a dog may still appreciate those who are similar to them. For instance, even if their new human parents are women, they can seem to prefer men if their primary carer while they were puppies was a man.
Are you concerned that your adult dog might have been raised to prefer someone else? The following element may help you win your dog’s approval.
Time, attention, and affection
Dogs tend to form deep relationships with those who provide them the greatest affection and attention (such as through feeding, training, and playing). And keep in mind that in this case, quality matters more than number.
A fun game of fetch or a demanding workout will have a greater positive impact on your relationship than binge-watching Netflix together and other idle pursuits. Check out our breed-specific guide on speaking your dog’s love language if you’re unsure of the kinds of things your dog would find meaningful.
Positive associations
Probably familiar with the adage “what gets rewarded stays in fashion. This adage holds true whether you’re trying to teach your dog a new trick or just improve your relationship with them. There is a reason why vets are so eager to hand out dog treats; they are attempting to foster goodwill because what follows may not be very pleasant.
The easiest approach to train your dog to link you with pleasant things is to always have a tasty reward available when you greet them. Additionally, you want to avoid negative interactions like stern correction or reprimanding. (In addition, the majority of dogs react far better to praise.)
Personality alignment
Have you ever observed that dogs frequently bear some resemblance to their owners? It has been scientifically demonstrated that individuals favor dogs that are physically similar to them in some way; this is not just a coincidence.
The same is true for personality, which is strange. Dogs often have personalities that are similar to the individuals they enjoy spending time with. A Golden Retriever, for example, might get along best with an outgoing, vivacious individual. However, a Basset Hound would probably feel more at ease with a distant or reserved person.
The more in common you have with a dog, the more likely it is that you will develop deep friendships, much like in human relationships.
Breed tendencies
Let’s discuss about breeds while we’re talking about personalities. Dogs have been developed for specialized tasks throughout history, from eradicating pests to protecting property. As a result, depending on their ancestry, pups frequently have different temperaments. This affects both how they develop relationships with humans and the types of pets they produce.
