LICKING DOGS

Originally Answered: Why do dogs like to lick people?

Licking human faces are dogs' common and functional behavior. It's an instinctive behavior for dogs to communicate with humans or other animals. When your dog licks you, maybe he is sending you a message, gathering your information, keeping you clean, or he just simply enjoying the feeling.

• Your dog expresses his love to you. Licking to show affection is a functional behavior that puppies learn from their mom and littermates. Dogs strengthen their family bonds by licking each other. Your dog licks your face to express his affection for you and try to strengthen the bond between you and him.
• Your dog is showing his respect to you. Dogs are innately pack animals and follow the established social order. Wild dogs use licking to show respect for and submission to their pack leaders. If your dog licks you, he may be telling you he considers you as his pack leader.
• Your dog may be telling you he is hungry. Sometimes dogs use licking to tell they are hungry. Puppies lick their mothers’ lips to stimulate a regurgitation so they can eat the food their mothers vomit. Just like their wolf ancestors, wild dogs lick pack leader's face for asking food. If your dog licks you at feeding time, he may be telling you he is ready to eat.
• Your dog is curious about your feeling and wants to know that. Dogs’ noses and mouths have special sense organs that they use to process and interpret the scented molecules found in human sweat. By licking you, he can know whether you are happy or stressed.
• Your dog wants to keep you clean. Dogs naturally lick themselves and littermates to keep them clean. If your dog licks you often, he's trying to clean you by using his way.
• Your dog likes licking you perhaps just because you taste good. The act of licking releases pleasure endorphins in dogs and this makes dogs feel comfortable and safe. Your dog may be licking you just because it feels good doing this.

Some owners don't mind or even enjoy their dogs lick them, some dogs lick spontaneously. It depends on how you feel about it. You can train your dog to do this within the limits you set.

More dog behaviors info please view Understanding Your Dog | Dog Behavior

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