Why does the dog lick?

Many owners have noticed that their dogs are real lickers, ready to happily run their tongue over a person’s face, lick their hands or feet, lick their nose or lips. Why do dogs lick?

Sometimes people attribute the desire of a dog to lick the owner of unearthly love, and licking his own body to neatness. Is it so?

In fact, it’s not quite like that.

Why does a dog lick a person?

Some dogs love to lick people, others don’t. And the way the dog does it may suggest the reason.

If a dog is allowed to lick its owner, it may lick other people as well. If the owner does not encourage such behavior, the dog most often stops doing it.

But many people can’t live without “kissing” their dog. And in this case, when the dog licks, they rejoice, smile or laugh. The dog sees this as positive reinforcement. This means that this behavior will become more frequent.

Why does a dog lick a person’s face?

It is not known exactly why dogs love to lick people’s faces so much. But some assumptions can be made.

If you watch the bitch and the puppies, you will see that they often lick each other. Interestingly, the more the mother licks the cubs, the more resistant they become to the effects of stress factors. That is, such dogs grow up happier. It is believed that this interaction reduces the level of stress hormones in the puppy’s body.

In addition, puppies, by licking the corners of the mouth of the mother and other adults, ensure that adult relatives regurgitate food for them. That is, they beg in this way. And maybe when your dog licks your face, he just asks for food?

Why does a dog lick its owner’s feet?

Dogs explore the world largely through their sense of smell. From a biological point of view, the legs are the “tastiest” part of the human body, the most odors are concentrated there.

In addition, when we wear socks, tights and shoes, we maintain a certain temperature and humidity, thus contributing to the growth of bacteria. And this in turn enhances the smell.

So don’t be surprised if your dog licks your feet.

Why does a dog lick the air?

As already mentioned, dogs explore the world with the help of smells. And smells are associated with taste. But it is unlikely that the dog licks the air to “taste” it.

Most likely, this behavior is associated with stress. For example, the dog is under pressure from you or is frightened by something.

Pay attention to the situations in which the dog licks the air. What is happening at this time? Is someone touching her? Someone came to the house? Did you go to her bowl? Did someone approach her toys? Are there children playing nearby?

It’s important to pay attention to triggers, as well as watch your dog’s body language, which can also indicate stress.

Why does a dog lick its nose?

As in the previous case, this may indicate that the dog is under stress. It is very important to understand the cause of stress and eliminate it.

Some owner actions recommended by dominance theorists can stress the dog.

For example, taking away food or toys from a dog does not mean that you are the “leader of the pack.” It only undermines your credibility.

If you are feeding your dog, let him eat in peace. She does not climb her paws into your plate!

To complete the game without bloodshed, teach the dog the appropriate command. And the toy can be exchanged for something nice.

If your children constantly pester the dog, save it: provide a reliable shelter.

A comfortable own place is in any case a necessity for a dog, as well as an important condition for reducing stress levels. Make sure that no one disturbs the dog in this place. She should be able to take refuge there unhindered when she feels such a need.

Why does a dog lick its owner’s hands?

Some owners will probably answer: this is something like a kiss. However, this explanation is not entirely correct.

You probably still have the smell of the “goodies” that you consumed at dinner on your hands. And even if you do not feel this aroma, the dog feels great, because his sense of smell is much sharper than ours.

So even if you washed your hands after dinner, the dog is still able to recognize exactly what you touched.

In addition, you could touch door handles, elevator buttons, pick up money … And who knows who else touched them in front of you and what smell they left.

So it’s no surprise that your hands are a great source of new scents. And your dog will not miss the chance to get acquainted with them.

Why does a dog lick furniture?

If your dog licks the furniture, it may just have food odors left on it. And from the side of the dog, this is something like a “garbage dump.”

However, the reason may not be so harmless.

Sometimes the fact that the dog licks the furniture is another sign of the stress he is experiencing. Alas, intense licking can be a sign of anxiety. And since licking calms the dog, he may try to cope with the unpleasant experience in this way.

Other signs of anxiety: trying to hide, heavy breathing, restlessness, avoidance behavior, puddles and piles of houses, shaking, damaging things.

If you suspect that your dog is experiencing anxiety, it’s worth finding the cause and fixing it.

Why do dogs lick their wounds?

Dogs often lick wounds, both their own and those of others.

Dog saliva contains substances that help clean wounds from infections. Also in this way, the dog can remove foreign particles from the wound. In addition, licking promotes the release of hormones into the bloodstream that help reduce pain.

However, this is not very good. After all, dog saliva also contains bacteria that do not help the successful healing of wounds. Therefore, if the dog is injured, it is still better to treat the damage with medications, and not rely on the “healing power of saliva.”

Why do dogs lick their lips?

If a dog licks its lips when you touch any part of its body, this is a reason to contact the veterinarian.

Also, the dog may lick his lips when he is stressed. Like yawning, head tilt, paw up, restlessness, tail tuck, and hiding, lip licking is a very common sign of stress in a dog.

It is normal for a dog to lick his lips after eating or drinking. But if licking is not related to food, this is a sign of trouble.

In this case, you should probably reconsider the dog’s relationship with people and relatives.

Many dogs lick their lips when they feel uncomfortable in the presence of a person or dog. They will not bark or growl. But if the signal of discomfort is ignored, such dogs will unfortunately have to be more “intelligible” next time. Don’t bring your pet.