Why does my dog lick me

Have you ever thought that maybe she likes the taste of your skin as well? From bits of food to your scented lotion to salty skin after working out, your dog may lick you simply because she thinks you taste good. Attention: In many cases, licking is learned behavior dogs pick up. They realize their owners will pet them and give them attention when they start licking. Separation anxiety is a common reason for these emotions. I sometimes offer dogs the underside of my chin to lick. Then I immediately wash my face or apply antibacterial sanitizing spray or gel to that area of my face.

Alternatively, I may allow them to lick my hand, and then I wash my hands afterwards or use an antibacterial spray or gel on my hands. First, recognize that you might be reinforcing the licking behavior. If every time your dog licks your face, you give him attention, he is more likely to repeat the licking behavior. And if your pup licks you on the face or mouth when you are eating, and you give him a piece of your food, you are encouraging the behavior to continue. If you do not like having your dog lick your face, you can always redirect them to exhibit affection and attention in a more acceptable manner to you, and be sure not to encourage the behavior.

Home News Views. Published: December 04, Featured Image: iStock. Search for:. Get a quote. These are some of the reasons why your dog may love to lick you: Affection One of the most common reasons why dogs love to lick their owners is simply to show their affection.

You taste nice! Attention-grabbing Dogs are intelligent animals and they may just be using their tongue to get your attention. After being outside, dogs often lick their paws to remove the dirt and anything else they may have stepped on. Pay close attention, though, to how much your dog licks himself. Moderate licking is normal behavior, but excessive licking may be caused by an underlying medical issue. Specifically, continuous anal cleaning can indicate that the glands need to be expressed.

From cuts to grazes, dogs lick any wound that is painful or irritated. Dog saliva has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties that can aid in fighting against certain bacterias. Furthermore, when a dog licks himself, it helps remove dead tissue and clean dirt from wounds.

In addition to licking his own wounds, your dog may also lick yours. They do this to cleanse the wound and help speed up the healing process. Although licking wounds has some benefits, too much licking may be harmful to your pup. Dogs who lick continuously may reopen wounds, create hotspots or cause infections. If you notice your dog licking his wound excessively, consult your vet for solutions to stop this behavior.

The same advice goes for dogs who lick human wounds. Although dog saliva has some healing properties, the risks outweigh the benefits. Perhaps your dog is nervous, scared, in pain or simply bored.