Gross Archive

Reason Why Dogs Lick their Owners

Jul 22, 2019 By Kayode Oseh 4.3K

Most of us that have dogs as pets at home we may be familiar with this. Face licking or any other body parts is one behaviors exhibited by dogs. But why do they always do this? lets see;

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?

A dog licking faces or other body parts may occur as part of grooming. When they cannot reach your face, they may lick the closest body part, which may be your hand, arm or leg. However, according to psychology this gesture may be interpreted as a sign of social behavior or a sign of affection and love.

They can also exhibit this behavior on strangers as well, when dogs lick someone they are meeting for the first time it may be a way of appeasing to them that they would not harm the stranger and on the other hand, the stranger should not as well do anything that will harm or threaten them too. Also when dogs lick the face of children, it can be a sign of affection, appeasement or simply the act of cleaning dirt off their face.

Is Dog Licking a Health Risk?


Dog licking is not suppose to be something harmful, but however, it is better to keep them away from licking our open wounds. Capnocytophaga canimorsus is a bacteria that lives in dogs saliva and this bacteria may cause infection when they get into the blood stream. Licking an intact skin have minimal health risk unless it was an injury. But anyway you can wash the surface where the saliva have touched if that makes you uncomfortable.

Licking is a behavior in dogs that can be changed, you can actually stop them from licking you all you need to do is to make them undergo some behavioral changes. If every time your dog licks you body, you always give him attention or food, just know that he is likely to repeat that behavior again next time to have your attention or for you to give him food.

So if you do not want your dog to exhibit such a behavior, you can always redirect them to exhibit affection and attention in a more acceptable manner.

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