It is true that dogs can’t talk the way we do but with their body language, they can communicate their messages to you. One of the most common behaviours your little pooch may use to involves licking your body parts, especially your face. Licking is considered as an instinctive canine behaviour used by dogs to communicate with people as well as with other animals. Have you ever thought that why your canine buddy licks your face? It is not possible to understand the certain reason why your dog licks you. However, we simply do have some pretty good ideas like may be your dog could be trying to send you a message, want to keep you clean, need food or treat, gather information about your or he/she may simple enjoy the pleasurable licking sensation. If you want to know how licking behaviour in dogs is developed and why your pooch continues to do it, here are some of the reasons:
– Puppies Learn Licking Behaviour From Their Mothers:
During puppy hood, most of mothers spend a significant of time licking their young ones to clean or groom them as well as to stimulate them to defecate and urinate. This calming and familiar experience of being groomed by mum is remembered by pups before they even open their eyes. Likewise, from about six weeks of age, when some pups want their mother to regurgitate food for them, they lick their mum’s face and lips which is a remnant behaviour of their wild ancestry.
– Pack Members Communicate Through Licking:
When puppies grow older, they lick their pack members and themselves just as their mum groomed them. Pack members also lick to increase the bonds between them as well as when they welcome others back into their pack. Adult dogs use face licking to communicate a sign of respect or submissiveness to a dominant pack member.
– Many Other Reasons For Face Licking:
Besides above mention, there are many other reasons that why do dogs lick your face and some are as follow:
1- To Show Affection & Respect: Your dog not only loves you but also respects you. Most of the puppies lick to show affection as they have learned this from their mothers and littermates. When your dog is licking your face, make sure he is trying to express his affection for you to strengthen the familial bond he has with you. Your dog also licks your face, when he is trying to communicate that he acknowledges you as the dominant pack leader.
2- To Get Your Attention: Your dog usually licks your face when he needs your attention. Sometimes, when you ignore him, he feels lonely and bored, so to get your attention, he may licks your face.
– To Express His Hunger: Many dogs lick their owners’ faces to communicate that they are hungry and want some food. Similarly, puppies lick their mothers’ lips to stimulate a regurgitation reflex so they can eat the food their mothers vomit.
– To Groom: Naturally, dogs lick to clean themselves or their littermates as well as their masters. If your dog often licks your face, make sure he may want to groom you to help keep you clean. When dogs lick the face of children, they simply clean the food residue off their faces.
– To Enjoy Good Taste: Sometimes, your dog enjoys licking your face or other body parts because he simply likes to get the salty taste of your sweat.
– To Get Pleasure: Licking in dogs involves the release of pleasurable endorphins that often gives them a sense of comfort and security. Your dog likes to lick your face simply because it feels good to him.
– To Make You Happy: Most of us laugh, smile or express some cheerful response to our dogs when they lick us. They take it as a positive response and repeat their licking behaviour to make us happy.
– To Gather Information: Dogs are sensitive about their owner’s feelings. By licking your face, they may be able to determine your happy or sad feelings as they have special receptors in their nose and mouth which they use to process and interpret human sweat’s scented molecules.
