Often, a dog licks its owner because it shows feelings for him. The habit of licking the one you love is instilled in the dog from puppyhood. The mother diligently licks her offspring, showing care, care and tenderness. Why a dog licks its owner and what it means – we will look into it in more detail.
The dog shows his good attitude
When a puppy is first born, the mother licks its nostrils with her tongue so that it can begin to breathe. Throughout their life, puppies lick their brothers and sisters, gaining affection with them. So, if a dog exhibits this behavior towards a person, it may be due to its childhood memories and the fact that it is trying to show how much it cares for its owner. Yes, for us this may seem like something cute and funny, like a game, but the dog will really only lick the person he trusts and wants to get close to.
How to stop your dog from licking your face
A dog licking our faces can be quite unpleasant for some, especially if they don't stop even after a firm "no". The main ways to stop a dog from licking are to ignore them, apply something bitter or bad-tasting to the skin, and positively reassure them not to do it.
Some dogs may lick a person's face to get attention, and so once they get that attention, they will continue to do so. Ignoring this behavior will discourage it from happening again and they will do it less and less. Some dogs are much better trained to accept that you don't want them to do this behavior. You can make this a firm "no" by clicking the clicker and convincing your dog to sit with a treat. Repeat this every time your dog goes to lick you and he will naturally start to discourage it.
The last option to consider is putting something on the skin that will naturally discourage your dog from wanting to lick your skin. However, make sure that it is not a toxic ingredient. You can apply some citrus juice to your skin before your dog licks you. After a while they will be scared away. However, always remember that deterrence is not always a good or long-term solution.
Your pet wants to chat with you
Dogs' wild ancestors, wolves, use licking to communicate with each other. For example, if a puppy licks its mother, it means that it is hungry and is trying to find some food in its mother’s mouth. Of course, not all dogs have retained such an instinct - it all depends on how far the breed of your faithful friend has moved away from the wild wolf. However, if the puppy suddenly starts licking your face, then you should think about the last time you gave him food - it is quite possible that he is very hungry and is trying to tell you about it.
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Is it safe for a dog to lick its face?
If you are not immunocompromised or in a vulnerable age group, dog saliva does not pose a particular risk to your health. Dog saliva contains bacteria, but it does not pose a significant risk to healthy people. Although it's unlikely, dogs can transmit worm eggs to you in their saliva through direct contact. Therefore you need to know about this.
However, do not allow your dog to lick your face if you are sick, have a weakened immune system, or are in a vulnerable age group. If you have a weakened immune system, this may mean that bacteria from your dog's saliva can negatively affect you since your body is already weakened. The same goes for very young or very old people, as they do not have a strong enough immune system to fight off certain types of bacteria. Again, if you are sick, your immune system will be weaker and this may make you more susceptible to different types of bacteria.
It can also be a problem if your dog licks your wound, as this is an entry point for bacteria. This can lead to infection of the wound, which will require the use of antibiotics.
Animal showing submissiveness
A dog will never lick the face of a stranger or a person he doesn't trust. Some particularly loyal breeds of dogs (for example, a German shepherd) try to show their submissiveness in this way, saying: “Master, you are in charge here, so command, lead.” It is especially worth paying attention to this behavior if the pet began to lick you during a noisy domestic quarrel or thunderstorm. By licking the owner's face, the dog shows that it completely obeys the person and wants him to protect it. So you shouldn’t immediately push the animal’s face away, but rather think about how you can calm it down.
Showing love in dogs
The mother constantly licks the puppies before and after feeding - this is both a necessary hygiene measure, a massage to improve digestion, and a way to calm the little blind creature and let him know that he is not alone. Having matured, the puppy begins to lick its mother in response, demanding affection or showing that it is hungry. And when a person replaces the mother, he automatically begins to show his needs to him in this way. An adult dog, expressing devotion and joy, can run its tongue over the face and hands of the owner, unable to otherwise show feelings.
The dog constantly licks the puppies - this is both a necessary hygiene measure and a massage to improve digestion
Dog kisses as a sign of health problems
If one dog, for no apparent reason, began to carefully lick another, this may indicate that the object of attention and care is suffering from an undiagnosed disease. Inspect the area where your dog is licking to see if there is an open wound, an insect bite, or lichen. Even if you don't find anything, don't neglect the opportunity to contact your veterinarian for help. Perhaps your pet is worried about irritation or allergies, or maybe something more serious. A professional will be able to not only carefully examine the animal, but also take tests (blood, saliva, feces) from it to determine further treatment.
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Licking as an expression of love and care is inherent in dogs by nature.
The mother takes care of the puppies from the first moments of birth, carefully licking them. She remembers them, so she doesn’t always accept other people’s “children”, she makes the smell of defenseless babies elusive - this is inherent in nature to save the offspring. With her tongue, the mother massages the puppy’s muscles and belly, teaches him to move, and comforts him. Puppies, growing up, quickly learn to act the same way; they identify members of their pack using their tongue, lick each other, showing trust.
By licking puppies, the dog remembers them
Life with humans did not destroy the basic instincts of animals; it taught them to treat bipeds as members of a pack. Therefore, when accepting dog affection, owners should analyze the reasons for their occurrence in order to recognize problems in the behavior or health of their four-legged friend in time, take timely measures on their own or contact a specialist to solve the problems.
Just a characteristic feature of your dog
If your pet constantly licks you and other animals, this is not a reason to sound the alarm. It has been noticed that some dogs are simply bored, as a result of which they begin to show care and attention towards others. If you are sure that your pets are healthy, just find them something interesting to do, such as going for a run or playing catch in the yard. In addition, when dogs lick themselves and each other, endorphins (happiness hormones) are released. So if a male dog begins to lick someone often, perhaps it’s time to look for a bitch to mate with.
How to react to this
Each owner decides for himself how to show his attitude to this problem. Some people like this reaction from their pets to their bare feet, but for others such licking is terribly annoying. Sometimes a softly said “no” and careful removal help stop the process of licking feet. But this must be done methodically and constantly. Then the animal will understand that you are unpleasant about its actions and will stop licking you.
It is hardly worth scolding the dog, raising your voice at it, or taking any harsh measures. Your pet is most likely just showing his good attitude towards you. Is it possible to punish for this? Try to understand the reasons for this behavior. A dog licks a person’s feet instinctively; it will not be able to understand why it is being punished for this.
If you are worried about your pet licking your feet, analyze the reasons for this behavior. It should be taken into account that often this behavior can be reinforced by the owner himself even in early puppyhood, when the puppy was praised and encouraged for licking. If necessary, seek advice from a canine psychologist, dog trainer or veterinarian. It is necessary to exclude the presence of neurosis.
The dog is worried about its owner
By licking a person, a dog can demonstrate its care towards its owner. If you suddenly get dirty, your pet may decide it's time to take a bath. However, we should not forget that pets are able to sense the emotional background surrounding people. If you are in pain, the animal will try to comfort you by licking, just like its mother did. By the way, if the dog starts licking your open wound, do not rush to move his muzzle away. Dog saliva is not only excellent at killing bacteria, but also promotes rapid healing of wounds.
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Is it worth weaning your pet from this habit?
Here you should rely on your feelings. If you are disdainful and prefer other ways of showing love, start adjusting your behavior.
Puppy
Puppies learn about the world through licking, so you should not stop this behavior in the first 3-4 months. Let your baby get used to you - and only after that begin to set the boundaries of what is permitted. Don't scold him and be sure to leave at least one accessible body part. If the choice falls on your arms or legs, then stop licking your face with a sharp clap or the command “Ugh.”
Your pet wants you to praise him
We all love when we are praised. In this regard, dogs are not much different from people - they also expect praise or even a reward for protecting your peace and safety. So, if your pet suddenly starts licking you, perhaps he wants to show his best side, so that you will then praise him properly. However, keep in mind that reinforcing this behavior with a reward (stroking, scratching, hugging) will encourage the dog to resort to kissing again, because he will think that you really like it. So, if you don't want to end up drooling again, just politely refuse the advances.
Causes
There are several reasons why dogs love to lick their feet. The factors behind such strange behavior of an animal from a human point of view are different.
- This is how the dog shows its affection for family members. Animals do not have the ability to express their emotions like humans. And they do it in a way that is accessible to them. That is why a dog licks the feet of its owner or mistress, by doing this it shows its sympathy and love. When bored, she can lick other parts of the human body: hands, face, neck. Licking simply shows the dog's intense feelings.
- The animal attracts your attention - when your four-legged friend feels lonely or bored, this is how he tries to interest the person. For dogs, licking is a way of establishing contact with their beloved owner.
- Out of a sense of respect: dogs are pack animals, their behavior pattern was formed according to the hierarchy and relationships in the pack. Often the pet considers its owner to be the leader and thus expresses its respect for him.
- Bitches are influenced by maternal instinct. They often lick children's feet, showing care for them as if they were their own puppies.
- The physiological reason is that the animal does not have enough salt, and thus the pet tries to make up for its deficiency.
- Showing cunning - often a baby, after licking one of the family members, receives praise or a treat. A small puppy always evokes a feeling of tenderness in the family. They squeeze him, stroke him, kiss him, offer him another cheek or hand to lick. The baby reciprocates, he licks the pets and the owner. It turns out that the owner's reaction positively reinforces this behavior. As an adult, your pet does not forget that for licking you can get a positive response from your family or encouragement in the form of delicious food. And he uses this trick. That is, by showing attention to the owners, the animal tries to get a portion of affection or tasty food. It’s worth thinking about, maybe your puppy or adult dog lacks love and care?
- Many dogs enjoy the process of licking their owner's feet or hands . This is how the animal feels its connection with the person. In this case, the process is one of the ways of self-affirmation.
The animal shows its interest
Even though dogs have a highly developed sense of smell, they still use other senses from time to time to satisfy their curiosity. Therefore, if a dog starts licking you, it means that he wants to taste what your skin tastes like. Especially often, pets will resort to such an action when the smell of their owners has changed somewhat, for example, after a hearty dinner or a run. Either way, dogs simply love the smell of people, so they will want to taste it. Whether you encourage this behavior or not is up to you.
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Is it worth doing something about this?
If you are not happy with this display of dog affection, try to distract the animal from your legs. Put on your socks, play with your four-legged friend, talk to him, pick him up. Try redirecting your pet's attention to the toy. Provide your four-legged friend with enough exercise during your walk. After an active walk and new impressions gained during the walk, the four-legged friend will not demand the owner’s attention just because he is bored and his need for attention and communication has not been fulfilled.
Check, maybe the dog doesn’t have enough salt in its body, and that’s why it behaves this way . Pour some table salt into a bowl and place it next to drinking water. If the problem is a mineral imbalance, the dog will occasionally come up to the bowl and lick the salt. After some time, the balance in the animal’s body will be restored, and the habit of licking your feet will disappear.
A person can express his feelings using words, gestures, facial expressions, and movements. Our four-legged friends only have access to non-verbal communication. If a dog can express other feelings with the help of growling, barking, howling, then only dog “kisses” remain to show affection, care and friendliness. Therefore, to establish contact with the owner and family members, to attract attention, show devotion and love, the dog begins to lick various parts of the human body.
What do you think about this? Does your pet behave this way? What recommendations have you heard from experienced dog handlers?
Why is my dog licking my hands?
Most dogs like the taste of salt. Well, there is always a small amount of sweat on human hands, which the pet wants to properly taste. In addition, dogs are able to interpret the aromatic molecules contained in human secretions, thereby determining what mood you are in. In other words, by the taste of sweat, the animal is able to understand whether you are happy, worried about something, or just tired. But if you wash your hands properly with aromatic soap, the dog is unlikely to approach them at all, since it is not interested in such a smell.
Is licking harmful to people?
Proponents of dog “kisses” refer to the beneficial properties of lysozyme contained in saliva. This substance accelerates the process of tissue regeneration and has antibacterial properties. Despite this, the saliva of four-legged pets still cannot be called safe.
Regular vaccination and deworming do not guarantee 100% protection. A pet can still infect its owner with viruses, bacteria and parasites. There is also a risk of an allergic reaction to saliva containing a protein foreign to humans.
Most often, infection occurs when the mucous membranes are damaged. It is extremely difficult to notice microcracks on the lips and eyes, so it is better to prevent licking of these parts of the body. To avoid infection after unwanted contact, try to always wash your face and wash your hands thoroughly.
Why is the dog licking my feet?
In most cases, your dog will lick your feet for the same reasons that motivate him to lick his hands and face - he wants to get closer to you, show respect, or simply recognize the mood. However, it often happens that through such actions the pet tries to rid its owner of foot fungus (this disease has a pungent odor for the animal). Well, or the dog is simply trying to get your attention, but cannot reach your face or hands. Be that as it may, there is no need to ignore your pet, since in this way he is trying to communicate with the person as best he can.
The dog senses your mood
For centuries they have been accompanying humans everywhere, dogs have learned to sense a person’s mood and his attitude towards them. They are very loyal to some, most patiently tolerate children's pranks, but there are people who cause pathological aggression in dogs.
Fear has a special smell, this has already been proven. If a person is afraid or hostile, the dog detects this instantly. And he won’t be slow to respond.
Defenselessness and friendliness make these animals want to patronize, protect and protect. By covering his face with his hands and pretending to be crying, a person can easily force his pet to show remarkable care: he will make every effort to spread his fingers with his tongue and get to the eyes and cheeks, worrying, whining, trying to call other family members for help. Only a cheerful laugh or affection from the owner can calm him down.
Dog saliva for humans: benefits and harms
Until recently, there was an opinion that the saliva of animals contains much less harmful microorganisms than that of humans. However, numerous studies have refuted this theory.
Dog saliva for humans, benefits and harms:
- Dogs can eat excrement, pick up a variety of garbage, spoiled foods, so they often contain salmonellosis pathogens and E. coli in their mouths. Experienced breeders who carefully control their dogs' nutrition are not advised to allow their dogs to express affection in this way.
- If a person is completely healthy, there will be no harm from such kisses, but if there are some disorders, for example, a person suffers from skin diseases, scratches on the face, or reduced immunity, then such kisses can cause serious diseases.
- That is why take your pet to the veterinarian on time and destroy worms, as well as pathogens that the dog can carry.
Kisses
To allow or not to allow?
Having dealt with the main reasons, the main question arises: should a dog still be allowed to lick its owner’s face, or should it not ?
Veterinarians are convinced that such a display of canine love and devotion can result in serious illness for the owner. The fact is that even the cleanest pet , unfortunately, carries bacteria that can cause illness in humans. It is interesting that the dog itself may not be sick, but at the same time safely transfer the germs to its beloved owner.
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And then the situation becomes dangerous and unpredictable!
If a person has a strong immune system , then pathogenic microbes will most likely bypass him. But a weakened body, especially when it comes to children or the elderly, can become an ideal “haven” for parasites.
The same applies to worms, which are transmitted through dog “kisses”! True, unlike microbes, they feel equally good both in a healthy body and in a body with a fragile immune system.
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According to experts, dog saliva may contain bacteria that can lead to severe illness and even death.
Thus, in Wisconsin, a man named Greg Manteuffel became infected with a bacterial infection of the genus Capnocytophaga, which entered his blood. As a result, the poor guy had to have his arms and legs amputated to save his life! Just a few days before the tragedy, Greg was licked by a dog, as a result of which he fell ill.
A similar story happened with the owner of a dog who bit her owner and infected her with the same Capnocytophaga. Two days later the woman died...
Of course, such cases are extremely rare, and this is 1% out of 100, but you should never exclude the possibility of developing diseases!
Dating method
Probably all pet owners have noticed that when meeting a new person, the dog always sniffs and sometimes even licks the people who came to visit you. Thus, the receptors located in the animal’s nose and tongue accumulate and store unique information about the stranger and help to immediately recognize him the next time he meets.
There is also an assumption that animals like the taste and smell of the human (especially a little sweaty) body, and the texture of the skin. Many are sure that four-legged animals lack some trace elements or salt, which are released through sweat. This has not been scientifically proven, but it may well be one of the reasons why a dog licks its owner.
Your dog is collecting information
Dogs gather information by licking their feet (and other things too). Your dog uses millions of scent receptors located in his mouth and nose to collect and process information. Yes, your sweaty feet, which contain sweat glands made of salt, waste and water, provide your dog with information about you.
When he licks his feet, your dog is using his Jacobson's organ, an olfactory receptor that allows him to detect certainly subtle odors, like those in your sweat. She may also use this organ at the dog park when sniffing other puppies, or when sniffing the ground to figure out where to pee.
If your dog constantly licks you
First of all, we must not forget that this habit is inherent in dogs at the genetic level. Many owners deliberately reinforce this behavior of their pet from childhood, because it is difficult not to be touched when the puppy responds with mutual feelings and delight. After which an adult dog cannot resist licking someone on the cheek or lips once again. Often owners turn a blind eye to this, but this is absolutely forbidden. Dogs' mouths can contain many pathogenic microorganisms that are dangerous to humans.
Instead of weaning an adult dog from the habit of licking you, teach the rules of behavior from childhood. Experts advise reporting unwanted behavior in a firm, calm tone. One solution would be to redirect the dog's attention to the toy and provide regular physical activity. Physical exercise and impressions from walks will help your pet realize its needs, and, in addition, the pet will not need to additionally attract attention to its person. The dog is guaranteed to be happy, and your soul is calm.
Another reason why a dog cannot stop licking someone or something (the floor, toys, furniture) is the onset of the disease. At best, such features indicate behavioral problems that can be addressed by an animal behaviorist. At worst, it is a pathology that requires treatment by a veterinarian. Therefore, be attentive to your pet and try to solve problems at the stage of their early appearance.
