Why is my dog always trying to lick me

Is your dog licking you excessively? Vet reveals 5 reasons why and how to stop them

As a pup parent, you might want to learn how to stop your dog licking you (especially if they do it excessively). Whilst some of us love this gesture of affection, not everyone appreciates a slobbery kiss from their pooch.

There are lots of reasons why your dog might lick you and its not always to do with affection (we were surprised too!) It could also mean that your dog is feeling stressed or is requesting the best dog food from you.

If youre curious as to why your dog keeps licking you (or other things around your home), then Dr. Joanna Woodnutt, an expert vet, has the answers for you. Shes also suggested three ways to stop them from doing it so much.

Why your dog keeps licking you

1. You taste good!

Your dog might be licking you because you taste great! Whether youve been chopping food and your hands are covered in microscopic food particles, or whether you just put on that coconut body lotion, its possible your dog is licking you because your skin tastes delicious.

It might even be your natural body oils and sweat that your dog enjoys so much that salty flavour is a canine favourite!

Be aware that some ingredients in body lotion may be toxic to dogs, so they should be discouraged from licking you after applying moisturiser.

2. Stress, boredom, anxiety

Unfortunately, our dogs are prone to stress, and this can sometimes manifest in obsessive behaviors. Repetitive licking of people, objects, and themselves can be a sign of stress, dog boredom, or anxiety in our canine friends. You might notice your dog only licks you when theyre anxious (for instance, during a thunderstorm or firework show), or it may be that your dog licks anytime youre near them.

Licking is naturally comforting for dogs its a grooming behavior they undertake when calm and relaxed. In fact, it could even be seen as the canine equivalent of taking a deep breath in and out to calm down.

For these cases, providing more entertainment is useful, as it can resolve boredom and reduce stress. The best dog puzzle toys are useful for dogs suffering from boredom, anxiety, and stress. They also allow dogs to redirect the repetitive licking behavior onto an appropriate toy. Lickimats and stuffed toys are great. Playing games with your dog can also relieve boredom, as can adding in some new training regimes.

If your dogs anxiety is severe, you are likely to see other symptoms at this point its worth discussing with your vet.

3. Canine dementia

In canine dementia (properly called canine cognitive dysfunction or CCD), your dog can gain new repetitive behaviors, including licking you. If your dog is elderly and seems to be licking your foot or hand more than they used to, its possible canine cognitive dysfunction is to blame.

Other symptoms of CCD include changes in sleep-wake pattern, forgetfulness, toileting accidents, and anxiety. Luckily, treatment can resolve many of these symptoms, including licking!

4. You've accidentally trained them to do it!

Dogs are fast learners, and theyll take just about anything as a reward. So, its possible youve actually trained your dog to lick you by inadvertently rewarding his behaviour. For instance when your dog licks you, you move his head away and absentmindedly stroke him thats positive reinforcement. Theyll quickly learn that licking you gets a stroke!

Even telling him off can work as reinforcement for many dogs, all attention is good attention, even if youre asking them to stop. If your dog licking you gets you to give them attention, then theyll carry on doing it.

So how can you stop it? Try to ignore your dog completely if they start licking, and silently move away. Your dog will soon realize that licking causes you to ignore him and leave the room, and hell quickly stop. Dont forget to praise him when hes sitting near you without licking you, too!

5. They're asking for food or information

Dogs lick other dogs faces to communicate. Generally, its something a puppy does to an adult dog. To his mother, this might mean feed me, but to other adults in the pack, licking the face can be a submissive behavior asking for approval. Socially, licking an adult dogs face is saying Im just a puppy, you take the lead and tell me how to behave.'

Vets and researchers arent quite sure whether dogs lick humans faces for the same reason. But, if your dog is still young, theres a possibility theyre looking for guidance or for food!

How to stop a dog from excessively licking

Although some dog licking is normal, it can be annoying if your dog licks excessively, whether it's you or your home furnishings. It's important to remember that how you act when your dog is licking can have a tangible impact on their future behavior.

1. Use positive reinforcement

If your dog approaches and licks your hand, it's almost a reflex to stroke their head, but this could easily cause them to associate licking you with getting a fuss. Similarly, if they're licking the sofa and you want them to stop, you might approach them and give them fuss as you lead them away, or even give them a reward like a chew to keep them occupied.

2. Keep them occupied

Frustratingly though, the opposite behavior might also cause your dog to lick since even if you tell them off, you're still acknowledging them and giving them attention. The best way to discourage excessive licking altogether is to ignore the behavior and provide plenty of activities to give your pooch plenty of alternatives to keep them busy.

3. Visit your vet for a check-up

Remember, though, that excessive licking can sometimes indicate a medical problem, like anxiety, for instance. Dementia is common in older dogs, and this can also cause some odd behaviors, like licking. It's also possible that your dog is licking as a form of pica, where a nutrient deficiency causes them to eat or lick inedible things. So, if you can't seem to get your dog's excessive licking under control, it's worth taking them to the vet clinic for a general health check.

These are five possible reasons your dog might be licking you, but getting to the bottom of the problem can be tricky. Whilst licking isnt necessarily harmful, dogs mouths are dirty places and there is a risk they can pass on germs to family members. So, its best to stop your dog from licking people wherever possible.

You might also be questioning, Why do dogs lick their paws?' and 'Why is my dog panting so much?'

Why Do Dogs Lick You?

You may love your dog, but not all of us like slobbery kisses from our furry canine friends. Many pet parents believe their dogs lick them to show affection, and while this may be true some of the time, there are also many other functions for licking.

So, why do dogs lick us? And are there different reasons for why dogs lick your hands, face, ears, feet, or legs?

Key Takeaways

• Dogs lick people (including our faces, hands, legs, ears, and feet) for many different reasons.
• This behavior can mean something different depending on where your dog is licking you.
• While licking is a normal dog behavior, in some cases it can indicate a medical or behavioral issue.

Why Do Dogs Lick People?

Licking is a natural instinct in dogs. Studies have shown that licking releases endorphins in a dogs brain. Endorphins are neurotransmitters that make dogs (and us!) feel calmer and more relaxed. This then leads to a release of dopamine, another neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and motivation.

There are many things that dogs licksome more repulsive than others. So, what does it mean when a dog licks you? There isnt one straight answer. Dogs lick people for a variety of reasons, including affection, communication, grooming, exploration, attention, and taste.

Dogs Learn to Lick as Puppies

Mother dogs lick their pups to clean and stimulate them as soon as they are born. For the first few weeks of their lives, puppies are prompted to urinate and defecate by moms licking. So, dogs learn very early that tongues are useful tools in communicating and interacting with the world around them.

Puppies lick to appease older dogs, including their mom, and clear the way for safe social interactions. Pups will lick one another to show affection, and to comfort themselves and sometimes their littermates.

Dogs Lick People to Enhance Smell

Licking also enhances yourdogs sense of smell.Like humans, dogs can taste bitter, salty, sweet, and sour. But due to their small number of taste buds, they actually use their sense of smell far more than their sense of taste when deciding what to lick or eat. This is likely why dogs enjoy licking areas of our bodies that tend to have strong tastes and smells: our hands, faces, ears, and feet.

To understand why dogs really enjoy licking certain areas of our bodies, lets take a quick look at the anatomy of human sweat. We have two types of sweat glands: eccrine and apocrine.

• Eccrine glands secrete a thin, odorless, clear fluid made of salt, protein, etc., and are found in large numbers on the soles of the feet, the palms, the forehead, the cheeks, and in the armpits.

• Apocrine glands secrete a thicker fluid that reacts with the bacteria on your skin to create body odor and are found in the armpits and groin, but also in the ear canals, eyelids, and nostrils.

With all of this fun physiology, how could dogs resist licking parts of us that contain so much scent and taste?

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Hands?

As you move through the world, your hands collect smells and flavors that your dog wants to investigate once you come home. You might touch other people or animals, and you very likely touch food. Your hands are like a roadmap for your pup that tells the story of your day, and they want to taste and smell every destination your hands visited.

The palms of your hands also sweat, leaving a salty residue on your skin for your dog to enjoy.

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?

Along with your hands, your face gets constant exposure to the world, so it picks up a lot of interesting smells and tastes. Also, youre likely to touch your face regularly,giving your dog even morereasons to lick your face!

Your face contains both types of sweat glands. Eccrine glands on your cheeks and forehead leave a salty flavor many dogs are certain to enjoy. But your eyelids and nostrils contain apocrine glands, which give those areas a mild but distinct odor easily identified by your dogs super-powered nose.

Thanks to the food you eat, your lips and mouth contain all sorts of attractive smells and tastes for your dog. This may explain why some pups really want to plant a slobbery kiss right on your lips after you eat.

Aside from all the scents and flavors your face offers, licking your face is likely an instinctual behavior for your dog. Dogs lick each other's faces for mutual grooming, affection, and to communicate appeasement or harmlessness. Pet parents who love when their dogs lick them may also reinforce the behavior with their excited responses.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Ears?

Your dog may be licking your ears to taste them, keep them clean, or possibly to show you some extra love.

The apocrine glands in your ear canals secrete a thick fluid that creates an odor when it mixes with the natural bacteria on your skin. Combined with the ceruminous glands, which create earwax, your ears offer a collection of enticing smells and tastes.

Dogs lick each others ears to groom one another. And because its a very vulnerable interaction, dogs that allow this likely feel very safe with the other dog.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet?

All of those eccrine glands on the soles of your feet create a lot of sweat, and that sweat creates a lot of salt. Your feet and toes offer a salty treat for your pupand if youre ticklish, it also makes for a fun game between you and your dog.

If you smile or laugh as your dog licks your feet, you could be providing positive reinforcement for the behavior. They quickly learn that licking your feet gets them attention from you. This may not only extend the licking session, but make it more likely to happen when your sockless feet emerge in the future.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs?

If youre fresh from the shower, your dog may want to lick the water droplets from your skin. This doesnt mean your dog is thirstyrather, theyre interested in all the smells and tastes youre bringing out of the shower with you.

Shampoo, body wash, and shaving creams all leave an interesting scent and taste on your skin. Nicking yourself with a razor may also attract some attention, since dogs also lick to keep wounds clean.

If the leg-licking has nothing to do with shower time, it could be a lotion you applied, salt on your skin after exercise, or something completely random you werent even aware you came into contact with.

When Is Licking a Problem?

Dogs lick for many reasons. They may lick out of boredom, in which case increasing enrichment could reduce the behavior. Activities like lick mats can provide an outlet for bored dogs who like to use their tongues.

But there are times licking indicates a problem behaviorally and/or medically. Behaviorally, licking that occurs frequently in response to an event but is difficult to interrupt can be a sign of anxiety. Licking a person excessively can mean that the dog is not comfortable with that person and is either trying to sooth themselves, gather more intel, or move the person away.

Licking can be a canine calming signal or a displacement behavior. When a dog feels stressed, anxious, or conflicted about what to do, they may use a behavior to buy sometime and communicate that they are not ready to engage. Licking, because of the physiological effect on endorphins and dopamine, can be used to sooth themselves in anxiety-provoking social situations. It is also a common behavior involved in compulsive disorders.

Medically, chronic lickingnot just groomingof a specific area of their bodies can be evidence of allergies, infections, or pain. If they are licking everything, like couches, rugs, or floors, there may be GI issues with your companion.

If you recognize any problematic forms of licking, seek help from a professional. Reach out to your vet to determine whether there is a medical issue first. Then, a certified behavior consultant can lend their expertise to take a look at the behavior. Complex cases would benefit from contacting a veterinary behaviorist as soon as possible.

Featured image: iStock.com/Art_rich

WRITTEN BY

Kasey Stopp, DVM, CVA

Veterinarian

Dr. Kasey Stopp was born in rural Illinoisbut spent most of her life in Cincinnati, Ohio. She attended the University of Cincinnati where...