Why Do Dogs Lick?

They like the taste of your skin

The presumption in many people’s minds is that their dogs lick them to show affection. While this may be true, dogs may also lick you because they like the taste of your skin. This may be caused by traces of food on your skin or just the taste of salt and scents on your skin. In other cases, a new scent on your skin can also compel the dog to sniff and lick you. This will give the dog a lot of information regarding where you have been.

To attract attention

In other cases, dogs will lick people to attract attention. There are many ways through which a dog can attract your attention, including a tap using its paw, a nose nudge and barking. But if the dog has noticed that you do not pay attention to these attempts, it may result into licking. To seek attention, a dog will lick your arm, hand or your face. If your dog starts licking you, you should try to establish whether he is trying to tell you something. For instance, the dog may be trying to tell you that he needs a potty break, the water bowl is empty or that he wants to play because he is bored.

To relief stress

Licking in dogs releases endorphins, which play a role in relaxation. As such, a dog may lick itself, nearby objects or humans to stay calm. The majority of dogs find licking soothing and relaxing. Additionally, when nervous, a dog will smack its lips or lick to calm its nerves and show other dogs around that it is not a threat to them.

When hungry

The question in the minds of many dog owners is "why do dogs lick?" There are many reasons as to why dogs lick, but your dog may be licking you simply because it is hungry. It has been ascertained that wild dogs tend to lick the face of their pack leader to beg for food. Additionally, puppies will lick their mother’s lips when hungry. This stimulates a regurgitation reflex and the puppies will feed on the food vomited by their mother. Therefore, if your dog starts licking you around its feeding time, it may be telling you that it is hungry.

To show affection

Sometimes, dogs may lick your face to show affection. They learn this when they are young. Licking among littermates, in addition to maternal licking helps in strengthening family bonds among the dogs. Therefore, the dog may be licking you to show its affection for you and to strengthen the family bond it has with you.

To investigate

Why do dogs lick? Answering this question is the starting point towards curbing your dog’s licking behavior. A dog may lick you just to ascertain your feelings. They use special receptors in their mouth and nose to interpret and process, scented molecules that exist in human sweat. This information will help the dog determine whether you are stressed or happy.

To clean up

Just like the cats, dogs lick to clean themselves. This is because dogs are also concerned about their hygiene. However, if your dog constantly licks itself, it might be an indicator that its glands need to be expressed.

To aid in wound recovery

There are enzymes in a dog’s saliva that get rid of bacteria. As such, licking wounds on their skin helps in cleaning and killing the bacteria on the wounds. Additionally, licking helps the dog get rid of the dead tissues of the wound. However, you should be concerned if your dog is overdoing it, because that may reopen the wounds and harm itself.

Impulsive licking

If you notice that the dog is licking the same place or object over and over again, you may need to contact a vet. You should be equally concerned if the dog licks the same object whenever it is nervous or scared. This is mainly because obsessive licking can easily reinforce anxiety or worsen the condition.

To explore

Why do dogs lick you? If this is your dilemma, you have nothing to worry about because dogs may lick just to acquaint themselves with their environment. To explore their world, dogs lick new people and things in their surroundings. Additionally, if the dog detects something new on you, however small, it will lick you because it is curious. This is also why a dog you have met for the first time will lick your hand if you offer for the dog to sniff.

It is difficult to ascertain when your dog is excessively licking. However, when the dog is constantly licking itself, its lips, surrounding objects or even the arms and face of the owner, it may be described as excessive licking. If this is not because of an underlying medical condition, it may not be a threat to the dog. However, if this constant licking leads to ingestion of fibers and hair, it can lead to intestinal blockage.

If your dog licks excessively the same part of body parts, it is advisable to contact a vet because the case could be a medical complication. The dog may be licking itself to ease irritation of the skin caused by inhalant allergies. Additionally, the dog’s skin may be itching because of a bacterial or fungal infection. Other medical conditions that may lead to excessive licking include bone fractures, cancer, chronic gastrointestinal distress as well as pain due to a thorn.