What does it mean when a dog licks your face

What does it mean when a dog licks your face

Licking is an instinctive canine behavior that dogs use to communicate with people and each other. If you’re wondering ‘why does my dog lick my face?’, you’ve come to the right spot. When your dog licks your face, it could be to send a message, keep you clean, gather information, or just for fun.

If your dog licks your face excessively, or it bothers you, there are ways to stop it. Find out why dogs lick your face and how you can curb the behavior.

The 6 Reasons Why Dogs Lick Your Face

Dogs show affection by licking your face. When they’re puppies, they learn to lick from their mother and often lick their littermates. In this way, licking can strengthen family bonds. When your dog licks your face, it may be simply showing you love and attempting to bond.

Image Credit: Holisticdogtraining, Pixabay

Dogs follow a social order within a pack, and you’re the pack leader. Dogs may use face-licking to signal respect and submission to the leader, which may be the case when it licks your face. Your dog is just showing you that it knows you’re the boss.

Sometimes, dogs will lick to tell you they’re hungry. Puppies lick their mother’s lips to stimulate regurgitation. In packs, dogs will lick the pack leader’s face to ask for food. If it’s around feeding time, your dog may just be telling you it’s time for dinner.

Image Credit: Tatjana Baibakova, Shutterstock

Dogs explore the world with their whiskers and mouths. They can interpret the scents in human sweat, so by licking your face, your dog may be trying to tell if you’re happy, anxious, stressed, or sad.

Dogs lick themselves to stay clean, and mothers will lick their pups to clean them up after they’re born. Your dog may be displaying this behavior by licking your face to clean you up.

Image Credit: 135pixels, Shutterstock

Sometimes, your dog just enjoys licking and wants to lick you for comfort and security. Licking releases pleasant endorphins and is a self-rewarding behavior, so your dog may just lick you to feel good.

Is It Dangerous for Dogs to Lick Your Face?

In healthy children and adults, dog saliva isn’t a health risk. If your dog licks an open wound, however, it can keep the wound open and allow bacteria to grow, possibly leading to an infection.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, capnocytophaga bacteria occurs naturally in the saliva of humans, dogs, and cats. In an immunocompromised person, these bacteria can cause an infection. If you have this infection, it’s important to minimize your contact with dog or cat saliva as much as possible.

If you’re worried about infection, don’t let your dog lick open wounds or near your mouth, eyes, or nose. After your dog licks you, wash your face or use antibacterial gel or spray to clean the area.

Image Credit: DavidAngelini, Shutterstock

How Can I Stop Face Licking?

While it may not be harmful, a dog licking your face is not everyone’s favorite behavior. If you want your dog to stop, there are some behavioral modifications you can implement.

Most importantly, realize that you may be subconsciously reinforcing the licking behavior. When your dog licks your face, you give either positive attention by laughing or petting or negative attention by telling it to stop. When this occurs, you’re encouraging the behavior.

The best way to modify this behavior is by redirecting the licking to a more appropriate area, like your hand or wrist. If you don’t like licking at all, you can encourage different displays of affection, such as playing with your dog.

Conclusion

While many dog owners enjoy having their pup lick their face, some dogs can be excessive. In addition, people with compromised immune systems may be at risk from infection from dog saliva. If you want to stop the behavior, teach your dog a different way to express affection and redirect its attempts at licking. Over time, you can correct excessive licking.

Featured Image Credit: StockSnap, Pixabay

What does it mean when a dog licks your face

i Digital Vision./Digital Vision/Getty Images

Licking is an instinctive canine behavior that dogs use to communicate with people and other animals. When your dog licks your face, he could be trying to send you a message, gather information about you, keep you clean, or he may simply enjoy the pleasurable sensation of licking.

Your dog loves you. Licking to show affection is a functional behavior that puppies learn from their mother and littermates. Maternal licking and licking among littermates helps strengthen family bonds. A dog licking your face is expressing his affection for you and trying to strengthen the familial bond he has with you.

Your dog respects you. Dogs are innately pack animals that follow an established social order. Wild dogs use face licking to communicate respect for and submission to their pack leader. When your dog licks your face, he may be communicating that he acknowledges you as the dominant pack leader.

Your dog is hungry. Dogs sometimes use licking to communicate that they are hungry. Puppies lick their mothers’ lips to stimulate a regurgitation reflex so they can eat the food their mothers vomit. Like their wolf ancestors, wild dogs lick the pack leader’s face as a way of begging for food. If your dog licks your face around feeding time, he may be letting you know that he is ready to eat.

Your dog is curious about how you are feeling. Dogs have special receptors in the nose and mouth which they use to process and interpret the scented molecules found in human sweat. By licking your face, your dog may be able to determine whether you are happy or feeling stressed.

Your dog wants to make sure you are clean. Dogs naturally lick to clean themselves or their littermates. If your dog licks your face often, he may be grooming you to help keep you clean.

Your dog thinks you taste good. Human sweat has a salty taste that some dogs enjoy. When your dog licks your face, he may simply be enjoying the saltiness of your skin.

Your dog likes to lick. The act of licking releases pleasurable endorphins in dogs and often gives them a sense of comfort and security. Your dog may lick your face simply because it feels good.

While many dog lovers don’t mind and may even enjoy having dogs lick their faces, some dogs can get carried away with face licking. Determine how you feel about your dog licking human faces and then train him to stay within the limits you set.

AKC PUPDATE<\> newsletter!","textSubheader":"Covering day 1 to 18 months; get essential info about puppy health, training, socialization and more.","breeds":[{"label":"Affenpinscher","value":"Affenpinscher"},{"label":"Afghan Hound","value":"Afghan Hound"},{"label":"Airedale Terrier","value":"Airedale Terrier"},{"label":"Akita","value":"Akita"},{"label":"Alaskan Klee Kai","value":"Alaskan Klee Kai"},{"label":"Alaskan Malamute","value":"Alaskan Malamute"},{"label":"American Bulldog","value":"American Bulldog"},{"label":"American English Coonhound","value":"American English Coonhound"},{"label":"American Eskimo Dog","value":"American Eskimo Dog"},{"label":"American Foxhound","value":"American Foxhound"},{"label":"American Hairless Terrier","value":"American Hairless Terrier"},{"label":"American Leopard Hound","value":"American Leopard Hound"},{"label":"American Staffordshire Terrier","value":"American Staffordshire Terrier"},{"label":"American Water Spaniel","value":"American Water Spaniel"},{"label":"Anatolian Shepherd Dog","value":"Anatolian Shepherd Dog"},{"label":"Appenzeller Sennenhund","value":"Appenzeller Sennenhund"},{"label":"Australian Cattle Dog","value":"Australian Cattle Dog"},{"label":"Australian Kelpie","value":"Australian Kelpie"},{"label":"Australian Shepherd","value":"Australian Shepherd"},{"label":"Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog","value":"Australian Stumpy Tail Cattle Dog"},{"label":"Australian Terrier","value":"Australian Terrier"},{"label":"Azawakh","value":"Azawakh"},{"label":"Barbado da Terceira","value":"Barbado da Terceira"},{"label":"Barbet","value":"Barbet"},{"label":"Basenji","value":"Basenji"},{"label":"Basset Fauve de Bretagne","value":"Basset Fauve de Bretagne"},{"label":"Basset Hound","value":"Basset Hound"},{"label":"Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound","value":"Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound"},{"label":"Beagle","value":"Beagle"},{"label":"Bearded Collie","value":"Bearded Collie"},{"label":"Beauceron","value":"Beauceron"},{"label":"Bedlington Terrier","value":"Bedlington Terrier"},{"label":"Belgian Laekenois","value":"Belgian Laekenois"},{"label":"Belgian Malinois","value":"Belgian Malinois"},{"label":"Belgian Sheepdog","value":"Belgian Sheepdog"},{"label":"Belgian Tervuren","value":"Belgian Tervuren"},{"label":"Bergamasco Sheepdog","value":"Bergamasco Sheepdog"},{"label":"Berger Picard","value":"Berger Picard"},{"label":"Bernese Mountain Dog","value":"Bernese Mountain Dog"},{"label":"Bichon Frise","value":"Bichon Frise"},{"label":"Biewer Terrier","value":"Biewer Terrier"},{"label":"Black and Tan Coonhound","value":"Black and Tan Coonhound"},{"label":"Black Russian Terrier","value":"Black Russian Terrier"},{"label":"Bloodhound","value":"Bloodhound"},{"label":"Bluetick Coonhound","value":"Bluetick Coonhound"},{"label":"Boerboel","value":"Boerboel"},{"label":"Bohemian Shepherd","value":"Bohemian Shepherd"},{"label":"Bolognese","value":"Bolognese"},{"label":"Border Collie","value":"Border Collie"},{"label":"Border Terrier","value":"Border Terrier"},{"label":"Borzoi","value":"Borzoi"},{"label":"Boston Terrier","value":"Boston Terrier"},{"label":"Bouvier des Flandres","value":"Bouvier des Flandres"},{"label":"Boxer","value":"Boxer"},{"label":"Boykin Spaniel","value":"Boykin Spaniel"},{"label":"Bracco Italiano","value":"Bracco Italiano"},{"label":"Braque du Bourbonnais","value":"Braque du Bourbonnais"},{"label":"Braque Francais Pyrenean","value":"Braque Francais Pyrenean"},{"label":"Briard","value":"Briard"},{"label":"Brittany","value":"Brittany"},{"label":"Broholmer","value":"Broholmer"},{"label":"Brussels Griffon","value":"Brussels Griffon"},{"label":"Bull Terrier","value":"Bull Terrier"},{"label":"Bulldog","value":"Bulldog"},{"label":"Bullmastiff","value":"Bullmastiff"},{"label":"Cairn Terrier","value":"Cairn Terrier"},{"label":"Canaan Dog","value":"Canaan Dog"},{"label":"Cane Corso","value":"Cane Corso"},{"label":"Cardigan Welsh Corgi","value":"Cardigan Welsh Corgi"},{"label":"Carolina Dog","value":"Carolina Dog"},{"label":"Catahoula Leopard Dog","value":"Catahoula Leopard Dog"},{"label":"Caucasian Shepherd Dog","value":"Caucasian Shepherd Dog"},{"label":"Cavalier King Charles Spaniel","value":"Cavalier King Charles Spaniel"},{"label":"Central Asian Shepherd Dog","value":"Central Asian Shepherd Dog"},{"label":"Cesky Terrier","value":"Cesky Terrier"},{"label":"Chesapeake Bay Retriever","value":"Chesapeake Bay Retriever"},{"label":"Chihuahua","value":"Chihuahua"},{"label":"Chinese Crested","value":"Chinese Crested"},{"label":"Chinese Shar-Pei","value":"Chinese Shar-Pei"},{"label":"Chinook","value":"Chinook"},{"label":"Chow Chow","value":"Chow Chow"},{"label":"Cirneco dell\u2019Etna","value":"Cirneco dell\u2019Etna"},{"label":"Clumber Spaniel","value":"Clumber Spaniel"},{"label":"Cocker Spaniel","value":"Cocker Spaniel"},{"label":"Collie","value":"Collie"},{"label":"Coton de Tulear","value":"Coton de Tulear"},{"label":"Croatian Sheepdog","value":"Croatian Sheepdog"},{"label":"Curly-Coated Retriever","value":"Curly-Coated Retriever"},{"label":"Czechoslovakian Vlcak","value":"Czechoslovakian Vlcak"},{"label":"Dachshund","value":"Dachshund"},{"label":"Dalmatian","value":"Dalmatian"},{"label":"Dandie Dinmont Terrier","value":"Dandie Dinmont Terrier"},{"label":"Danish-Swedish Farmdog","value":"Danish-Swedish Farmdog"},{"label":"Deutscher Wachtelhund","value":"Deutscher Wachtelhund"},{"label":"Doberman Pinscher","value":"Doberman Pinscher"},{"label":"Dogo Argentino","value":"Dogo Argentino"},{"label":"Dogue de Bordeaux","value":"Dogue de Bordeaux"},{"label":"Drentsche Patrijshond","value":"Drentsche Patrijshond"},{"label":"Drever","value":"Drever"},{"label":"Dutch Shepherd","value":"Dutch Shepherd"},{"label":"English Cocker Spaniel","value":"English Cocker Spaniel"},{"label":"English Foxhound","value":"English Foxhound"},{"label":"English Setter","value":"English Setter"},{"label":"English Springer Spaniel","value":"English Springer Spaniel"},{"label":"English Toy Spaniel","value":"English Toy Spaniel"},{"label":"Entlebucher Mountain Dog","value":"Entlebucher Mountain Dog"},{"label":"Estrela Mountain Dog","value":"Estrela Mountain Dog"},{"label":"Eurasier","value":"Eurasier"},{"label":"Field Spaniel","value":"Field Spaniel"},{"label":"Finnish Lapphund","value":"Finnish Lapphund"},{"label":"Finnish Spitz","value":"Finnish Spitz"},{"label":"Flat-Coated Retriever","value":"Flat-Coated Retriever"},{"label":"French Bulldog","value":"French Bulldog"},{"label":"French Spaniel","value":"French Spaniel"},{"label":"German Longhaired Pointer","value":"German Longhaired Pointer"},{"label":"German Pinscher","value":"German Pinscher"},{"label":"German Shepherd Dog","value":"German Shepherd Dog"},{"label":"German Shorthaired Pointer","value":"German Shorthaired Pointer"},{"label":"German Spitz","value":"German Spitz"},{"label":"German Wirehaired Pointer","value":"German Wirehaired Pointer"},{"label":"Giant Schnauzer","value":"Giant Schnauzer"},{"label":"Glen of Imaal Terrier","value":"Glen of Imaal Terrier"},{"label":"Golden Retriever","value":"Golden Retriever"},{"label":"Gordon Setter","value":"Gordon Setter"},{"label":"Grand Basset Griffon Vend\u00e9en","value":"Grand Basset Griffon Vend\u00e9en"},{"label":"Great Dane","value":"Great Dane"},{"label":"Great Pyrenees","value":"Great Pyrenees"},{"label":"Greater Swiss Mountain Dog","value":"Greater Swiss Mountain Dog"},{"label":"Greyhound","value":"Greyhound"},{"label":"Hamiltonstovare","value":"Hamiltonstovare"},{"label":"Hanoverian Scenthound","value":"Hanoverian Scenthound"},{"label":"Harrier","value":"Harrier"},{"label":"Havanese","value":"Havanese"},{"label":"Hokkaido","value":"Hokkaido"},{"label":"Hovawart","value":"Hovawart"},{"label":"Ibizan Hound","value":"Ibizan Hound"},{"label":"Icelandic Sheepdog","value":"Icelandic Sheepdog"},{"label":"Irish Red and White Setter","value":"Irish Red and White Setter"},{"label":"Irish Setter","value":"Irish Setter"},{"label":"Irish Terrier","value":"Irish Terrier"},{"label":"Irish Water Spaniel","value":"Irish Water Spaniel"},{"label":"Irish Wolfhound","value":"Irish Wolfhound"},{"label":"Italian Greyhound","value":"Italian Greyhound"},{"label":"Jagdterrier","value":"Jagdterrier"},{"label":"Japanese Akitainu","value":"Japanese Akitainu"},{"label":"Japanese Chin","value":"Japanese Chin"},{"label":"Japanese Spitz","value":"Japanese Spitz"},{"label":"Japanese Terrier","value":"Japanese Terrier"},{"label":"Jindo","value":"Jindo"},{"label":"Kai Ken","value":"Kai Ken"},{"label":"Karelian Bear Dog","value":"Karelian Bear Dog"},{"label":"Keeshond","value":"Keeshond"},{"label":"Kerry Blue Terrier","value":"Kerry Blue Terrier"},{"label":"Kishu Ken","value":"Kishu Ken"},{"label":"Komondor","value":"Komondor"},{"label":"Kromfohrlander","value":"Kromfohrlander"},{"label":"Kuvasz","value":"Kuvasz"},{"label":"Labrador Retriever","value":"Labrador Retriever"},{"label":"Lagotto Romagnolo","value":"Lagotto Romagnolo"},{"label":"Lakeland Terrier","value":"Lakeland Terrier"},{"label":"Lancashire Heeler","value":"Lancashire Heeler"},{"label":"Lapponian Herder","value":"Lapponian Herder"},{"label":"Leonberger","value":"Leonberger"},{"label":"Lhasa Apso","value":"Lhasa Apso"},{"label":"L\u00f6wchen","value":"Lowchen"},{"label":"Maltese","value":"Maltese"},{"label":"Manchester Terrier (Standard)","value":"Manchester Terrier"},{"label":"Manchester Terrier (Toy)","value":"Manchester Terrier"},{"label":"Mastiff","value":"Mastiff"},{"label":"Miniature American Shepherd","value":"Miniature American Shepherd"},{"label":"Miniature Bull Terrier","value":"Miniature Bull Terrier"},{"label":"Miniature Pinscher","value":"Miniature Pinscher"},{"label":"Miniature Schnauzer","value":"Miniature Schnauzer"},{"label":"Mountain Cur","value":"Mountain Cur"},{"label":"Mudi","value":"Mudi"},{"label":"Neapolitan Mastiff","value":"Neapolitan Mastiff"},{"label":"Nederlandse Kooikerhondje","value":"Nederlandse Kooikerhondje"},{"label":"Newfoundland","value":"Newfoundland"},{"label":"Norfolk Terrier","value":"Norfolk Terrier"},{"label":"Norrbottenspets","value":"Norrbottenspets"},{"label":"Norwegian Buhund","value":"Norwegian Buhund"},{"label":"Norwegian Elkhound","value":"Norwegian Elkhound"},{"label":"Norwegian Lundehund","value":"Norwegian Lundehund"},{"label":"Norwich Terrier","value":"Norwich Terrier"},{"label":"Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever","value":"Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever"},{"label":"Old English Sheepdog","value":"Old English Sheepdog"},{"label":"Otterhound","value":"Otterhound"},{"label":"Papillon","value":"Papillon"},{"label":"Parson Russell Terrier","value":"Parson Russell Terrier"},{"label":"Pekingese","value":"Pekingese"},{"label":"Pembroke Welsh Corgi","value":"Pembroke Welsh Corgi"},{"label":"Perro de Presa Canario","value":"Perro de Presa Canario"},{"label":"Peruvian Inca Orchid","value":"Peruvian Inca Orchid"},{"label":"Petit Basset Griffon Vend\u00e9en","value":"Petit Basset Griffon Vend\u00e9en"},{"label":"Pharaoh Hound","value":"Pharaoh Hound"},{"label":"Plott Hound","value":"Plott Hound"},{"label":"Pointer","value":"Pointer"},{"label":"Polish Lowland Sheepdog","value":"Polish Lowland Sheepdog"},{"label":"Pomeranian","value":"Pomeranian"},{"label":"Poodle (Miniature)","value":"Poodle"},{"label":"Poodle (Standard)","value":"Poodle"},{"label":"Poodle (Toy)","value":"Poodle"},{"label":"Porcelaine","value":"Porcelaine"},{"label":"Portuguese Podengo","value":"Portuguese Podengo"},{"label":"Portuguese Podengo Pequeno","value":"Portuguese Podengo Pequeno"},{"label":"Portuguese Pointer","value":"Portuguese Pointer"},{"label":"Portuguese Sheepdog","value":"Portuguese Sheepdog"},{"label":"Portuguese Water Dog","value":"Portuguese Water Dog"},{"label":"Pudelpointer","value":"Pudelpointer"},{"label":"Pug","value":"Pug"},{"label":"Puli","value":"Puli"},{"label":"Pumi","value":"Pumi"},{"label":"Pyrenean Mastiff","value":"Pyrenean Mastiff"},{"label":"Pyrenean Shepherd","value":"Pyrenean Shepherd"},{"label":"Rafeiro do Alentejo","value":"Rafeiro do Alentejo"},{"label":"Rat Terrier","value":"Rat Terrier"},{"label":"Redbone Coonhound","value":"Redbone Coonhound"},{"label":"Rhodesian Ridgeback","value":"Rhodesian Ridgeback"},{"label":"Romanian Carpathian Shepherd","value":"Romanian Carpathian Shepherd"},{"label":"Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog","value":"Romanian Mioritic Shepherd Dog"},{"label":"Rottweiler","value":"Rottweiler"},{"label":"Russell Terrier","value":"Russell Terrier"},{"label":"Russian Toy","value":"Russian Toy"},{"label":"Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka","value":"Russian Tsvetnaya Bolonka"},{"label":"Saint Bernard","value":"Saint Bernard"},{"label":"Saluki","value":"Saluki"},{"label":"Samoyed","value":"Samoyed"},{"label":"Schapendoes","value":"Schapendoes"},{"label":"Schipperke","value":"Schipperke"},{"label":"Scottish Deerhound","value":"Scottish Deerhound"},{"label":"Scottish Terrier","value":"Scottish Terrier"},{"label":"Sealyham Terrier","value":"Sealyham Terrier"},{"label":"Segugio Italiano","value":"Segugio Italiano"},{"label":"Shetland Sheepdog","value":"Shetland Sheepdog"},{"label":"Shiba Inu","value":"Shiba Inu"},{"label":"Shih Tzu","value":"Shih Tzu"},{"label":"Shikoku","value":"Shikoku"},{"label":"Siberian Husky","value":"Siberian Husky"},{"label":"Silky Terrier","value":"Silky Terrier"},{"label":"Skye Terrier","value":"Skye Terrier"},{"label":"Sloughi","value":"Sloughi"},{"label":"Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer","value":"Slovakian Wirehaired Pointer"},{"label":"Slovensky Cuvac","value":"Slovensky Cuvac"},{"label":"Slovensky Kopov","value":"Slovensky Kopov"},{"label":"Small Munsterlander","value":"Small Munsterlander"},{"label":"Smooth Fox Terrier","value":"Smooth Fox Terrier"},{"label":"Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier","value":"Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier"},{"label":"Spanish Mastiff","value":"Spanish Mastiff"},{"label":"Spanish Water Dog","value":"Spanish Water Dog"},{"label":"Spinone Italiano","value":"Spinone Italiano"},{"label":"Stabyhoun","value":"Stabyhoun"},{"label":"Staffordshire Bull Terrier","value":"Staffordshire Bull Terrier"},{"label":"Standard Schnauzer","value":"Standard Schnauzer"},{"label":"Sussex Spaniel","value":"Sussex Spaniel"},{"label":"Swedish Lapphund","value":"Swedish Lapphund"},{"label":"Swedish Vallhund","value":"Swedish Vallhund"},{"label":"Taiwan Dog","value":"Taiwan Dog"},{"label":"Teddy Roosevelt Terrier","value":"Teddy Roosevelt Terrier"},{"label":"Thai Ridgeback","value":"Thai Ridgeback"},{"label":"Tibetan Mastiff","value":"Tibetan Mastiff"},{"label":"Tibetan Spaniel","value":"Tibetan Spaniel"},{"label":"Tibetan Terrier","value":"Tibetan Terrier"},{"label":"Tornjak","value":"Tornjak"},{"label":"Tosa","value":"Tosa"},{"label":"Toy Fox Terrier","value":"Toy Fox Terrier"},{"label":"Transylvanian Hound","value":"Transylvanian Hound"},{"label":"Treeing Tennessee Brindle","value":"Treeing Tennessee Brindle"},{"label":"Treeing Walker Coonhound","value":"Treeing Walker Coonhound"},{"label":"Vizsla","value":"Vizsla"},{"label":"Volpino Italiano","value":"Volpino Italiano"},{"label":"Weimaraner","value":"Weimaraner"},{"label":"Welsh Springer Spaniel","value":"Welsh Springer Spaniel"},{"label":"Welsh Terrier","value":"Welsh Terrier"},{"label":"West Highland White Terrier","value":"West Highland White Terrier"},{"label":"Wetterhoun","value":"Wetterhoun"},{"label":"Whippet","value":"Whippet"},{"label":"Wire Fox Terrier","value":"Wire Fox Terrier"},{"label":"Wirehaired Pointing Griffon","value":"Wirehaired Pointing Griffon"},{"label":"Wirehaired Vizsla","value":"Wirehaired Vizsla"},{"label":"Working Kelpie","value":"Working Kelpie"},{"label":"Xoloitzcuintli","value":"Xoloitzcuintli"},{"label":"Yakutian Laika","value":"Yakutian Laika"},{"label":"Yorkshire Terrier","value":"Yorkshire Terrier"}],"adminAjaxUrl":"https:\/\/www.akc.org\/wp-admin\/admin-ajax.php","pupdateSource":"site-sidebar"}}>