PET ARTICLES BLOG

Gee, my dog is licking my face again. Dogs are well loved pets and this baby certainly receives much love and affection from me but the icky drool in my nose, ears and lips is simply disgusting. Of course I know that licking is an innate behavior of dogs as their tongue is used to discover their environment but this dog is really a compulsive licker.

The habit to lick was learned by dogs from puppyhood. Mother dogs would lick the puppies clean. The puppies will be licked clean by the dam after they have pooped and peed. Mother dogs licking is aimed to aid in the circulation and digestion process of the puppies. Puppies that want to nurse would lick the mother dog. Puppies will be seen licking the mouth of the dam to encourage regurgitation. Obviously, the most common reason for licking is to show affection. The instinctive licking of the mother dog to a pup that has crawled away is a visible sign of affection. Puppies would lick not only the dam but also their siblings.

Licking as a manifestation of affection is perfectly normal. Dogs are affectionate creatures that consider humans as their family. Humans become the family of the dog thus, the licking that is a manifestation of affection will now be given to the family. This is one of the reasons why your pet licks you. It will be noted that dogs that do not receive the same care and affection from their owners would not have the inclination to lick their owners.

Dogs are pack oriented animals. Being pack oriented, the dog would have to look up to the leader of the pack. The dog will lick you as a sign of submission. Licking can also be the dog's way of gaining your approval or attention. This is most common in households with two or more dogs. Licking can be the strategy of one dog wanting to get an edge over the other pet for the master's affection.

You may be annoyed by the dog's licking behavior because you know that the pet also has the habit of eating disgusting things like feces and rotting animals. Dogs also have an unaccountable fondness for the water in toilet bowls. Train the dog to develop another way of showing its affection as you really need to stop his licking habit.

Learn more about why dogs lick and dog first aid at Sarah's Dogs.