Who doesn’t secretly love those doggy welcome kisses?
Your dog is showing how much she loves you isn’t she?
Of course, she licks other things too. Different areas of her body (including some unmentionable bits), her food bowl, your sticky hands after eating that doughnut, her doggy friends – licking is a common behaviour.
But why do dogs lick?
As always – it depends.
Licking starts in the litter. Puppies instinctively lick their mother’s mouth because in the wild, that causes her to regurgitate the food she has been out to find for them – and eating it herself is the easiest way to carry it home.
Dogs enjoy licking us as a show of affection. Some dogs lick much more than others, it’s an individual thing. Licking in this scenario releases endorphins in the dog – and in us – which are feel good hormones, so it’s a very pleasurable activity for both human and dog.
Some dogs just love the salty taste of our skin, or may particularly like the taste or our soap or body wash.
Dogs also lick us more when we return home because licking picks up scent molecules that tell the dog where we’ve been and who we’ve been consorting with. Perhaps it’s a good thing dogs can’t talk…
They’ll often lick objects as a form of exploration. Your dog’s tongue contains lots of sensory cells which helps them find out about what things are and what they’re made of.
Some dogs may lick to get attention – it can be very difficult to ignore a determined licker, so they usually get exactly what they want. They might lick because they’re hungry, or bored, or just want some fuss.
Stress can be a cause of licking. Licking is calming to dogs – just as thumb sucking can be to humans. It’s important to recognise if your dog might be licking because of stress or anxiety, because that needs dealing with.
There are also some obsessive-compulsive licking disorders, some of which are breed specific. These can be very damaging to your dog’s health, so if you suspect this is the case with your pooch, seek vet help.
Finally, there are a range of medical problems that might cause licking. These include:
– allergy (often the paws, but can be any part of the body)
– fleas
– a foreign body or object, especially in a paw or mouth
– anal gland irritation – licking their bottom – perhaps not a good idea to have a kissy session with your pooch after this…
– dental disease or oral problems can cause excessive licking
– hunger or dehydration
– nausea
– dementia
– neurological problems – canine distemper has more or less vanished, but it can cause a behaviour called “chewing gum fits”
What can you do about licking?
– You may want to do nothing. If you enjoy your daily cuddle and kiss with your pooch, feel free to carry on
– If you find a near total body wash annoying, you can try changing your body wash, soap or perfume – though your dog may like the new one even better, of course
– Keeping your dog more occupied with more exercise and chew and food toys can help if boredom is contributing to excessive licking
– If you suspect a medical problem, take your dog to your vet for a check-up. Your vet will also advise on drugs to help obsessive-compulsive licking alongside a behaviour modification programme (that’s my job)
Go and enjoy some kisses with your pooch
See you soon
Carol