If the phrase âEnough licking!â is familiar to you, you probably have a dog whose favorite pastime is licking every inch of your face. While the act starts off cute and funny, it can quickly get out of hand, turning into an annoyance.
So, you might be wondering, âWhy does my dog lick me so much?â And what can I do to get them to stop?
Let's discuss!
Understanding Why Dogs Lick
The Natural Instincts Behind Licking
Dog licking is a behavior that starts early on in their life. It starts as a way to get food, as puppies will lick their mother to stimulate milk production when they are hungry and to communicate their needs to her.
How Licking Strengthens Bonds
Licking is a social behavior, serving as a way for dogs to strengthen bonds with littermates as puppies and with other dogs as adults. This social licking also includes grooming, which is done to help other dogs maintain cleanliness.
Why Do Dogs Lick You? Common Reasons Dogs Lick Their Owners
Affection and Bonding
Canine licking is a sign of affection toward their human companions. According to studies quoted by PetMD, licking has an active effect on the canine brain, releasing endorphins. This helps the dog feel safe and secure, while also bonding them to the object of their affections â you!
Seeking Attention
You might have noticed that your dog licks you more than usual when youâre busy doing something. They do this as a way to get your attention when theyâre hungry, bored, or just looking for some extra love.
When you react to your dogâs licking in a positive way, it reinforces the behavior using positive reinforcement. Ultimately, this tells your dog that when they want something, licking you is the best way to get it.
Exploring the World
Dogs have approximately 1,700 taste cells on their tongue. This is less than the 9,000 that humans have but enough that the dog tongue can be a useful tool for exploring the world. Dogs lick seemingly random things to gain information about them and their surroundings.
Taste is paired with scent, since dogs have an incredibly good sense of smell. Together, these two senses are used to help your dog get familiar with new surroundings and determine whether items are suitable to eat (or not).
Is Licking a Sign of Love or Something Else?
Affection vs. Habit
As briefly mentioned above, licking can become a way for dogs to get your attention, which also means that it becomes a habit. Your dog might also lick you just because they love you â and when they do, be careful not to turn it into a habit!
Submissive and Respectful Licking
Dogs are pack animals. Within dog packs, there is a hierarchy that is followed by the pack members. This pack-minded way of thinking is often transferred onto a dogâs human, making their owner the head of the pack.
This leads to licking because pack members lick and groom the head of the pack as a sign of submission and respect.
Food-Driven Licking
When your dog licks your fingers after lunch, you can assume it's because they first smelled your sandwich on your skin. Now, they want to taste it by licking the residue off for you! They may also lick your shirt if you dropped food on it or the floor if food drops there.
When Licking Becomes Excessive
Although licking can be a natural behavior, it can also become excessive and unhealthy.
Signs of Problematic Licking
There are a few signs that you can watch out for to ensure that your pupâs licking hasnât turned into an unhealthy habit.
Licking for long periods of time
Licking everything
Biting/scratching alongside licking
Tongue is raw from licking
While not always a symptom of excessive licking, hotspots, as pointed out by VCA Hospitals, can also be a result.
Anxiety and Stress-Related Licking
Many dogs will lick when they are stressed or feeling anxious. Licking stimulates their brain to release feel-good hormones that calm their nerves and help them self-soothe. If your dog starts to lick more frequently after a sudden change to the household or routine, or after a bad experience, it could be because they are anxious.
Boredom/Lack of Stimulation
Rats chew their cage bars when they are bored. Cats will scratch and claw the furniture. When dogs are bored, they may start to lick themselves obsessively. If you can rule out other possible reasons for the licking, they could just be bored.Â
Luckily, boredom is a problem that can be solved quite easily. Consider purchasing your pet some new interactive toys, taking them on a walk, or teaching them some new tricks to keep their mind stimulated and healthy.
Medical Reasons Behind Excessive Licking
Allergies and Skin Irritations
Dog licking can be due to allergies and skin irritations, such as dryness, wounds, and rashes. When the skin is itchy or feeling uncomfortable, dogs will lick in an attempt to soothe the area.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Vitamin deficiencies (B2, B3, B12, A, C, and K) and iron and zinc deficiencies have been known to cause irritation around dogsâ mouths and lips. This can result in excess licking of those areas, so if you notice your dog keeps licking lips, talk to your veterinarian about testing your pup for vitamin deficiencies.
Pain and Health Issues
Since dogs canât tell us when something hurts, they will use body language to communicate their discomfort. In some cases, licking is used to communicate the presence of pain. It can also signal underlying health issues.
How to Manage and Reduce Excessive Licking
Training Techniques
One popular training technique for curbing unwanted licking is simply ignoring the behavior. When your dog starts to lick you at an inconvenient time, get up and walk away. Repeat the next time your dog licks you when you aren't playing or cuddling. Your dog will eventually realize that licking, in that situation, doesnât warrant favorable results.
Another is redirecting their attention. When your dog licks you, teach them to do something else and reward their obedience with your attention. Simple tricks like sitting, rolling over, or paw shaking work well for this technique.
In addition to redirecting your dogâs licking and rewarding it, you can teach your dog to express their love in other ways. For example, you can encourage bonding through play or belly scratches.
Ensuring Your Dogâs Overall Well-Being
To minimize the amount of time your dog spends licking, make sure that youâre caring for their wellbeing. Be in tune with your dogâs physical and emotional needs, and make sure youâre catering to them to avoid unnecessary stress for your dog.
Take them for regular walks, feed them healthy food, and give them plenty of love.
When to Seek Professional Help
Recognizing When Licking Has a Deeper Root Cause
So, how do you know when your dogâs licking is a symptom of a deeper issue? It can be hard to tell, since dogs are notoriously good at acting like nothing is the matter.
When the licking becomes obsessive, it is time to seek the help of a veterinarian. In addition, when you notice that the licking comes with other behavioral issues such as lack of appetite or aggression, you should take your dog for a visit.
Conclusion
Dogs licking usually isnât a cause for concern. However, âWhy does my dog lick me so much?â is still a popular question among dog owners. When determining your answer, itâs important to take in the full picture. Assess your dog for obvious symptoms of sickness, injury, and anxiety, and make sure that they arenât bored or suffering from a lack of mental stimulation.
If your assessments come back clean, itâs recommended to pay a visit to your local veterinarian.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my dog lick me so much after I eat?
Dogs will lick people more after they eat because they have just eaten! Dogs have an incredible sense of both smell and taste, so when a human has lunch, dogs want to try whatever it is that theyâre eating. They can do this by tasting the residue on your skin.Â
Why does my dog lick me more than anyone else?
Dogs may lick the members of their family more than any other people because they feel that those people are part of their pack.
Why is my dog licking me a bunch when he usually doesn't?
If your dog has started licking you more than usual, they could be suffering from boredom, pain, illness, or be feeling anxious. Use the tips above to help you decide whatâs ailing your furry friend.
Why does my dog keep licking me after I tell him to stop?
A dog who keeps licking you after youâve told them to stop could be struggling with an underlying issue such as anxiety, stress, or boredom. In some cases, the dog has just formed a licking habit.
