Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?
Does your dog love to give you wet, sloppy kisses right on your face? Whether you are a fan of this type of affection or not, you may be wondering if there is a reason behind his energetically loving behavior. The question is, why do dogs lick your face anyway?
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?
According to experts, it is completely normal for a dog to lick another dog’s face, just as it is normal for it to lick the face of a human. Dogs lick your face as a sign of satisfaction and submission to you. It can also mean they want to be fed, they want your attention, or they feel affection toward you.
Another reason your dog may enjoy licking your face is that he is trying to groom you, as he would groom himself with his tongue. You may find that if your dog can’t reach your face to lick, instead he may lick your leg, arm, or hand instead. In cases like these, he is affectionately trying to groom you.
You may be wondering why a dog might lick the face of a complete stranger. A dog might do this so that in turn, the stranger won’t harm or otherwise threaten the dog.
When children get their faces licked by dogs, they may be cleaning their little faces, or showing them love and affection.
Are There Any Health Risks with Dog Face Licking?
Dog saliva is not a health risk on human skin, as long as you are healthy. However, if you have an open wound on your skin, it is not healthy to let your pup lick it. Allowing this to happen may cause bacteria to collect and promote an infection.
A person that has a compromised immune system can become ill when bacteria enter the skin from a cut or bite on the skin and the dog licks it. However, for this to happen, the dog would have to have a high concentration of a specific bacteria to make the person sick.
Washing your hands after petting any dog is always a good idea.
Is There a Problem with Allowing Your Dog to Lick You?
As long as you are healthy, letting your dog lick your face or, arm or leg for that matter poses a very little health risk. However, if you feel uneasy about it, don’t allow your dogs to lick your mouth or anywhere that you have a cut on your skin.
What If You Don’t Like It When Your Dog Licks Your Face?
To begin, realize that you may accidentally be reinforcing your dog’s face licking. For example, if every time he licks your face, you give him lots of attention, he is likely going to keep doing it again and again. Also, if your doggie has a habit of licking you on the mouth while you are eating, and you let him, you are telling him it is okay to do so. Decide the way you feel about your dog licking your face and then train him to abide by the limits you set.