Why Does My Dog Lick Me So Much? 7 Surprising Reasons Why

Dog Lick Me So Much

Do you notice when you come home your puppy greets you by shaking its tail and giving you with wet sloppy kisses? But is licking a reflection of affection? You Might be wondering why does my dog lick me so much.

It may indicate that your pup is happy to get you back after a long day; there can be multiple reasons behind this licking behavior.

Table of Contents

We will explore the complex psychology of why puppies love to lick their owners. Understand the behavior, whether it’s a positive or a negative thing. Should I train my dog to stop licking? And many other points.

Our puppies have many ways to communicate and transfer their emotions to us. Figuring out the form of communication may vary from dog to dog. 

There is a wide range of ways in which dogs communicate with their owners, such as barking, leaning, and showing their beautiful eyes to you.

So, the question is, why does my dog lick so much? Maybe it is happening all the time or just once-in-awhile. 

Why does my dog lick my face?

There could be several reasons why your puppy licks you so much. Let’s discuss all of them one by one in detail.

1. Sign of affection

Most of the time, pet dogs lick you because they want to reflect their affection and love for us. Some dog parents do not like this and want to get rid of the licking behavior.

They lick to show that they are fond of you.

2. Gauging your mood

In case your puppy enjoys licking your sweaty hands or feet, the reason is somehow different.

Our sweat is rich in pheromones which the dogs decode to understand our mood and energy. In this way, dog matches the vibes with their owners, isn’t it interesting? 

They do not use their tongue to understand your mood directly, but licking sends a signal to their vomeronasal organ.

3. Maybe you taste good.

They are maybe licking the last food bits from your hands which is making you tasty. Even they are attracted to the salty taste of our skin.

4. Way to communicate

Within the wild world, wolves lick the face of their mothers when they want some food or milk. 

Similarly, if your puppy is licking your face or hands at some particular time, maybe he wants to communicate with you. Perhaps they are demanding your attention, or they want to eat some treats. 

Puppies do not just lick the face of their owners, but sometimes they may also start licking strangers to show submission.

5. Seeking your attention

When your puppy is licking you, maybe they want you to respond in their desired manner. Dogs may associate your attention with the licking activity that whenever they lick your feet or hand, you give them attention. 

Dogs’ body starts releasing endorphins whenever they lick their owners and feel comfortable and protected.

6. They are trying to be submissive to you

Showing submission is another reason puppies lick their owners. It is their Instinct to lick the face of their mother to get food. 

It is the same case that your puppy wants some interaction, and it is trying to be submissive with you. 

7. Enjoyment

There is a possibility that your puppy is getting bored, and wants some enjoyment, so he may start licking you. 

As mentioned above, your puppy’s body releases endorphins, which provide them with a calm and comfortable feeling. 

Should you let your dog lick your face?

I understand that you love your dog more than anything, and you love to accept kisses from them. 

You may not like this, but you should not let your dog lick your body, especially your face. The bacteria and parasites present in the dog’s saliva are not healthy for you.

Dogs explore this word by their mouth and interact with the parasites and worms in the environment.

And if you are letting your dog lick you, it means you are welcoming those bacteria and parasites into your body. Whether you are brushing your dog’s teeth regularly, licking should not be allowed at any cost.

Move to the other room and do not encourage your puppy to lick your body. Your puppy will understand that you do not like this habit, and he will not get any reward for this behavior.

How to stop a puppy from licking you?

Along with many other dog behaviors, you should also train your puppy not to lick you. This is a simple guide to follow for dog parents to stop their dogs from licking.

1. Identify the exact reason for the licking behavior.

As I mentioned in the reasons that most puppies start licking their owners to get their attention or to communicate. 

Before getting rid of this habit, you must be aware of the exact reason. In this way, you will also get to know how to respond to why your puppy is licking you.

2. Take away the reward or treat

If your puppy is getting excited seeing a treat and starts to lick you, don’t give them a treat. This would encourage them to continue licking. 

3. Reward when your puppy stops licking

When you command your puppy to stop licking you and they stop, then give them a treat. 

4. Use of command

Select a specific word you will use in this training session to stop your dog from licking your body. Our recommendation is to simply use the “no” word. 

While providing a treat or reward to your puppy, keep saying this command, so he will understand that it does not have to lick you to get a treat. 

You need to do this consistently to get results.

5. Stay consistent

If you have two or more people at home, you all need to enforce this training to get effective results. It will not help if one of you is training him to stop licking and the other one is letting him lick. 

Again consistency and lots of practice are required to teach something new to your tiny friend. Along with this method, you can walk away from your puppy. Leave the room and then come back after a long time so your puppy will understand that it should not lick you. 

Even within this method, consistency and practice are highly required, or your dog will not learn. Keep in mind that you do not have to ignore your puppy, but you have to give him attention and teach a new behavior with love and care.