Do you notice that your dog either attempts to or even does lick your face? Have you ever wondered why they do this?
We were curious about this particular behavior and decided to ask the experts. We reached out to a few different pet experts to find out why our dogs might be licking our face. And some of the answers made perfect sense.
Often times, we call a dog lick a kiss. So it makes sense that we would want to know if this is an accurate description of what our pup is doing. Are they giving us a kiss? What does that lick to the face really mean?
Experts answer the question of why our dogs lick our face
We specifically asked a variety of pet experts why does our dog lick our face. And these were the answers we received:
According to Dutch.com's Matt Gehring, "Dogs may lick faces for various reasons, including bonding, affection, or a way to communicate with their pet parents. However, excessive licking may indicate stress or anxiety, so it's important to consider the context and other behaviors."
Seems like we may have been right when we thought that those licks were actually kisses. But what else did we learn from the experts?
As Parham Raoufi of Paws Grooming Empire LTD explained, "dogs lick faces for several reasons." He broke those reasons down as follows:
- "Affection: Licking is a common way for dogs to show love. It's akin to how puppies groom one another or how mother dogs groom their pups.
- Submission: A dog licking you may indicate they respect you as their leader or companion. This behaviour stems from their wild ancestors, where subordinate pack members licked dominant ones.
- Seeking Attention: Your dog may have learned that licking elicits a reaction from you, whether that’s laughter, petting, or talking.
- Taste and Smell: Human skin carries salt, food residues, and unique scents. Dogs, with their acute sense of smell, might be drawn to these.
- Stress Relief: Licking can have a self-soothing effect, so your dog might lick you when they're excited, anxious, or simply seeking comfort."
He even gave an example of what a specific scenario might mean when it comes to your dog licking your face. As Raoufi breaks it down, "If your dog licks your face as soon as you return home, they’re likely expressing joy at your return and strengthening your bond."
Honestly, all five of these reasons make perfect sense. And of course, knowing your dog can also make it easier to figure out what message your dog is trying to convey with their licking.
Finally, we have Brett Reynolds of The Dog Stop who also gave his own insight into why a dog might lick your face. And according to him, "Dogs may lick our faces for many reasons, including affection, getting attention, or to self-soothe. Licking a human’s face may also result in interesting flavors, whether from food remnants, sweat, or natural oils. Face-licking may also signify deference or even a gentle request for space; dogs may “kiss to dismiss” if you encroach on their personal bubble!"
We definitely find all of these answers to be insightful, and at the same time they all make perfect sense. Now we just need to pay attention when our pup offers up those licks so we can figure out exactly which explanation applies.