Why Does My Dog Lick Me

The habit to lick was learned by dogs from puppyhood. The mother dog’s tongue is used not unlike a washcloth to clean the puppies. The puppies will be licked clean by the dam after they have pooped and peed. Experts tell us that mother dogs would instinctively lick puppies to aid their digestion and circulation processes. Puppies on the other hand, have learned to lick the mother dog whenever they want to nurse. Puppies that are about to be weaned would lick the lips of the dam as an encouragement to regurgitate food. You can be sure that your pet loves you because licking is done to show affection. Mother dogs would instinctively lick puppies that have crawled away from the littermates. Puppies will be seen licking the dam and the littermates.

It is perfectly normal for dogs to show affection through licking. Dogs that have closely bonded with their owners consider humans as their family. As such the affection and the licking that are given to the dam and to the littermates will now be given to the human family. You are now the family of the dog so be prepared to feel the wet raspy tongue of the pet. Well loved and well cared for dogs are inclined to return the favor by licking their owners.

Dogs are pack oriented animals. Dogs would need to have a well defined hierarchy and you are recognized by the pet as the leader of the pack. Your pet recognizes you as the leader of the pack because licking is a sign of submission. Dogs are known to lick the master to gain attention or approval. Dogs in a household with more pets often manifest the need to secure the affection of the master. Licking can be the strategy of one dog wanting to get an edge over the other pet for the master’s affection.

The dog’s tendency to lick can be annoying to some pet owners considering the fact that these pets have the propensity to eat feces and things abhorrent to humans. The licking habit of the dog would be even more annoying if you see the dog lapping the water in the toilet bowl. Train the dog to develop another way of showing its affection as you really need to stop his licking habit.