Do I have food particles in my face? The dog is licking me again. Dogs are well loved pets and this baby certainly receives much love and affection from me but the icky drool in my nose, ears and lips is simply disgusting. Licking is one of the ways by which dogs can learn about their environment but this pet of mine really takes a big slice of the cake when it comes to licking.
Licking is a habit learned by dogs from puppyhood. The mother dog’s tongue is used not unlike a washcloth to clean the puppies. After defecating and urinating, the anal area of the puppies will be licked by the dam. Licking is believed to aid in the digestive and circulation processes of the puppies. On the part of the puppies, the licking can be a plea to be allowed to nurse. Puppies that are about to be weaned would lick the lips of the dam as an encouragement to regurgitate food. Needless to say, licking is also done to show affection. Mother dogs would instinctively lick puppies that have crawled away from the littermates. Being affectionate creatures, puppies would lick not only the mother dog but also the littermates.
Licking as a manifestation of affection is perfectly normal. Dogs that have closely bonded with their owners consider humans as their family. The mother dog and the littermates that were once the recipient of the dog’s wet tongue are now replaced by the human family. You are now the family of the dog so be prepared to feel the wet raspy tongue of the pet. If your dog licks you it means that the pet is well loved and receiving the best care from you as dogs that do not receive the same treatment from their masters are less inclined to lick human.
Dogs are pack oriented animals. Being pack oriented, the dog would have to look up to the leader of the pack. Apparently, the dog’s inclination to lick you is a show of submission. Licking can also be the dog’s way of gaining your approval or attention. Dogs in a household with more pets often manifest the need to secure the affection of the master. The pets would vie with each other for the attention of the master.
Licking though can be a less than pleasant habit of a pet that also has the inclination to eat feces and other things considered disgusting by humans. This concern will be aggravated by the dog’s inclination to drink from the toilet bowl. Because of these habits, the pet would not think you do not value its affection by trying to curb its licking behavior.