Why Dogs Lick
Dogs lick for a variety of reasons. One of the main reasons is to show affection. When dogs lick people, it’s often a sign of bonding and an expression of love, similar to kissing in humans. Licking releases feel-good hormones like oxytocin in both the dog and the person being licked. It’s one of the ways dogs strengthen their relationship and connection with their owners.
Dogs also lick as a way to explore their environment. Their sense of smell is linked to their sense of taste, so licking provides them with more information about things. A dog’s saliva contains chemicals that give it extra sensory information about whatever or whoever they are licking. When dogs lick people, they pick up signals about their health, diet, hygiene, and emotional state.
Self-grooming is another common reason for licking. Dog saliva contains natural enzymes and antibacterial properties that help them clean themselves. When dogs lick people, they may be trying to clean a wound or soothe irritated skin. Excessive licking of their own fur or skin can indicate an underlying medical issue like allergies or anxiety.
Some medical conditions can cause increased licking too. Dental problems, neurological disorders, anxiety, stress or compulsive disorders are examples. If a dog suddenly starts licking excessively, it’s a good idea to consult a vet to rule out potential health issues.
Taste Receptors
Dogs have taste buds located primarily on the tongue, as well as the soft palate, pharynx, epiglottis, and even the esophagus. According to the AKC, dogs have only around 1,700 taste buds compared to humans who have about 9,000. This means their sense of taste is much less sensitive than ours.
Dogs can detect the four basic taste groups – sweet, salty, sour, and bitter. However, they are not as sensitive to sweet flavors as humans. Dogs also have a difficult time tasting saltiness. Their taste buds respond most strongly to sour and bitter tastes (AKC).
While dogs experience the basic tastes, their sensations seem to be dulled compared to humans. Their limited number of taste buds reduces their tasting ability. However, their sense of smell plays a critical role in how dogs experience food.
Smell and Taste Connection
Dogs rely more on their sense of smell rather than taste to gather information about food. According to the AKC, a dog’s sense of smell can be up to one million times stronger than a human’s (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/lifestyle/can-dogs-taste/). This allows them to pick up on many more nuances and details about a food’s scent.
In addition to their nose, dogs also utilize a special organ called the Jacobson’s organ to analyze smells. Located in the roof of their mouth, this organ provides dogs with even more sensory information from scents (https://www.nylabone.com/dog101/do-dogs-have-taste-buds).
Since smell has such a strong influence on a dog’s perception of food, the actual flavor of the food plays a lesser role. Their powerful sense of smell informs much of what dogs experience as “taste” when eating (https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/nutrition/accounting-taste-probing-mysteries-dogs-find-delicious/).
Human Skin and Sweat
Human skin contains various compounds that contribute to body odor, including fatty acids, salts, and sugars.1 The skin’s natural secretions interact with bacteria on the surface to produce many of the volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that create our unique personal scents.2 Different areas of the body contain different ratios of compounds and support different bacterial populations.
When we sweat, the perspiration provides additional compounds for skin bacteria to metabolize. Sweat by itself is nearly odorless, but bacteria break down components like urea and amino acids into smelly substances like ammonia and isovaleric acid.3 The apocrine sweat glands concentrated in the armpits and groin secrete proteins and lipids that especially stimulate odor-causing bacterial growth when sweaty.
Why Do Dogs Lick People?
There are a few main theories as to why dogs lick and nuzzle up against their human owners:
Human skin secretions contain salts and oils that may attract dogs. Areas where we sweat more, such as the face or feet, may hold particular appeal to your dog (AKC). Their sense of smell is so acute that they can pick up on the different scents our skin gives off.
The salt in sweat and tears may trigger your dog’s appetite and cause them to lick you. However, experts note this is probably not the primary driver, since dogs tend to lick even when humans have just bathed (The Kennel Club).
Licking is thought to be a pleasurable and calming activity for dogs. It may be a sign of affection, submission, or just a habit. Some dogs lick their owners out of curiosity, interest or boredom. It can simply be a way for them to explore and become familiar with someone’s scent.
In short, licks are a social behavior for dogs – a means of communication and bonding. While scent and salt may play a role, the act itself is likely driven by multiple factors.
When Licking Becomes a Problem
While most dogs lick people as a sign of affection, excessive or obsessive licking can indicate an underlying issue. Anxiety, stress, or compulsive disorders like OCD can cause dogs to lick themselves or people to the point of irritation or hair loss [1]. This obsessive licking is often focused on one specific area, like their paws or flank. Working with a veterinary behaviorist may help identify and treat the cause of the anxiety or obsession.
Allergies or skin irritations can also cause compulsive licking in dogs as they try to soothe their itchy skin. Food allergies, contact allergies, parasite bites, dry skin, orhotspotscan elicit excessive licking. Seeing a veterinarian to diagnose and treat the underlying condition is important. Medication, nutritional changes, or topical solutions may be needed to stop the urge to lick affected areas.
If a dog starts showing signs of obsessive licking focused on one area, it’s a good idea to seek veterinary attention. Determining if the cause is behavioral, allergenic, or related to a specificskin condition will guide the treatment approach. Left untreated, compulsive licking can lead to hair loss, wounds, infections, and discomfort for dogs.
Stopping Unwanted Licking
While licking is a natural dog behavior, excessive or unwanted licking can become an irritating habit. There are several techniques to curb constant licking:
First, try to understand the root cause of the behavior. According to Rover, licking may indicate stress, anxiety, or a health issue that requires veterinary attention. Determining the trigger can help you address the problem correctly.
Providing distraction and correction can also discourage licking. The Kennel Club recommends saying “no” firmly, then redirecting your dog’s attention to a toy or different activity. You can also cover the licked areas with clothing or move your body away when licking starts.
In some cases, physical barriers may be needed. Applying an Elizabethan collar prevents dogs from being able to reach areas to lick excessively. Bandages or bitter-tasting gels applied to the skin can also deter licking.
Make sure your dog has alternate activities to meet their needs. Increasing playtime, walks, and mental stimulation through training or food puzzles can curb boredom licking. Meeting your dog’s basic needs for affection and enrichment is key.
Risks of Dog Licks
While dog licks can seem harmless and affectionate, there are some risks to allowing dogs to lick the face and mouth:
Spread of diseases or parasites:
Dogs may carry bacteria and parasites in their mouths that can be passed to humans through licking. Salmonella, campylobacter, giardia, and roundworms are some examples. Parasite transmission occurs when the parasite’s eggs are passed from the dog’s mouth to a person’s skin, eyes, nose or mouth (Washington Post). Skin infections or gastrointestinal illness are possible outcomes.
Skin damage or infection:
Dog saliva contains enzymes that help break down food and clean wounds. But frequent licking of human skin can lead to irritation, infection, and even small abrasions over time. People with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for skin infections from dog saliva (Newsweek).
Encouraging unwanted behavior:
Allowing a dog to lick the face can reinforce the behavior and cause the dog to do it more often, which may be undesirable. Setting boundaries early is important to discourage excessive face licking (Rover).
Safe Interactions
While dog licks generally pose little risk to humans, there are some precautions that can be taken to promote safe interactions:
Washing hands and skin regularly after interacting with pets can help remove bacteria and prevent infection, especially before eating. It’s also advisable to wash any areas on your skin that your dog excessively licks.[https://www.washingtonpost.com/wellness/2023/08/07/dog-lick-face-safe/]
Monitor your dog for excessive licking behavior and consider training alternatives if it becomes problematic. Redirecting your dog’s attention or providing alternative activities can curb unwanted licking.[https://raleighncvet.com/uncategorized/is-it-safe-to-let-my-dog-lick-me/]
Maintaining proper pet hygiene through regular grooming, dental care, and immunizations helps reduce the spread of germs. Keep your dog clean and healthy for safer human-dog interactions.[https://www.hillspet.com/dog-care/behavior-appearance/are-dog-kisses-safe]
The Verdict
Dogs do not see humans as food or lick us because we “taste good.” While dogs have thousands more taste buds than people and can pick up on flavors we can’t detect, there is no evidence that dogs consider human skin a tasty treat.
Rather, dogs lick for a variety of reasons including curiosity, affection, attention-seeking, stress relief and even medical reasons like nausea or compulsion. Puppies also lick each other and their mother to stimulate feeding, so licking is a natural dog behavior ingrained from birth.
Licking generally shows a dog is interested in you, whether it’s the salt from your sweat, leftover food smells, or simply bonding through touch. Excessive licking may signal anxiety, boredom or a health issue needing treatment. But rest assured, when your dog licks you, he’s not looking at you as his next meal.