Why does my dog lick me?

Dogs lick for a variety of reasons, often a combination of affection, communication, and taste. 

Licking can be a way for them to show love, relieve stress, or simply explore their environment. It's also a natural, sometimes submissive behaviour rooted in their history as pack animals.

Here's a more detailed breakdown:

Affection and Bonding:

🐶Licking is a common way for dogs to express affection, similar to how a mother dog grooms her puppies.

💕 It can be a way of building and strengthening the bond between you and your dog.

💕 Dogs may lick you when you cuddle or pet them, releasing endorphins that make them feel good, similar to how humans feel when they hug.

Attention Seeking:

🐕 Dogs may lick you to get your attention, especially if they want to play, go for a walk, or simply be near you.

🐾 They may also lick you to communicate that they need something, like food or to go outside.

Stress Relief and Comfort:

🐾 Licking can be a self-soothing behaviour for dogs, helping them to relax and cope with stress or anxiety.

🐾 If your dog seems anxious or uneasy, they may lick you as a way to calm themselves down.

Submissive behaviour

🐾 In some cases, licking can be a submissive gesture, indicating respect or a desire to appease their owner.

Exploration and Taste:

🐾 Dogs use their tongues to explore their environment, and they may lick you to learn more about you or things on your skin.

🐾 They may find the taste of your skin, especially if it's salty from sweat, appealing.

🐾 They may also of course lick you if they detect remnants of food on your skin!

When Licking Becomes a Problem:

⚠️ While licking is generally normal, excessive licking, especially if it's accompanied by other unusual behaviours, could indicate a problem.

⚠️ Licking at one particular area of themselves, licking non-food items compulsively, or licking at their skin and overgrooming isn’t normal behaviour, and you should seek your vet’s advice.