Why does my dog lick my face so much and how do I get him to stop?
I got my dog, Hero, when he was just a wee pup, and he's been a licker the entire time I've had him. Every time I go to pick him up he's scrambling to attack my face in kisses. It's super cute, but also slightly gross, and I know that as he gets bigger it's going to become more of an issue (especially because he does it to strangers too sometimes).
So, why do dogs lick people's faces? I assume my dog just loves me but could something be wrong? What should I do to curb this behavior, if anything?
So, why do dogs lick people's faces? I assume my dog just loves me but could something be wrong? What should I do to curb this behavior, if anything?
If your dog is incessantly licking you, see your veterinarian to have them check your dog for an underlying medical concern. This can sometimes be a sign of certain underlying conditions. Usually though, dogs just do this when they’re excited. Your new pup loves to hang out with you! If you ever want Hero to stop licking though, just clap your hands and say “no” to interrupt them.
I had a dog that would always lick me nonstop whenever there was a thunderstorm. I think it was his way of making himself feel better. If your dog is greeting you by jumping up and licking your face, I bet it’s their way of soothing themselves and calming down.
In my experience, this is almost always just a sign of affection. Dogs lick one another to groom and say hello when they’re young, so your dog is probably just super happy to see you.
My vet told me something really interesting about this. Apparently, dogs have a crazy ability to taste and smell compared to us, and when they lick their owners, it’s often just because they taste and smell really good. It’s sort of like if your best friend smelled and tasted like cinnamon rolls. You’d want to lick them too, right?!
Yesssssss
I think dogs learn this behavior when they’re puppies. They lick their mother’s face to let them know they want food. It could be that your dog is hungry, or it may be that your dog looks at you the same way they used to look at their mother.
Alternatively, if your dog is so excited that they won’t stop licking you, they may be overly stimulated. My first suggestion would be to put the dog on the leash. This way you are able to manage the dog and establish that owner-pet rapport. So if the dog is licking too much, refocus them back to something else by calling their name or presenting a toy. And then, that's your opportunity to direct them into the behavior that you want from them instead of all the licking.
Alternatively, if your dog is so excited that they won’t stop licking you, they may be overly stimulated. My first suggestion would be to put the dog on the leash. This way you are able to manage the dog and establish that owner-pet rapport. So if the dog is licking too much, refocus them back to something else by calling their name or presenting a toy. And then, that's your opportunity to direct them into the behavior that you want from them instead of all the licking.
A dog lick is like a kiss for humans so he might just really love you.
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