Figuring Out Why Dogs Lick
Are you afraid to sit too low to the ground for fear you’ll feel your dog’s eager tongue? Dogs lick their owners for many reasons, but of course, the number one reason is because they love you. It’s a sign of affection, but there are nuances to the licking.
If you’ve ever wondered why dogs lick, stay tuned. You’ve come to Leon Valley Veterinary Hospital for answers, and we’re ready to deliver!
A Natural Instinct
Like we mentioned earlier, the top reason dogs lick is to show their love for you. And they learned this behavior on day one. Mother dogs lick their puppies for grooming, social interaction, and affection; puppies in a litter lick each other for the same reasons. So, when your dog licks you, they’re essentially saying, “My family licked me, now I lick you.”
Getting to the Bottom of Why Dogs Lick
- Exploration — Dogs explore their environment the same way a baby does. As a way of testing what’s what in their world, everything they encounter gets a taste. Licking (and tasting) is akin to when humans reach out and touch something to investigate.
- Resource seeking — When puppies lick their mother, they’re often asking to be fed. Submissive members of a wolf pack will lick the alpha dog to ask if it’s their turn to eat from a kill. As their provider, your dog may also be seeking a meal (or a treat!) from you.
- Attention seeking — Your dog’s tongue may be a way to remind you that it’s time for a pet or to admire how cute they are.
- Play — Dogs love to play, so licking can be a way to playfully engage you in roughhousing. With you, their version of “rough” play involves their tongue, instead of their teeth.
Excessive or Problem Licking
Excessive licking may be more in the eye of the beholder. Even an occasional polite lick may be too much for some owners. In these cases, the problem may be more with the human than the dog – after all, dogs will lick.
However, if you feel your dog is licking excessively, we encourage you to contact us or seek the advice of a veterinary behaviorist or certified dog trainer. Licking is a natural behavior for dogs, so you want to be careful in how you go about approaching the issue.
Keep in mind, some causes of licking may be linked to medical issues. If you notice continual licking or licking at a specific area of the body, we want to take a look. Similarly, if your dog is compulsively licking the air, we need to evaluate them first to rule out medical problems before beginning any behavioral modification program.
Some causes of obsessive licking include:
- Allergies
- Dental pain
- Nausea
- Seizures
- Gastrointestinal discomfort
- Canine cognitive dysfunction
Hopefully, your dog’s licking is not obsessive and is only a periodic swipe to show affection. In this case, relish the fact that your dog is showing you how much they love and appreciate you. As always, please give us a call if you have any questions or concerns about why dogs lick.