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Hands at breakfast, ankles after a shower, your face the second you bend down. Some dogs lick constantly. Most of the time it is a social habit left over from puppyhood. Sometimes it is a signal worth listening to.
From birth, a mother licks her puppies to clean them, get their circulation going and, after feeding, help them toilet. Licking is the very first contact a dog ever has.
Puppies lick back, at their mother and their littermates. At weaning they also lick the corners of her mouth to get her to bring up a little food, a behaviour inherited from wolves. Grown up, your dog keeps the habit and uses it with its new family: you.
Licking feels good to the dog itself, releasing endorphins that calm it down. That is why a relaxed dog curled up next to you in the evening can lick your hand for minutes on end without wanting anything.
Dogs learn fast. You laugh, you talk, you push them away: whichever it is, they got your attention. Even an exasperated “stop it!” is a reward for a bored dog.
A dog that licks mainly while you are on the phone or watching telly is probably after exactly that.
Sweat is salty and dogs love it. Feet, legs after a run, hands that have been handling food: nothing sentimental going on, they are tasting. Scented moisturiser can be a draw too.
A quick lick of the nose, or a lick of your face while you are telling them off, is not a kiss. The dog is trying to defuse the tension. It is one of the most common calming signals, often paired with looking away or a yawn.
The occasional lick is nothing. What matters is excess, especially if it starts suddenly:
In those cases, start with your vet. Excessive licking can be linked to pain or anxiety, and a medical cause should be ruled out before you think about training. If money is tight, PDSA offers free and low-cost vet care to eligible owners.
Don’t react, then offer something else. The moment the tongue comes out, stand up without a word. Once the dog has settled, give it something to do: a chew, a stuffed Kong, a quick game. Every single time, consistency does the work.
Give them something to lick. A lick mat spread with wet food or plain yoghurt keeps a licky dog busy and calms it down.
Teach another behaviour. Sit, paw, go to your bed: a simple cue, rewarded every time, gradually replaces licking as the way to ask for attention.
More exercise and sniffing. A bored dog looks for contact any way it can. More walks, scent games and play often cut the licking on their own.
Avoid shouting or tapping the nose. The dog has no idea why a friendly gesture is being punished, and a more anxious dog tends to lick more.
We’d avoid face licks, especially around the mouth, eyes or any cut. A dog’s mouth carries bacteria that are normal for the dog but not necessarily for us. That goes double for young children, older people and anyone unwell.
Hands are a different matter: soap and water and you’re done.
The salty taste of sweat, and the smell, which tells their nose a lot about you. If it bothers you, wear slippers and offer a toy instead.
Usually a greeting mixed with wanting breakfast and the garden. They have noticed that licking gets you out of bed.
Dogs pick up on changes in our voice, posture and smell. Licking is a social, appeasing gesture, so a dog may well do it when you are upset.
Sources: VCA Animal Hospitals, Why do dogs lick humans?, PDSA
