What It Really Means When Your Dog Licks You

Discover when dog licking is affectionate and when it signals issues

dog licking its owner's hand
Credit:

The Spruce / Charlotte Engelsen

Key Takeaways

  • Dogs lick to show affection, seek attention, or because they are following wild instincts.
  • Licking is generally harmless but might indicate anxiety or compulsive behavior in rare cases.
  • To stop unwanted licking, deny attention when it happens and reward the dog when they stop licking.

Yes, dogs will lick you to show affection, often called giving you kisses. However, there are other reasons you might end up with a slobbery face or hand. Your dog might be seeking attention, following instincts, or simply figuring out how you taste.

It's a common, relatively harmless behavior most dog owners accept as a sign of canine love, but in rare cases the licking can indicate your dog is suffering mentally.

Learn more about why dogs lick—and what you can do if you want it to stop.

Why Dogs Lick People

While we don't know for certain why dogs lick, most experts agree there's probably a combination of reasons. In most cases, licking is not considered a serious behavior problem. Knowing the reason for your dog's licking, however, might change the way you feel about it.

  1. Affection

    There's a good chance your dog is licking you to show their affection. It's why many people equate them with kisses.

    Licking is a natural action for dogs. They learned it from the grooming and affection their mothers gave them as puppies. Dogs might lick your face if they can get to it. If not, they might just go for any available patch of skin: hands, arms, legs, feet, and even ears.

    Some dogs tend to lick less than others. This does not necessarily mean a dog is less affectionate. They might have just learned things differently as a puppy or they simply don't prefer licking.

  2. Seeking Attention

    Dogs will also lick you to simply get your attention. Maybe your dog is bored or lonely. There you are and they want your attention. It often starts as a sign of affection, but then it's reinforced by a person's reaction: laughing, smiling, or petting.

    When a dog is seeking attention, they will feel rewarded by any kind of attention, even the negative type. Pushing them away, saying "no," or even administering punishment still means you're not ignoring the licking. This can encourage the licking even further.

  3. Instinct

    Dogs may also lick you because they're following their wild instincts. When wolves (and sometimes dogs in the wild) return to their pups after a meal, the pups lick around the adults' mouths. The wolves then regurgitate meat from the hunt for the pups to chow down.

    Some believe this licking behavior has been passed down in wolves' DNA, causing dogs to instinctively do it sometimes.

  4. Taste

    Another reason dogs lick you: They want to see how you taste. Once that dog gets to licking you, they might realize you have an intriguing salty flavor.

    Dogs love anything that has an interesting taste. Plus, licking is a way for your dog to explore their world. You're part of that world after all.

  5. Compulsive Behavior

    Although it's rare, dogs can lick because they suffer from obsessive-compulsive disorder, often brought on by prolonged stress and anxiety.1 

    Licking that occurs constantly (and usually involves the licking of objects, surfaces, and themselves in addition to humans) may be a real problem.

When Licking Can Be a Problem

There are rare cases when your dog licking you can indicate a problem. Know the signs so you can help your pup feel better.

Talk to your veterinarian if you think your dog's licking is concerning. They might refer you to an animal behaviorist for help. 

Your veterinarian or a veterinary behaviorist may also prescribe medication to help relieve anxiety. Remember, animals cannot learn while in a high state of anxiety. So medication may be used as a tool to curb licking in conjunction with training. Pharmaceutical treatment may even be used temporarily while your dog goes through training and behavior modification.

Is It Safe for Dogs to Lick You?

Yes, it's usually relatively harmless to let your dog lick you. However, don't believe the old myth that dogs' mouths are cleaner than humans' mouths.

Dogs' mouths contain a lot of natural bacteria, which is part of the reason dog bites are so dangerous. However, this bacteria probably won't cause harm unless it gets into an open wound.

How To Stop Problem Licking

Getting your dog to stop licking you (and others) is usually a matter of denying attention when they do it. When unwanted licking starts:

  • Stop touching your dog or looking at them. 
  • Turn your head away.
  • Get up and walk away if you need to.
  • As soon as the licking stops, reward your dog with attention, affection, or even treats.

In time, your dog will usually get the point: Licking is undesired behavior.

You can also be proactive, preventing your dog from licking you by distracting them. So instead of giving them the chance to lick, you go straight to:

Speaking of new tricks, if you really don't mind the occasional canine kiss, you can always teach your pup how to give you some sugar.

FAQ
  • Does licking mean my dog loves me?

    We'll never know for sure, but licking accompanied with other excited behavior can mean your dog loves you. Or, perhaps, they love how you taste.

  • Should I let my dog lick me?

    That's up to you. Just remember that dogs' mouths contain hundreds of bacterial species, so it can be icky. Dog licks probably won't make you sick, but don't let them lick any open wounds. (And keep up with regular vet appointments and teeth cleanings.)

  • How do I keep my dog from licking other people?

    Keep your dog from licking others by distracting them. If you have people coming over, give your dog a food puzzle or enrichment toy to play with as your guests arrive. If it's a big enough problem, keep your dog separated from your guests in another room or outside.

Sources
The Spruce Pets uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
  1. Steimer T. Animal models of anxiety disorders in rats and mice: some conceptual issuesDialogues Clin Neurosci. 2011;13(4):495-506. doi:10.31887/DCNS.2011.13.4/tsteimer

  2. How Do People Get Infected with Capnocytophaga? Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.