What Does It Mean When Your Dog Licks You?
It’s usually pretty clear that dogs lick because they like people. But what does it mean when your dog licks you a lot? If your dog constantly licks you or other people, there may be other reasons besides affection, like wanting food or attention.
Dogs may also lick because they think you taste good! Your taste and scent is familiar to them; plus, every time you pet them afterwards, it’s a reward.
However, pay attention if your dog keeps licking themselves. This could signify a medical issue such as anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder or allergies. According to petmd.com, licking can be a nervous habit, similar to humans who bite their fingernails.
Dr. Megan Maxwell says you can identify nervous licking by what and when a dog licks. Does your dog start licking when the doorbell rings? Does your dog constantly lick the same thing over and over? Regardless of the reason for licking, you might want to keep a towel handy to wipe up all that slobber.
And no matter how much you love your dog, we don’t recommend licking them back.
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