Why do they lick dogs

If you have a dog at home, probably more than once you have tried to lick your face, hands, feet or even your ears, despite teaching that you do not like it. But, did you know that for them it is a form of communication? Behind this act so rejected by the owners, hide a series of reasons that can help us understand a little better the behavior of our cans. If you want to know why they lick the dogs and start to understand them, do not miss this article from.

one

One of the main reasons why dogs lick their owners and other people from their environment, or other animals, is a sign of affection . In the same way that we hug and kiss to show affection, the cans resort to licking.

two

If you have more than one dog at home and you notice that they continuously lick each other, regardless of the part of the body, they will probably do it for hygiene . Although the cans do not take as much care of their personal hygiene as the cats, they also try to keep each other clean. Likewise, it is a way to establish bonds of trust between them. If you work with dogs or have more than two, look, they probably will not practice this practice with everyone.

3

In relation to the previous step, dogs have more developed senses than humans, taste being one of them. Through the act of licking, the dog can identify aromas characteristic of a condition, such as estrus in females, or of a specific dog, like the alpha male of a herd. Thus, licking can also be a reason for submission, wanting to demonstrate to the leader of the pack that they obey him. If you have correctly established your position as such, it will possibly try to lick your hands, feet or face to show you that it is submissive.

4

Another reason that explains why dogs lick is to ask for something . Depending on the character of the dog, you can resort to crying or licking when you want to tell you that you are hungry, that you want to throw the ball or, during your meal, that you want to give your food. If you do it as a resource to demand that you give your food, here is an article in which you show how to teach your dog to stop ordering food when you are eating.

5

However, licking is not always a synonym of joy, affection or loyalty. When a dog feels fear for a certain person or finds himself in a situation that causes fear, he tends to lick the one who frightens him so much as a sign of submission.

6

Dogs have an enormous ability to empathize with their owners. So, if you feel sad, he will be sad, if you suffer stress, you can also, and if you are happy, he will be more so. In all these cases, your dog will try to lick you to show you that he loves you and is with you, especially in times of sadness or illness. When licking is fast and excessive, it can be synonymous with stress or anxiety.

7

Remember that dogs use licking as a method of communication, teaching him that he must eliminate all contact with you through the language can convey that you do not want to communicate with him. Training them is good for them because they are animals that need to follow rules and behavior guidelines to find stability. You can educate him so that he does not lick your face, if you really do not like him to do it, but it is always advisable to leave a little margin so that he does not fear doing it in his hands, for example, if he needs to ask you for help in extreme cases, like an ailment or lack of food.