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Dogs are one of the happiest and most cheerful animals out there, which is why they are one of the favorites in the pet community. They show their emotions through a variety of different behaviors. Some dogs are known to lick more than others, and this can often include your mouth, whether we want them to or not! It might be a sign that they are interested in the taste of what we have been eating, expressing their happiness, affection, submission, excitement, or even anxiety in some cases.
If you are wondering why your dog is licking your mouth, you are in the right place! Reasons can vary from wanting your attention to simply showing affection.
The 5 Likely Reasons Why Your Dog Licks Your Mouth
1. Showing Affection
Dogs are introduced to licking from a very young age—after being born, they were licked by their mother so they could survive. That is the first thing that happens to them, so, often, they use licking as a means of communication, exploration, driven by taste or as a habit. One of the more common reasons dogs lick you is because they are thrilled to see you or as a sign of appeasement! When dogs lick your mouth, they may just want to show their affection.
2. They Want Attention
Dogs are highly social and, most of the time, active animals, so they may lick your mouth because they just want to play with you. Especially when they are young, dogs need a lot of playtime, which is also a great way to bond with your dog. So pups will call you to play with them by barking and licking. Keep that in mind next time they start to lick your mouth!
3. They Like the Taste
When we go outside and come back into the house, we bring a lot of different smells, such as sweat. When we sweat, we release salt from our bodies which is tasty for dogs, so they lick us even more. When they lick our mouth, they may also sense that we ate some food recently and it often happens when people put cosmetic products on their lips or face. But be careful because some of the cosmetic products that we use can be toxic for dogs.
4. They Are Anxious
Licking is also a type of behavior that can help your dog feel calm. In stressful situations, your dog may look at you as a source of comfort, so licking you may make them feel more at ease or could be a sign of their ongoing stress. This behavior may be more often seen in dogs which are poorly socialized, had negative previous experiences or get anxious around other people and pets, so they look at you as a source of protection. In some cases, the dog may feel uncomfortable due to sudden or loud noise such as a thunderstorm, so as a sign of discomfort and fear, they may lick your mouth. You will know that this is happening because they change their body posture, and their ears go back.
5. They Sense Your Mood
Dogs are called “man’s best friend” for a reason. When they connect with their humans, they can pick up on certain emotional cues from happy moments to sadness or anger. You have probably noticed that whenever you get angry or sad, your dog may seek your company or start licking you. That’s because by licking, they feel even closer to you and feel like they are comforting you in some sense.
How to Stop Your Dog From Licking Your Mouth
Although some people may find it charming, problems can arise when your dog starts jumping on strangers and licking their faces as well. After all, we don’t always know where that tongue has been (or even worse – we do!!). Not to mention, there is a risk of bacterial transmission especially in children and immunocompromised individuals, when a dog licks their face or mouth or any skin cuts.
Before solving this problem, you should know that licking is perfectly normal behavior that dogs display from a young age at varying degrees. However, if you feel uncomfortable that your dog is licking you or other people constantly, you should try to train them not to do it. The first thing you should try is to move your head away every time they start to lick your face. Try to stay neutral and ignore them for a few minutes. You can also leave the room briefly so that over time, they will learn that the behavior doesn’t get them the attention they want.
You can also distract them whenever they lick you by introducing them to a toy. Exercise is also a great way of solving this problem because it will reduce their anxiety and stress. And most importantly, you should always be consistent because this behavior they learned from a young age, so it will be difficult to change their habits.
Most importantly is that everyone in the house be consistent. Dogs can become stressed and confused when they are taught something one minute, then the next minute the rules have changed. If you want to stop your dog from licking faces and mouths, you need to make sure that no one is secretly allowing them to do it when you’re not looking!
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Conclusion
Dogs are our best friends, and we all want to make them happy and make their life as comfortable as possible. When they lick our mouths, oftentimes they do it out of affection or appeasement. If you think your dog is licking you as a sign of stress, try finding the source of stress. If this behavior is something that you want to reduce, you should start with proper training from an early age.
Featured Image Credit: Magicovice516, Shutterstock
