A puppy licking you can be the most endearing and tender moment for many dog owners. It’s a natural form of expression and affection for dogs, but when does it become a problem? Should you let your dog lick your face? Before delving into that, it’s important to understand why dogs like to lick in the first place.
Why Do Dogs Love To Lick?
Mothers will lick their puppies in order to comfort, clean, and encourage them to breathe. Dogs will also lick in order to communicate messages to each other ranging from “hello” to “feed me.” Also, this behavior is a normal grooming process for dogs. Licking a greeting may have been encouraged by an excited owner overjoyed by the attention. Whatever the reason, it’s a completely normal thing for your furry friend to do.
If that’s the case, should you let your pup lick your face?
When Licking Becomes a Problem
According to an article by the NY Times, dog mouths are full of bacteria that are potentially harmful to humans. They can carry many diseases and parasites that may transfer to their human companions including E. Coli, roundworms, hookworms, Salmonella, Pasteurella, and a host of others.
Think about it. Where has your dog’s mouth and nose been?
Although, to say that one lick could cause so many problems, might be stretching things. The biggest concern is when the saliva gets into any open wounds or the mucous membranes of the eyes, mouth, and nose. That’s the most likely place for problems to occur.
In most cases, it’s perfectly fine to let your pup give you a smooch. Simply make sure all of their vaccinations are up to date and that you wash your skin afterwards with soap and water.
Dealing with Obsessive Licking
A different licking problem comes from obsessive behaviors. If your dog is licking one particular spot on their body, consider taking him/her to the vet. The spot could be itching or aching. There may be a potential parasite.
Is your dog getting enough exercise? If not, anxiety and stress might provoke your pup into obsessive licking behavior. A dog may spend hours licking one spot, aggravating it into an open wound that can’t heal. My brother experienced this with one of his Labradors. The poor pup had lost one of her doggy companions and wasn’t getting as much exercise as she was used to. I would often see a sore on her foot whenever I visited and my brother spent quite a bit of time at the vet trying to figure it out. It’s important to break the cycle of this habit early for the health and safety of your pup.
How to Stop Your Dog From Licking You
So, how do you stop your dog from showering you with kisses? While this is a normal and natural behavior it can get annoying. So, here are a few tips.
~ Ignore your Dog. When your dog starts their kissing fest, pretend like he/she doesn’t exist. Don’t make eye contact. Don’t talk to them. Pull away from the kisses. Any kind of verbal response from you positive or negative is reinforcing the behavior. Wait a few seconds after your dog stops before praising and rewarding them. If your dog insists on pouring on the drool, get up and walk away. This shows your dog that you don’t want any kisses. After a minute or so, come back and sit. Repeat if your pup continues licking you. If you are consistent, they’ll get it.
~ Provide a Distraction. If your pup is slobbering on you or your guests provide a Kong toy filled with a yummy treat. This could be frozen peanut butter, ground meat, yogurt, etc. This gives your dog an opportunity to engage in their natural instincts while saving you or your guest from a saliva bath. The bonus with the Kong being frozen ensures your pup will be distracted for a good while.
~ Use Doggie Safe Deterrents. A bitter spray or citrus scented lotion/soap may also work in preventing your dog from licking you. The taste of orange and lemon can deter many pups, but be warned. All dogs have their own likes and dislikes and your pup may be one of the few who likes citrus.
~ Take a Shower. Maybe the reason your dog is licking you like crazy is because you taste good. Dogs love salty skin. So, if you’ve just worked out, consider jumping into the shower real quick before hanging with your furry pal.
In Conclusion
It may be best to avoid kisses on the face, but that doesn’t mean you should stop showing your pup love and affection. Don’t punish your dog for being, well, a dog. They love to lick. If it becomes obsessive make sure to see a vet and follow their recommendations. Exercise your dog and do all you can to teach them with positive reinforcement. Doing so will continue to build your relationship and ensure a happy, hardy pup.
What are some annoying habits your dog has? We’d love to hear it in the comments!