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Gee, my dog is licking my face again. Make no mistake about the fact that this four legged and furry baby is loved but the raspy tongue and the revolting drool on my face is really disgusting. Licking is one of the ways by which dogs can learn about their environment but this pet of mine really takes a big slice of the cake when it comes to licking.

Licking is a habit learned by dogs from puppyhood. Dams lick their puppies clean. After defecating and urinating, the anal area of the puppies will be licked by the dam. Mother dogs licking is aimed to aid in the circulation and digestion process of the puppies. Puppies on the other hand, have learned to lick the mother dog whenever they want to nurse. Puppies that are about to be weaned would lick the lips of the dam as an encouragement to regurgitate food. Needless to say, licking is also done to show affection. The instinctive licking of the mother dog to a pup that has crawled away is a visible sign of affection. Puppies would lick not only the dam but also their siblings.

Dogs would normally show their affection by licking. Because of the affectionate nature, dogs are considered as members of the family. The mother dog and the littermates that were once the recipient of the dog’s wet tongue are now replaced by the human family. The dog licks you because you are now his family. If your dog licks you it means that the pet is well loved and receiving the best care from you as dogs that do not receive the same treatment from their masters are less inclined to lick human.

Dogs are pack oriented animals. You may have made your dog understand that you are the alpha male - the leader of the pack. The dog will lick you as a sign of submission. Licking can also be the dog’s way of gaining your approval or attention. This is most common in households with two or more dogs. Licking can be the strategy of one dog wanting to get an edge over the other pet for the master’s affection.

The dog’s tendency to lick can be annoying to some pet owners considering the fact that these pets have the propensity to eat feces and things abhorrent to humans. This concern will be aggravated by the dog’s inclination to drink from the toilet bowl. Train the dog to develop another way of showing its affection as you really need to stop his licking habit.

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