Why Dogs Lick Your Face

Though it may seem cute and affectionate to let your pup lick your face, experts advise against it.

Experts warn that it could be hazardous to humans as it spreads capnocytophaga bacteria, which could lead to skin infection in immunocompromised individuals. Furthermore, it has the potential to irritate and potentially scare visitors or strangers.

Affection

Licking is a natural behavior for dogs to demonstrate affection and can be an effective communication tool. It conveys your trust, respect for them, and love for them.

Additionally, exercising helps build a bond with your dog and releases endorphins, calming hormones. Furthermore, dopamine, a brain chemical responsible for happiness in dogs, is released as well.

Studies have demonstrated that dogs may lick you as a way of seeking attention or trying to please you. This behavior is especially common with puppies, but some older dogs also lick to ask for food.

If you don't want your dog licking you, it is wise to stop the behavior gradually. Avoid punishing your pup for it, and reward them with food or affection if possible; doing so only encourages them to lick more frequently.

Your face is covered in both eccrine and apocrine sweat glands that give off a salty odor enjoyed by dogs. Cheeks and forehead have eccrine glands, while eyelids and nostrils have apocrine ones.

Your face is the most exposed part of your body to the outside world, so it's the area with plenty of interesting smells and tastes for your pup to explore. Furthermore, being touched frequently provides additional motivation for them to investigate everything they touch - making it even more of a lure!

Though some may consider licking to be harmless, experts warn that it could cause your dog to transmit infections to you. Since your immune system is not as strong as theirs, it's possible for bacteria and parasites to enter into your body through your mouth and make you ill.

Another essential consideration is that open wounds on your face can become infected by bacteria if left unchecked. When your dog licks you, they moisten the area and encourage bacteria to enter by moistening the wound.

If you're uncertain whether it's safe for your pup to lick your face, consult your veterinarian first. Despite all the controversy, experts say kissing is generally safe for both humans and pets alike.

Communication

Licking is an instinctive way for dogs to communicate with their owners, and they might lick your face as a sign of affection, to demand attention or simply want to taste you.

Dr. Kong states that dogs lick to communicate, as it feels the same as being touched and your hands and face become objects for them to touch. Furthermore, Dr. Kong says, dogs use their nose and mouth receptors to interpret scented molecules in human sweat or vomeronasal saliva.

When a mother wolf returns from hunting, she may lick her pups' faces as a warning that she's approaching. In wild packs, leaders may also get licked by puppies hoping for food; this practice helps ensure everyone has enough nutrition at their disposal.

Domestic households often witness dogs licking your face to show you they love you and are contented to see you. This act of affection is similar to giving your pup a kiss when they were younger; it helps create an intense bond between both of you.

Sypniewski believes this behavior demonstrates subservience. When puppies are younger, they often lick their mothers' faces and those of other young pups as a form of grooming.

They may do it when they wish to pacify other members of their pack, such as when your pup is younger and wants assurance that you are safe and loved.

If your dog is feeling nervous or anxious, they might lick you to soothe them and make you more comfortable. While this can be a healthy behavior, if it becomes habitual it could indicate something more serious like an underlying health issue or anxiety disorder. According to Dr. DeWeese, licking may indicate something more serious is going on with their wellbeing.

In addition to licking you, dogs may lick your face in an effort to comfort you when feeling sad or angry. That is because dogs have evolved alongside humans so they understand emotion well, according to Sypniewski.

Appeasement

Appeasement is a foreign policy strategy designed to reduce the likelihood of war between two nations by offering concessions. This could be done through negotiations, or simply decreasing their demands for territory.

In the 1930s, British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain used appeasement as a strategy to prevent another world war between Britain and Nazi Germany from breaking out. He tried to accommodate Italy's invasion of Ethiopia in 1935 and Germany's annexation of Austria in 1938; additionally, he negotiated the Munich Agreement which enabled Adolf Hitler to annex parts of Czechoslovakia that were ethnically German.

As a result of the Munich Agreement, Sudetenland - or German-speaking part of Czechoslovakia - became part of Nazi Germany. Chamberlain believed appeasement would bring peace to the region, but this policy proved unsuccessful; Churchill famously described Chamberlain's action as "throwing a small state to the wolves".

Hitler invaded much of Sudetenland, including Prague, in March 1939. Six months later, Britain and France were at war with Germany over Poland.

Appeasement policies of the 1930s were widely discredited as a policy of weakness, yet they remain an influential topic in political discussions today. Despite its failure, appeasement remains one of the most influential concepts in diplomatic debates today.

Some dogs may lick you in a non-threatening manner as a sign that they do not feel threatened by you. If your pup licks you frequently, it could be indicative of affection from them and should be met with lots of love and attention.

You can tell if your dog is licking you in a threat by looking at their body language. If they display tension, floppyness or crookedness when they lick you, this indicates an aggressive intention.

Other signs that your dog may be feeling threatened or angry include yawning, nose-licking and tail wagging that stops when touched.

Some dogs experience obsessive licking, in which they will continue to lick the same part of your face even when you ignore them. This behavior can be highly detrimental to the bond between you and your pup; therefore, taking swift action to intervene is recommended.

Hygiene

You may be surprised to know that allowing your pup to lick your face isn't always the safest decision for you. According to an article in The Hippocratic Post, it can actually be quite dangerous and lead to infections or disease.

Dogs carry bacteria in their saliva that are zoonotic - meaning they can spread to humans - which can lead to diseases like salmonella and campylobacter. These aren't just any bacterial infections; these are dangerous ones that can even kill healthy people.

John Oxford, an emeritus professor of virology and bacteriology at Queen Mary University of London, told the Hippocratic Post that he would never allow his dog to lick him in the face. He believes dogs spend half their lives stuck in stinky corners or around dog droppings, meaning their muzzles become full of bacteria, viruses and germs.

He notes that most of the 'bugs' dogs carry in their saliva cannot penetrate through your mucus membranes in your face and only a few can enter your body through your mouth or nose.

Therefore, the only way your dog's saliva can make you ill is if they lick open wounds or something that causes infection such as an ulcer or broken skin. Therefore, it's critical to sanitize the area both before and after they lick it so that bacteria cannot spread.

Studies have revealed that dog saliva contains antibiotic-resistant bacteria which can be transferred to humans when they lick open cuts or wounds. These are especially dangerous for people who are immunocompromised, elderly, or have a weakened immune system.

In some rare instances, dog saliva can lead to parasitic worm infections in immunocompromised individuals. While these infections are relatively uncommon, they can have serious repercussions.

Fortunately, the risk of infection is very small for healthy adults and children who typically have their immune systems protected by parents or guardians. Nonetheless, it's still worthwhile being aware of potential hazards if you have an open wound or recently underwent surgery.