Why does my dog lick me?

Training & behaviourPart of · Training & behaviour

Why does my dog lick me?

Q: Why does my dog lick his paws?

Here, take care: licking himself on the paws over and over is not affection but often a skin problem (allergy, fleas), pain or stress. You do not tell him off, you get it checked by the vet, who will look for the cause.

7 min read

Good news straight away: if your dog licks you, it is almost always affection and communication, never dominance. He is saying hello, asking for a cuddle, or simply enjoys the salty taste of your skin. Nothing to correct. The only licking to keep an eye on is when he licks himself over and over.

What he is telling you when he licks you

When you come home

It is the joy of the reunion: he lets his excitement out and sniffs you to read your day.
No need to pile it on in return; a calm hello helps him settle back down.

He licks your feet or legs

Your feet, especially after exercise or a shower, are full of smells and salt: a proper news bulletin for his nose.
It is quiet curiosity, not a cleanliness problem and not submission.

He licks your face

A gesture inherited from the puppy who licks his mother's mouth to ask for something, now a sign of the bond between you.
Welcome it or gently turn your head away, whichever you prefer, but without telling him off.

He licks your hands during a cuddle

He is keeping the contact going and asking for more: stroking, attention, closeness.
If you are not in the mood just then, steer him towards a toy or another kind of interaction.

This gesture goes back a long way: the puppy licks his mother's mouth to ask for something, and your dog keeps that reflex with you. Looking at each other and touching raises oxytocin, the bonding hormone, on both sides (Nagasawa et al. 2015). And his sense of smell reads your mood right down to your skin (D'Aniello et al. 2018).

If the licking becomes too much

Licking that gets out of hand settles gently, by offering him a "yes" before any "no".

Calmly turn away

When he insists, take your attention away for a few seconds instead of telling him off. Licking that no longer "pays off" fades away.

Offer an alternative

A chew toy, a lick mat, a little game: you channel his need for contact towards an outlet.

Mark and reward the calm

As soon as he settles without licking, a short marker word ("yes!"), then a stroke or a treat.

Put the kiss on invitation

You can even turn it into a little trick of affection: he only licks when you invite him to, never a face he has not chosen to approach.

Enjoy it, or get it checked?

It is tender, enjoy it

He licks you now and then, in the context of a cuddle, a reunion or play.
His body is relaxed and he stops of his own accord when you change activity.
The licking is aimed at your skin (hands, face, feet), not at a part of his own body.

This one is for the vet

He licks himself over and over: his paws, a flank, always the same spot, until it becomes sore.
This self-licking has appeared or got worse recently, or is creating a wound.
He starts licking the floor, the walls or fabrics compulsively.

Nagasawa et al. — Oxytocin-gaze positive loop and the coevolution of human-dog bonds, Science (2015)
D'Aniello et al. — Interspecies transmission of emotional information via chemosignals (fear and joy) (2018)
Topál, Miklósi, Csányi & Dóka — Attachment behaviour in dogs: an adaptation of Ainsworth's Strange Situation (1998)
Bécuwe-Bonnet et al. — Gastrointestinal disorders in dogs with excessive licking of surfaces, Journal of Veterinary Behavior (2012)

To go further

guideKiss and hug tricksWant him to give you a kiss on cue? This trick turns his natural gesture into a lovely on-command ritual.Read the guide guideReading your dog's body languageLicking is just one signal among many: learn to read his whole body language to understand him better day to day.Read the guide guideItchy skin in dogs: reading the signsIf he's licking himself non-stop (paws, skin), this guide helps you spot when it's a harmless habit and when to see the vet.Read the guide guideUnderstand your dog before you judgeStop reading every behaviour through old myths (dominance, naughtiness) and finally see your dog as he really is.Read the guide guideBeing a steady guide for your dogLicking has nothing to do with hierarchy: this guide debunks the 'dominant dog' myth and offers a kind, genuine sense of leadership instead.Read the guide guideDog jumping up on peopleAnother over-the-top way of saying hello: how to channel that enthusiasm without dampening it.Read the guide

Frequently asked questions

Why does my dog lick me?

It is above all affection and communication, a hangover from the puppy who licks his mother, and sometimes just the salty taste of your skin. It is not dominance and there is nothing to correct. Enjoy it, and only redirect if it becomes too much.

Why does my dog lick my feet?

Your feet gather smells and salt, especially after exercise or a shower: for his nose, it is a goldmine of information about you. It is quiet curiosity. If it tickles too much, offer him a toy rather than telling him off.

Why does my dog lick his paws?

Here, take care: licking himself on the paws over and over is not affection but often a skin problem (allergy, fleas), pain or stress. You do not tell him off, you get it checked by the vet, who will look for the cause.

Why does my dog lick my face?

It is a soothing gesture and a sign of the bond, inherited from licking the mother. You can welcome it or gently turn your head away, whichever you prefer. On the hygiene side, it is harmless for most people: you only avoid it on a wound or for someone vulnerable.

Why does my dog lick my hands all the time?

It is often a request: attention, a stroke, play, or the need to keep the contact going. If you respond every time, you reinforce it without meaning to. Instead, mark the calm with a "yes!" and offer an alternative when you are not in the mood for that little lick.

Why does my dog lick the floor and surfaces?

Compulsive licking of the floor or walls is rarely a whim: one study (Bécuwe-Bonnet et al. 2012) found an underlying digestive disorder in the majority of the dogs concerned. If it appears or intensifies, mention it to the vet before writing it off as a simple tic.

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