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Dogs use their tongues for food, grooming, and social communication. Our four-legged friends not only lick us but also their fellow dogs. But what do dogs want to express with this? Do they have a specific purpose when they lick our hands or face?

Many dog owners enjoy having their four-legged companion's wet tongue licking their face or hands. This must be true love! Others find it disgusting and unhygienic. Licking is part of non-verbal communication in dogs and can have different meanings.

How does licking relate to dog communication?

Dogs have different ways to communicate. Licking and sniffing play an essential role in the various strategies:

Optical communication

The dog conveys his mood state through his body language. This can be seen, for example, in the position of his head, ears, or tail, but also in the look in his eyes or when he licks his lips.

Acoustic communication

Dogs cannot speak, but they can communicate using different sounds. This way, among other things, they can convey what mood they are in. A growl, whine, quiet or loud, excited bark, or howl can usually be interpreted correctly by humans and our fellow dogs.

Olfactory communication

Dogs are “nose animals.” They use their susceptible olfactory organ to sniff out their surroundings and thus obtain a wealth of information. Intensively smelling your surroundings is also called "reading the newspaper." Dogs use smell to find out what gender the other species member is, whether they are young or old or in heat.

Tactile communication

If you watch dogs making contact, you can see that they often use their tongues, snouts, and teeth. The tongue is used not only for personal hygiene but also for appeasement or to express affection.

Why is my dog licking my face or hand?

First and foremost, this can be interpreted as a very positive gesture meant to be friendly and polite. Dogs groom and lick each other when caring for each other. When we enjoy such a wash, the dog wants to show us his affection. Sometimes, this can also be a request. For example, when the dog wants food, a treat, a petting session, or our undivided attention.

A common situation in which a dog shows this gesture is when he runs towards us, wagging his tail and licking our hand as a polite greeting. But even if he wants to appease us because we are upset about something he did. Maybe we're lying right now, relaxing on the sofa. He scratches his ears, and he reciprocates by licking our hand. This is how he shows us that he feels comfortable and trusts us.

What does it mean when dogs lick themselves?

Dogs primarily lick each other to groom themselves. However, they usually only do this if there is a social bond with the other person. Strange dogs or animals that only know each other casually are less likely to groom each other.

Young or insecure puppies will lick another dog's mouth as a sign of submission. They want to appease the other person and often turn away or duck.

A mother dog licks her puppies immediately after birth to dry them and stimulate their circulation. Even after suckling, the little ones are carefully licked and massaged with the tongue to stimulate intestinal activity. The mother notices the smell of the little ones and strengthens the mother-child relationship.

If the dog or another companion has a wound, this is also licked to remove the dirt and stimulate healing.

Is it harmful if a dog licks your face?

When it comes to hygiene, many people imagine what the dog might have put in its mouth on the street and, in the worst case, even eaten it. In addition, dogs also clean the anal region with their tongues and thus absorb fecal bacteria through their mucous membranes, which can cause diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in humans. The concerns are, therefore, entirely justified. If you want to avoid your four-legged friend licking your face, you should redirect his expressions of love by offering him your hands. This way, you still strengthen the bond, and the hands can m Attention: Infants are more susceptible to pathogens. If the dog has licked the feet or hands out of enthusiasm and affection, you should wash them off immediately. You should never leave your dog and baby alone in the room. Rewash them quickly.

How do I stop my dog from licking my face?

Scolding and punishing are not practical here and only worsen the human-animal relationship. If the dog tries to lick your face, you turn your head away and ignore the animal for a while (about 30 seconds). If you repeat this repeatedly, the dog will understand that he won't get any attention or treats if he does this. As described above, you can also “sacrifice” your hands for licking and wash them with soap.

Conclusion: It is normal for a dog to lick a person's face or hands, and it is not a bad habit, as some people think. How far you allow your four-legged friend's expressions of love is up to you.