Why it happens
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Saying hello
Puppies lick the muzzle of their mother and other pack members when they come back. An adult dog keeps this greeting for its people, which is why it licks hardest when you come home.
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A peace signal
Licking can mean "I am friendly, I do not want trouble". If the dog looks away, flattens its ears or shrinks down while licking, it is not happy but trying to calm a tense moment.
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Asking for attention
If you laugh, talk to the dog or stroke it when it licks, it quickly learns that licking works. It becomes its way of saying "look at me".
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Taste and smell
Sweat, hand cream or traces of food on your hands taste salty and interesting to a dog. That is why it licks more eagerly after exercise, cooking or a meal.
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Pleasant in itself
Licking is pleasant and soothing for a dog. Some dogs lick their person before falling asleep or while lying quietly beside them, much as a cat purrs.
What helps
- If you do not mind, it is fine Friendly licking is normal dog communication. If it does not bother you, there is nothing to change; washing your hands is enough.
- Basic hygiene Wash your hands before eating and after playing with the dog. Do not let the dog lick the faces of small children or of people with a weakened immune system. Regular tooth brushing and vet check-ups help both the dog and you.
- Keep it off wounds The idea that a dog's saliva heals wounds is a myth: a dog's mouth carries bacteria that can cause an infection. Keep wounds and burns covered.
- Redirect, do not scold If the licking is too much, calmly stand up or turn your face away and offer something else to do: a toy, a lick mat or a "sit". Praise the dog when it greets you without using its tongue. Do not scold or push it away.
- Watch for signs of unease If the dog licks you while yawning, licking its lips or turning its head away, it feels uncomfortable. Give it space, do not lean over it and do not hug it.
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When it is a question for a vet
Licking people is not a sign of illness. See a vet if the dog licks not you but itself without stopping, for example its paws, flanks or genitals, if that spot is red, wet or losing hair, if it licks the floor or walls obsessively, or if its breath has started to smell bad or it drools.