4 reasons why puppies like to lick their owners🐶👅

The truth about expressing love with saliva

Every day when you get home, your dog will eagerly pounce on you, lavishly showering you with his tongue, sometimes even licking your hands or feet. This enthusiasm has left many Hong Kong dog owners with a love-hate relationship! Licking is actually a natural instinct for dogs, and every lick holds special meaning. We've compiled advice from animal behavior experts and veterinarians to decipher four underlying reasons why puppies lick their owners.

1. Expressing love and trust | Furry Kids' Kiss 💕❤️

Love gene inheritance

From their puppies, mother dogs use their tongues to clean their bodies and express affection. Licking is a form of affection that dogs learn. As they grow older, they continue this innate behavior, licking their owners to express their beloved family members. Dogs consider you a close friend, and licking you is a sign of affection, much like their mother licked them back then.

Building emotional connections

Licking is also a way for dogs to establish a deeper emotional connection with humans. When they lick you, they're actually saying, "I trust you, I love you, you're my protector." This behavior signifies that your dog has fully accepted you as a family member.

2. Seeking attention and response | Master, please pay attention to me! 👀🎯

Successful Attraction Strategies

Smart dogs quickly figure out, "Every time I lick them, they smile, pet me, and talk to me!" Licking becomes an effective way for dogs to get attention. When they want to play, be petted, or receive more affection, they'll proactively lick you.

Expression of emotional needs

Sometimes a dog licks you because it feels neglected and wants to remind you through this action: "Remember to care about me!" Especially when the owner is busy or ignores the dog for a long time, licking people becomes the dog's "distress signal."

3. Explore and savor the flavors | My curiosity got the better of me 👃🍯

Super strong olfactory drive

A dog's sense of smell is thousands of times more sensitive than ours, allowing them to further "taste" your scent through licking. The scent of sweat, hand cream, and food residue on your hands can all be new and interesting to a dog. Licking you is like a canine version of "investigation and evidence collection"!

The salty taste is particularly attractive

The salt on human skin is particularly attractive to dogs, so they like to lick your hands, face, and feet. After exercise or sweating in the summer, you will find that dogs are more enthusiastic about licking you because the saltiness increases.

4. Instinctive needs and communication | The call of the wild in DNA 🐺📢

Wild genetic inheritance

Dogs' ancestors, wolves, had a habit: wolf pups would lick adult wolves' mouths to beg for food or to express obedience. Domestic dogs have retained this instinct, and licking your face might mean "I'm hungry" or "I respect you as my leader."

Social status confirmation

In a dog's social hierarchy, licking a superior is a way of expressing respect and obedience. When a dog licks you, it's actually confirming that you are their "boss" and expressing "I acknowledge your leadership."

Editor's summary

A dog's licking is a loving, complex, and fascinating behavior! Each lick signifies their trust, love, and dependence on you. While drooling can be embarrassing at times, it's their way of expressing affection. If you don't mind being slobbered, then enjoy this unconditional love. Of course, if your dog licks excessively or causes skin damage, consider whether it may indicate anxiety or compulsive behavior issues and require professional assistance. Remember, understanding the meaning behind your dog's behavior is the first step to building a deeper bond with your pet!