What is the dog psychology behind licking their humans?

[Moth]

Watson loves to lick the tip of my nose. Sabe (my BF) on the other hand often gets a full face wash if the opportunity presents itself.

I know that puppies will lick the at the muzzles of adults in greeting sometimes. In wild dogs this behavior is to get the adults to regurgitate a kill if they were out hunting in order to allow the pups to feed. In domestic dogs it is a greeting behavior.

[LewieFitz]

I think it's a taste thing… Lewie will not lick faces/noses/or lips. But he will lick your ears and he LOVES to clean his daddy's head (he's bald) incessantly. Mike says it feels funny.

[Buddys Pal]

@Maya:

I often wonder this too. Maya has a bit of OCD with licking me and the other dogs. As soon as I get out of the bath she tries to lick me too for some reason!

Too funny! Uzie does this too! We allowed it because it seemed to be a way to help with the bonding in his new home. He still does like to help dry our legs, but when I say enough! He stops, sometimes…! I don't mind it, just wipe off after he leaves the bathroom!

Since B's are so fastidious in cleaning, I just figure it is bonding, not dominance- If anything, it may be more submission in a canine manner. In a pack, the lower ranks always lick the mouth of the higher rank. But just enjoy it! If one suspects compulsive behavior, give alternative stuff to do...or get help....;)

[Kipawa]

@Quercus:

I am pretty sure it isn't dominance. I can't think of any situation where a dog controls another's behavior by licking it. It is care giving, and bonding….If you don't like it, or if it becomes excessive, then teach an "enough" command.

Thanks everyone for your comments. I feel better now. And yes, if it gets too obsessive I will teach him 'enough'.

[DebraDownSouth]

Sayblee would lick me, but she also dive bombed my hair in frantic behaviors if it was wet. Arwen licks ONLY if I ask for a kiss OR if I have lotion or am wet. She also does the rear/rub/insane over wet hair thing.
Cara licks a lot. She also holds some part of my hand or arm in her mouth and will rub her tongue back and forth in almost nursing behavior as she goes to sleep sometimes… occasionally other times. My poor daughter is a germaphobe and it grosses her out but she still lets her do it, lol.

[LindaH]

@DebraDownSouth:

She also holds some part of my hand or arm in her mouth and will rub her tongue back and forth in almost nursing behavior as she goes to sleep sometimes… occasionally other times.

Blaze does the same thing. Although he'll sometime fall asleep while he's doing it, it more of a "Hi, I missed you" type of thing since he usually does it first thing in the morning after being let out of his crate and after we've returned from somewhere.

[Barklessdog]

The National Geographic special on dogs a few years back said that when dogs lick each other faces, it cause them to regurgitate food. So they actual want you to vomit so they can have dinner when they give you kisses.

[Shaye's Mom]

@Barklessdog:

The National Geographic special on dogs a few years back said that when dogs lick each other faces, it cause them to regurgitate food. So they actual want you to vomit so they can have dinner when they give you kisses.

LOL!!! Let's hope that's not why they do it.:p Not only Basenjis lick their owners (and others) - sometimes it's the salt, sometimes they are "kissing" you, sometimes it's just a habit - our B's lick themselves to keep themselves clean, and maybe even sometimes that's a reason - not something to worry about unless it escalates to the OCD stage; then I think I'd just stop it past a few light licks.

[DebraDownSouth]

I have never seen domesticated dogs throw up from face licking… it is grooming and bonding with domesticated dogs. It may well be hold over instinct in some way, but having had dogs, litters with moms, if licking caused puking, I am sure I'd have seen it.
But I went looking, and while I couldn't find it on NGeo site I found the following. But he is full of it. Even in the wild, dogs lick to GROOM, bond, etc also:

http://www.4vetclinics.com/articles/dog-licks-face.php

In the wild, there’s only one reason why dogs lick, and that is because they want more food. Take the wolf for example; when a mother returns from the wild after searching for food, she will be greeted by constant licking from her young. This is because a lot of canine animals in the wild have a regurgitation reflex that is triggered when their face is licked. This means that the young know that they will have access to food when they lick their mother, as they will just be feeding on her vomit. While this may seem quite sneaky on their part, the mother also knows this and decides to go along as it’s easier for her to carry the food in her stomach.

Well, before we continue, it’s worth mentioning that the vast majority of pet dogs don’t have this regurgitation reflex so won’t be constantly vomiting!

BUT found this one on wild dogs
http://www.umich.edu/~esupdate/library/97.01-02/mamakos.html

Once numbering in the hundreds of thousands, the African wild dog (Lycaon pictus) is now one of the African continent's most endangered animals. It is believed that fewer than 5,000 wild dogs currently exist in the wild, and their range has declined from 33 to 15 countries. The largest populations exist in Botswana, Zimbabwe and Tanzania. The initial population reduction came during the early part of the century as a result of a very successful extermination campaign led by ranchers who feared the loss of livestock. Today, the effects of diseases (e.g., rabies, canine distemper, and parvovirus) spread by domestic dogs are having an even more devastating effect on wild dog numbers. Of additional concern is inbreeding due to the formation of genetically distinct groups of dogs in the southern and eastern regions of their current range.

Wild dogs are about the size of a German shepherd, have long legs, large ears and mottled fur of browns, black and white. They live in tightly bonded social groups or packs of 2 to 30 individuals led by a dominant male and female. Pack members exhibit well-defined greeting behaviors, the most obvious being affectionate face licking.

[Nemo]

@DebraDownSouth:

I have never seen domesticated dogs throw up from face licking… it is grooming and bonding with domesticated dogs. It may well be hold over instinct in some way, but having had dogs, litters with moms, if licking caused puking, I am sure I'd have seen it.
But I went looking, and while I couldn't find it on NGeo site I found the following. But he is full of it. Even in the wild, dogs lick to GROOM, bond, etc also:

http://www.4vetclinics.com/articles/dog-licks-face.php

BUT found this one on wild dogs
http://www.umich.edu/~esupdate/library/97.01-02/mamakos.html

I've heard a number of accounts of basenjis regurgitating food around young puppies, even those not related to them (and even males). Not sure if licking by puppies was involved there or not, I don't remember it being mentioned.

[Patty]

Mine all lick at times. Spring tends to be obsessive so I've had to stop her but if I say 'kiss' she licks my face. If it's very hot I find mine lick more, especially arms and legs and as Maya says if I'm wet after washing. Gbala likes to roll around my hair if I've just washed it. I'm certain it's a 'care' thing and certainly not dominance.

My puppies have always licked their mother's mouths (and in one case their fathers) when they want regurgitated food at the weaning stage. There comes a point when the mothers refuse to and this is not always at the same stage.

[DebraDownSouth]

Ewww, just ewww. Maybe because I start my pups on raw young, maybe… I don't know, but honestly have never had a dog regurgitate for the pups. In nature, it makes sense as they need a way to "carry" food.

I honestly always assumed the only bitches to regurgitate for puppies was due to puppies not being started on soaked kibble prior to weaning. I was grossed out so did some reading and found some others who have dogs who do it, but also found vet and text books that say the trait has been bred down so not that common, even vet advice to remove the bitch after feeding to prevent it so she gets the nutrients she needs, etc. So I learned something today I really could have done without.

[Quercus]

Querk (male) regurgitated for pups whenever he was around a litter when he was young. You could tell by his face that he was like "I have NO idea why this is happening" but it was clearly an innate response to being around a bunch of puppies. I can't remember if they licked his mouth, or were just skittering around him in general…

[Patty]

Debra, my puppies are offered raw ground beef from a few days old (or were - I no longer breed) which they'll lick. I never forcibly wean puppies just leave it to Mum. Your post is very interesting because in the light of your comments I now wonder now just how many bitches now do this.

I've always assumed regurgitation is the norm and wonder if the present native imported bitches do this? I have always endeavoured to breed an 'original' type. By 'original' I mean as those first imported here (UK). I'm now wondering if this has something to do with it and also think thatt I should ask more questions before taking things that my B's do as the 'norm'!!!.

[CanisBasenjius]

Well, first I will say I have a STRONG bias in my "who cares?" attitude about so called dominance. Honestly, it has zero relevance in dog-human relationships. If you like his kisses, let him do it. If you don't like it teach him to quit doing it.

Licking is typically an appeasement gesture, greeting, grooming or in pups a way to get Mama to vomit so you can EAT!

Lots of great links here: http://www.woofology.com/alpha%20myth.html

[DebraDownSouth]

Patty, I have only had Rottie bitches as an adult, and the issue sadly with them isn't usually making them stop but making them keep nursing. Many start trying to wean at 4 or 5 weeks. I had one bitch though that would, it seemed, still nurse til the dogs had their own litters, lol. At 7 1/2 wks I did make her stop. I have had rescue bitches of a few breeds. None ever regurgitated. But I called 5 other breeders in the last 2 days (Brittany breeder who has had 10 litters in 8 yrs, a Rottie/Golden breeder, another Rottie breeder and a poodle breeder). Only ONE had ever had a dog regurgitate for puppies. SO I am wondering if it's simply more common in the primitive breeds too.

Andrea, not sure what the "who cares" is about. If you don't care about the topic, why even click on it? Most of us are indeed curious it seems. However, amen on the alpha nonsense. More damage has been done to the human/dog relationship by morons like the Monks of Skete, Kohler and now Milan with the alpha dog stuff.

Are there DOMINANCE issues with dogs… you bet. But it isn't the same as alpha pack issues with dogs and you don't handle it with physical response and alpha rolls... but all that is another topic, not licking.

[Quercus]

Status…I like to use the term "status" instead of dominance, because I think it is more descriptive of what we see among social animals. Status changes between individuals depending on environment, social groupings, time and conditions. Some individuals are status seekers, some are always content with their status. Some easily, and naturally attain status among their peers, some don't...

It is far too simplistic to evaluate every and any interaction as either dominant or submissive, and doesn't give us a clear picture of the relationship between the individuals.

[CanisBasenjius]

@DebraDownSouth:

Andrea, not sure what the "who cares" is about. If you don't care about the topic, why even click on it?

Ha! Yep, totally mistook me, Debra. I don't care about "dominance"! It's a lot more constructive to decide if you are okay or not okay with any given behavior and then modify it as needed. "Dominance" and "dominant" are words that have a load of baggage and they are not clearly defined in most people's minds. I do care about dogs and people having healthy, happy relationships and find worrying about what is or is not "dominant" muddies the waters and can side track people in working with their dogs. It takes up brain space better dedicated to other things IMO. So that's why I say, who cares? Let's just work on the behavior!

Dominance certainly exists but it's contextual, fluid and not well understood. And, really, I find totally irrelevant between dogs and humans. If you define 'dominance' as having primary access to food, water, shelter and mates humans are by default dominant to dogs as we have absolute control over what and when our pets eat, whether or not they have water, where they live and their access to mates. We may fail to exercise that control but it is ours.

[Patty]

I agree so many people get hooked up on dominance and it seemed to be quite a phase over here when evry problem seemed put down to 'dominance' issues and Cesar Milan has a great following among the fraternity. Happily a much more enlightened attitude is becoming accepted.

Debra - it must be so difficult when a bitch doesn't want to feed puppies. Actually we sometimes have that problem with sheep too and they'll be quite forcible in rejecting their lambs. I've never had that experience with Basenjis but Gbala was still attempting to suckle from Spring (her mummy) when she was well on the way to 12 months old!! You must be right that it is the more primitive breeds that do regurgitate - unfortunately I've very little personal experience of other breeds where whelps are concerned and bow to your informed knowledge.

[DebraDownSouth]

LOL, Andrea thanks for clearing that up! And agree. On the "fail to exercise that control", lol guilty a lot with these basenjis. Sigh. I always say, in every situation, SOMEONE gets trained. Sadly sometimes the dogs train better than the humans.

Patty, hey, not so informed at all since I had NO idea it was common in any breed! It's fun to learn new things.

OMG reminds me of something about 15 yrs ago. Someone said "Do male dogs have nipples?" I thought, well DUH. But I went in and checked both the poodle and rottie. COULD NOT SEE OR FEEL NIPPLES. Okay, insane. I was on AOL at the time, and I imed no less than 20 dog folks and posted their responses. Almost none were sure, a few did as I did and checked with no real sure affirmation. Until I hit Brenda, my vet tech/co breeder friend. She basically asked what I and everyone was smoking (I was posting responses and I got them on the Rottie board). She said of course they had nipples. Didn't I remember them on puppies? They don't dissolve for crying out loud. On males they may become so flat or blend into skin color you don't notice them, but again, what were we all smoking cause she'd like some.

So to this day, when I have a stupid question I feel like I know but am not sure, I tell her I have a "male nipple" question.

LOL, and I saved the responses so I can still rib my fellow "thinking like stoned or drunken idiot without being stoned or drunk." Most of them showed, competed and several bred. I have no excuses for that day, lol.

Btw, have seen horses reject foals. Sadly, they can do so much damage it makes it almost impossible to force them. We had a Pasofino mare at the barn they actually TIED ONE LEG UP to force her to let the foal nurse and not kick him. Fortunately they were able to find a wet nurse because bottle feeding a foal not so much fun. My friend refused to breed this $30,000 mare again, btw. She said bad mothers shouldn't reproduce. Her husband wasn't too happy, but I applaud her decisions. The mare had one previous foal and wasn't happy with it, but not as violent as she was with the 2nd one.