I hope this doesn't sound REALLY stupid, but I've been wondering about this for a while. Why does my dog lick me? Is there a behavioral reason other than she likes me, or likes the taste of my skin?

Thanks and congratulations to all those who dare to answer my question seriously! :D

No prob....
There's likely no one single reason that would fit all her times that she licks you. It's a mood thing, I think :rolleyes:

Samma licks me because:
I've put on (yummy) lotion or sunscreen :Rolleyes:
My skin is salty from hot weather :P -- especially when camping. :P :Rolleyes:
I've petted another dog
She's happy and it's better than nibbling away at my hand
I've told her to stop licking her paw --- :P
I've asked her if she wants a 'treat' and she's still on my lap.
I've began to play with her and the next step is for her to go 'attack' Chienne.
It's a way to get my attention when I'm reading :rolleyes: :)
hth gives you some ideas why :) :D
:Cool:

Hi Quinn

I think someone said on the board a while ago...might be wrong and loosing my mind...:D But when a dog licks you, its because they hold you in "high regard". My youngest one licks me all the time, and the older one does when she has a cuddle, a real pain, but then i think,..well hey they think im their queen !!!! :D

My kids think it is disgusting, and you will all probably agree, but one of mine must have bean a pedicurist in another life. she licks and nibbles away at my feet, most relaxing :P

Oh Barbara !!! :D

I couldn't let my girls do that, I hate anyone touching my feet :D

Nat

Barbara

my Jakey does that too, he is great for a good foot massage, I now say "footie massage" to him, and up he jumps
It really is most relaxing, I agree

ROFLOL

T

"The Flower" almost never licks me, she doesn’t think it’s hygienic!

Two of mine rush into the bathroom the minute they hear the shower go off in order to "dry" my legs, just have to watch they don't get too enthuastic. I have always considered that it was a sign of suserviance as they do it when greeting the top dog. :)

lol @ J:)ckie :D

Yuck :( I can't stand it when they give me kisses, I get hives from it. Must be something in their saliva. Dozer always licks Taz's mouth inside and out. Junior well he pretty much licks all the boston's, must be giving them a bath :P Tiva will sit on you and just before she jumps off she will give you a big kiss, gets me everytime.

John why does it not surprise me that the flower thinks that way:p :p :p :p
And LOL@Jackie:D :D :D :D

Stacey x x x

All of mine do that. And they love to lick you when you're in the bath and eat the soap and drink the bath water.

Stinky loves to lick feet. Carrie meets everyone by trying to give them a snog with tongues - very disconcerting to new people. The TH is above all of that :rolleyes:

Abby has to nibble earlobes, and Ben likes to give specs a wash (to help you see better, I'm sure).:)
LynnT

Barney licks me in the mornings to wake me up and Molly slurps all the time :D
Gina

Time for me to gross you all out then ......

:D

Hudson isn't really a *licker* but I have a patch of psoriasis on my lower leg and he LOVES that (funnily enough , the psoriasis has improved since we got Hudson ...makes you think doesn't it? ;) )

;)

Melody

Have found Mel that small wounds do seem to heal quickley when a dog has "helped" with the cleaning up. Ja:pkie

Oooh ...that maybe accounts for it then Jackie :) I did have to think twice before writing the above :D Thought everyone would be grossed out LOL

Melody

have found the same with my ezcema melody :)
T

I have been told, and wondered if it could be truew, that a dogs saliva has anticeptic properties. Also that a cat has a huge amount of bacteria in the mouth, which is why cat bites get readily infected, and why cats have such a terrible time with infections when they have bad teeth!

Barbara, it is true. If you decide to get bitten choose a dog a long way before a cat and a cat in preference to a human. Human mouths are minging :-).

LOL

I love that word Minging ;)

I'm not a Minger ...'onest (Jade ..BB)

Melody

Well I am glad that I have no love life then, all that kissing, lol :D :P :)

Very true Sharon:D I bit someone once- when I was about 12- I bit his wrist (he did have his arm round my neck at the time:rolleyes: ) I actually made a right mess- he's still got the scars and at the time- his Mum took him to the hospital where he had to have an injection and was told that human mouths are the dirtiest place on the body:o

When my friend had a baby it had thrush in the mouth- she went to see the health visitor who said they kept passing it between themselves because when the dummy was dropped she's put it in her mouth to clean it before putting it back in the baby's mouth. The health visitor then said because the mouths so dirty- you're cleaner to shove it up your backside and then give it him back before putting it in your own mouth:o (Obviously she didn't recommend any of these though;) )

Stacey x x x

John said "The Flower" almost never licks me, she doesn’t think it’s hygienic!

OR

She doesn't hold you in high regard, John!!!! :D :D :D Unlike Monty, who apparently idolizes me!!!! :o

Q.E.D. NOT :p

Perhaps she's a teetotaller! :D

LOL :D

Even my dog thinks I'm rubbish!

I'M GOIN OUT TO EAT WORMS! :MAD:

Don't!!!!!!! - in this weather, you may drown :D :D

Sorry Beth, but Im gonna have to pmsl :D :D

i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure, i'm a failure. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

John
Don't despair ,the only time my murph licks me is when my mouth is full of food ;)
i'm a failiure,i'm a failiure etc etc etc
liz
edited to say --and I can't even spell!!!!!!

John,
Might I suggest for your reading pleasure?
[link http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0440445450/ref=lib_rd_ss_TFCV/002-4143906-2248017?v=glance&s=books&vi=reader&img=1#reader-link]How to Eat Fried Worms[/link]

As I remember, a truly amazing book :P :P :P :D

I've put me order in Toodles

Lana my SWD always gives me kisses, no fun when you are trying to talk to someone!!

The other thing that she does is when she goes for a tennis ball she fetches it back to me and tries to put it in my mouth, can anyone tell me why she does this pleeeaaaassseee!!

Maybe she wants to play tug of war, maybe it's a sign of submission, maybe she is offering it to you because she loves you so much!

Who knows? lol

Many dogs may lick for many different reasons. In my opinion, licking is a form of communicating submission and deference to their more dominant and higher ranking counterparts. It might just be a matter of respect towards you as their "masters." Maybe he likes your skin's salty flavor, maybe he can taste your last meal on your hands and/or face, maybe he's simply expressing his love for you. It's very difficult to determine why a dog licks people. As far as to why dogs like to lick feet and socks, they probably just like the aroma and the taste.

However, a more technical possiblity is the concept of pheremones. Many animas secrete pheremones which are kind of like signals that other animals can smell and decipher. For example, dog's urine possess strong pheremones that communicate "this is my turf, stay away or pay he consequences." That is, when they are marking their territory anyway. I'm not too familiar with the idea, but that's basically how it works.

I've also read that dog saliva acts as a natural disinfectant for human cuts and scrapes. If i remember correctly, the logic behind this has something to do with the nitrates in dogs saliva oxidizing when it comes into contact with human skin. In effect, creating nitric oxide which is supposed to be a powerful disinfectant. Don't know how reliable the source was though so don't go letting your dog lick your cuts or anything lol. Just a little dog trivia for everyone hehe =)

uhm, I think my brain just went into overload! =)

May be she just considers you to be a mother substitute?