PetsCareLab

You may adore your dog, but not everyone enjoys those wet, slobbery kisses from our lovable canine companions. While many pet parents believe their dogs lick as a sign of affection—and this is often true—there are actually many different reasons dogs use licking to communicate and interact.

So, why exactly do dogs lick us? And do different parts of your body, like your hands, face, ears, feet, or legs, have unique meanings when licked by your furry friend?

Key Takeaways

• Dogs lick various parts of people’s bodies—including the face, hands, legs, ears, and feet—for a multitude of reasons.
• The meaning behind a dog’s lick can vary depending on where they are licking you.
• Though licking is a normal canine behavior, excessive licking can sometimes signal underlying medical or behavioral issues.

Why Do Dogs Lick People?

Licking is deeply ingrained in dogs’ instincts. Scientific studies reveal that licking triggers the release of endorphins in a dog’s brain—neurotransmitters that create feelings of calmness and relaxation. This process also encourages the secretion of dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation.

Dogs lick many surfaces, some less appetizing than others. But when your dog licks you, what does it really signify? The answer isn’t simple: dogs lick to express affection, communicate, groom, explore, seek attention, and even savor tastes.

Puppies Learn to Lick From Their Moms

From the moment puppies are born, their mother licks them to clean, stimulate, and encourage bodily functions like urination and defecation. Early on, pups discover that licking is a powerful way to communicate with their surroundings.

Young dogs also lick older dogs, including mom, to show submission and foster safe social interactions. They lick littermates to convey affection and offer comfort, both to themselves and their siblings.

Licking Boosts a Dog’s Sense of Smell

Licking also sharpens your dog’s incredible sense of smell. While dogs can taste bitter, salty, sweet, and sour flavors, they have relatively few taste buds and rely far more heavily on scent to decide what to lick or eat. This is one reason why dogs find areas of the human body like hands, face, ears, and feet so appealing—they’re teeming with unique smells and flavors.

To truly understand your dog’s fascination with licking certain body parts, let’s dive into the science of human sweat. Humans have two main types of sweat glands:

• Eccrine glands produce a thin, clear, odorless fluid made mostly of salt and proteins. These are abundant on the soles of our feet, palms, forehead, cheeks, and underarms.
• Apocrine glands secrete a thicker fluid that interacts with skin bacteria to create distinct body odors. These glands are concentrated in the armpits, groin, ear canals, eyelids, and nostrils.

With all these fascinating scents, it’s no wonder dogs are drawn to licking parts of our bodies rich in taste and smell.

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Hands?

Throughout the day, your hands gather a variety of intriguing scents and flavors. You reach out to people, pets, and food—each interaction leaves a trace. To your dog, your hands tell the story of your day, and they’re eager to taste and sniff every “stop” along the way.

Additionally, the palms of your hands sweat, leaving behind a salty residue that many dogs find delightful.

Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?

Much like your hands, your face is constantly exposed to the world, capturing a wide array of enticing odors and tastes. You also touch your face regularly, giving your dog even more reasons to explore it with their tongue!

Your face is home to both eccrine glands on your cheeks and forehead, which leave a salty taste, and apocrine glands in your eyelids and nostrils, providing a subtle but distinct scent detected by your dog’s extraordinary nose.

The food you eat adds yet another layer of aroma and flavor to your lips and mouth, which might explain why some pups can’t resist showering you with slobbery kisses after you eat.

Beyond these sensory reasons, licking your face is also an instinctual behavior. Dogs lick one another’s faces for grooming, to express affection, and to signal submission or peaceful intent. When pet owners respond affectionately to this behavior, it can reinforce their dogs’ desire to keep licking.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Ears?

Your dog’s licking of your ears could be driven by curiosity about taste, a desire to clean, or simply as a way to show you extra affection.

The thick secretions from apocrine glands within your ear canals mix with natural bacteria to create distinctive odors. Coupled with earwax produced by ceruminous glands, your ears offer an intriguing blend of smells and flavors.

Ear-licking among dogs is part of mutual grooming—a vulnerable act that requires trust and comfort in the other dog’s presence.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet?

The eccrine glands on the soles of your feet produce significant sweat, leaving behind saltiness that your dog finds quite tasty. For dogs, licking feet is like enjoying a salty snack, and for ticklish people, it can also turn into a playful bonding game.

If you chuckle or smile when your dog licks your feet, you’re unknowingly encouraging the behavior—your dog learns that foot-licking earns their favorite kind of attention, potentially prolonging the licking and encouraging it whenever your bare feet appear.

Why Does My Dog Lick My Legs?

Fresh out of the shower? Your dog may be interested in licking the water droplets on your legs. This doesn’t mean your pup is thirsty—it’s more about investigating the new scents and tastes you carry from products like shampoo, body wash, and shaving cream.

Sometimes, they may notice little nicks or scratches, licking them as a natural instinct to help keep wounds clean.

If your dog licks your legs at times other than after a shower, it might be due to lotion residue, salt from sweat after exercising, or even some unknown scents you’ve picked up during the day.

When Is Licking a Problem?

Dogs lick for numerous reasons—including boredom, which can often be managed by increasing mental and physical enrichment. Tools like lick mats provide safe outlets for those dogs who love using their tongues.

However, excessive licking can sometimes reveal deeper issues. Behaviorally, persistent licking that’s triggered by specific events and hard to interrupt can indicate anxiety. A dog might lick a person repeatedly when uncomfortable to self-soothe, gather information, or signal a desire for space.

Licking also serves as a calming signal or displacement behavior. When dogs feel stressed, conflicted, or unsure, licking can help them cope and communicate that they’re not ready to engage. Because licking releases calming neurotransmitters, anxious dogs may rely on it heavily, and it is also a common feature in compulsive disorders.

From a medical standpoint, continual licking of specific body parts may suggest allergies, infections, or pain. If your dog licks indiscriminately—objects like furniture, rugs, or floors—it could point to gastrointestinal problems.

If you notice problematic licking patterns, it’s crucial to seek professional guidance. Start by consulting your veterinarian to rule out any medical concerns. Following that, a certified animal behavior consultant can evaluate the behavior and recommend appropriate strategies. Complex cases will benefit from prompt consultation with a veterinary behaviorist.