Every dog owner has been there. The sun is shining through your windows and you start to gently wake up. You had a good night’s sleep, and you feel as though the rest of the day is going to be great. As you lay in bed, you hear your bedroom door creak open quietly but you don’t think anything of it. At least, that is, until your dog is on top of you licking your face.
You scramble out of bed and wipe the slobber off your face as quickly as you can, looking at your dog like he is out of his mind. You want to be upset, but how can you be when your dog is looking at you with so much love in his eyes. After all, he was just excited to see you, wasn’t he?
When these things happen, many dog owners start to wonder exactly why dogs like to lick their owner’s faces in the morning. They may also wonder if it’s okay to let their dogs do this, and how they can keep their dogs from licking their faces if they don’t want them to.
Whether you like it or not, dogs tend to use their tongues to explore and they love licking people’s faces. The younger a dog is, the more they will exhibit this behavior, too! But why exactly do dogs like to lick people’s faces? Well, there are a few different reasons we can look at.
Why Does My Dog Lick Me In The Morning?
The main reasons dogs lick people in the morning is because of natural instinct, grooming, taste, and excitement.
- Their mothers licked them when they were young. When puppies are born, their mothers lick them for a variety of reasons. One of the reasons a mother dog will lick their young is to comfort them. When a dog licks you, especially on your face, they could be mimicking what their mothers did for them as they were growing up to keep them calm.
- Your dog could be grooming you. Just like mother dogs will lick their pups to comfort them, a mother dog will also lick her pups to clean them. Puppies grow up with their mothers cleaning them on occasion, and may instinctually decide to clean you, especially if they care for you as a mother dog would care for her pups.
- You taste good. This may sound a little odd, but dogs will often lick humans because they taste good. You see, throughout the day a person may sweat and release oils from their pores that smell and even taste good to a dog. You may even see your dog trying to lick you all over after you have just finished exercising. If this is the case, you can easily assume that your dog just likes the way you taste.
- Your dog is very excited. Dogs that are easily excitable have a hard time containing themselves and their emotions. When this happens, they want to show their excitement and explore what is causing them to feel this way. One of the ways that dogs explore the world around them is by using their tongues to explore.
Should you let your dog lick you?
If you have a dog that really likes to lick you, you may be wondering if it is okay for you to allow them to do so. Generally speaking, there is no real harm in letting a dog lick you, especially if the dog is licking your feet, hands, or arms.
However, letting your dog licking your face may be a little different. You see, dogs get into a lot of different things whether you let them or not. They can be sneaky little guys, and get into the dirt, trash, or even poop. This being said, your dog has a lot of nasty bacteria built up in his mouth and on his tongue.
When your dog goes to lick your face, there is a chance that the bacteria from your dog’s mouth can be left on your face. They might even have dog smegma in or around their mouth.
Knowing that, it is a good idea to avoid letting your dog lick near your mouth or your eyes. That is because these places can easily take on bacteria, which can potentially lead to health issues. However, there is no real danger when it comes to allowing your dog to lick your neck or even your cheeks. If you do allow your dog to lick your face, be sure to clean your face with antibacterial soap to get rid of any bacteria he may have left behind.
How can you keep your dog from licking you?
While dogs licking people isn’t an uncommon thing, there are some people that don’t appreciate it when this happens. Whether you are one of these people or you own a dog that enjoys licking people, you might want to discourage your dog from licking people.
The first and most important thing to know when deciding to go down the path of training or discouraging your dog from licking people is not to discipline your dog. Dogs don’t understand human behavior, so when they are punished they become confused.
Furthermore, punishing a dog can have a negative impact on your relationship. However, there are a few things you can do to keep your dog from licking you (or other people.)
- Place something in your dog’s mouth. When your dog is in the mood to lick you or other people, placing a toy in his mouth might just keep him busy! A great toy option for your dog is deer antlers. They have an interesting taste and your dog will chew on it for days.
- If you, or the person your dog is trying to lick, is on your dog’s level, be sure to step out of your dog’s space. Doing this will take away the opportunity for licking.
- Finally, don’t encourage your dog. If licking is an undesirable behavior, the last you want to do is make your dog think that it is okay. Petting and playing with your dog while he is trying to lick you will only enforce the idea that it is okay for him to lick you and other people.
