Why Do Dogs Lick You?

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By Ravi RathiJul 8, 2025

After a particularly sloppy session of frenzied licking from your dog, you must have thought - why do dogs lick you? Since this is a common behaviour, there may be many reasons. The most common one is to show love. However, it can also be a number of other things, such as trying to get your attention, soothing themselves or you, and it may even be an indication of an underlying problem in your dog’s health.

Since we all want our pups happy and healthy, it is important to find out why your dog is licking you, in case there may be a problem. Let us explore together some of the reasons for this behaviour and how to address them.

Common Reasons Why Dogs May Be Licking You:

Instinct: Licking is an instinctual part of a dog’s life. It may be learnt behaviour from their mother dog, who licks her puppies for various reasons to groom them, to help them urinate and defecate when they’re very young, and to bond with them. So puppies also learn this and lick their family and loved ones. They may be projecting this behaviour onto you to try and help you!

Affection: Licking is a way in which dogs show affection, to each other as well as to their humans. This may be linked to the comfort and love they felt when their mothers licked them. It has been shown by researchers that licking produces dopamine and endorphins in dogs’ brains, which reduces their anxiety and makes them feel good. Naturally, they would want to indulge in what makes them feel good.

Exploration: While humans most often explore with their hands, dogs use their tongues for a lot of exploration. The senses of taste and smell are connected, so licking can be a way in which dogs try to understand their environment as well as the people in it. Maybe they’re saying hello if you’re a person who’s new to them or trying to find out more about you if you’re a regular in their lives.

Empathy: Dogs are usually very empathetic, and one of the ways in which they show this is through licking. Studies have shown that domestic dogs are much more likely to come towards you and lick you if they sense that something is wrong with you — signs such as crying, hiding your face, or turning away from them. They try to soothe you as they do themselves: by licking!

Attention: Most dogs need plenty of attention, and they know exactly how to get it. It needn’t even be positive attention; to them, even you turning away or swatting them off is attention worth having! On the other hand, if you laugh or baby-talk with them or stroke them when they lick you, it becomes positive reinforcement, and they quickly learn that this behaviour will get them your attention.

Taste: Sometimes, licking is not behavioural at all; it’s just simply tasting. It is possible that the salty sweat and oil that we secrete from our bodies may be tasty or interesting to dogs. It can also be your perfume, soap, moisturiser, or any other fragrant product that you may have applied. What smells delicious may also taste delicious to them!

When is Licking a Cause for Concern?

Anxiety: While licking is part of a dog’s natural behaviour, sometimes it can be linked to more negative emotions, such as anxiety and fear. Dogs often use licking to soothe themselves or others, so when they feel fearful or uneasy, they can start to lick in order to provide comfort or relief. If so, it is pertinent to find out what exactly is causing their anxiety.

OCD: Some dogs may develop a kind of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), which prompts them to lick themselves, others, or even objects incessantly. Although rare, this can be a symptom of excessive or long-term stress in their lives. They may injure their tongues or even cause bald spots to occur on their coat where they lick the most. While concerning, always treat this kind of tendency with kindness so as to not increase their stress levels.

Injury: Dogs are also used to licking injuries or wounds, or even areas where they feel pain or discomfort. So, if you find your pup suddenly licking a particular area of their body more frequently than before, have a good look. This is especially important for breeds that have thick coats and may not show the problem as easily. It could also be allergies or infections, so it is best to consult a vet immediately if you spot something like this.

Why Do Dogs Lick You in the Morning?

One of the reasons why your dog may be licking you in the morning is because they’re hungry, and this is a quick way of getting your attention. Apart from that, they may also be greeting you after not seeing you for a long time (unless you came in their dream!) or licking up the saltiness on your skin that has settled overnight.

Why Do Dogs Lick You After Showering?

While you could argue that there is no sweat or oil on your body after a shower to attract a bout of licking from your dog, they may have other reasons to find you delicious! Sometimes, fragrant shower gels, shampoos, oils or other bath products may attract them just as much, prompting them to try and get a taste.

Why Do Dogs Lick You After Eating?

Dogs have a strong sense of smell, massively better than ours. So, chances are that they can still sniff out whatever you’ve eaten from your hands, clothes and mouth, even after you’ve washed them thoroughly. This is why dogs may often lick you after a meal, hoping to get a taste of what they can smell.

Why Do Dogs Lick You When You Come Back Home?

Do you get showered with sloppy kisses from your dog when you come back home? This is a very common behaviour in dogs. Usually, we tend to see it as them greeting us or expressing that they are happy to see us. However, some researchers, such as dog cognition researcher Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, have posited that it may have something to do with dogs’ evolutionary behaviour. When wolves, who are closely related to dogs, come back from hunting, other members often lick their faces to urge them to regurgitate some of the hunt. Dogs may be doing the same to you!

Why Do Dogs Lick You When You Stroke Them?

Stroking is a way in which we show affection, soothe our dogs, or just let them know of our presence. Licking, to dogs, also serves a similar purpose. Therefore, they may sometimes lick us in exchange for our pats and strokes. It is their way of returning a gesture of love or greeting.

Some Ways to Get Your Dog to Stop Licking:

Although most pet parents don’t seem to mind, some people may be uncomfortable being at the receiving end of saliva-laden licks from dogs, especially those who are generally afraid of interactions with dogs or get easily overwhelmed. So, here are some ways in which you can get your dog to stop licking without hurting them or their feelings!

Redirect the Behaviour: If you want to stop your dog from licking you or someone else, an easy way to go about it is to distract your dog. You can either use a chew toy or a treat, or start playing a game with them in order to direct their attention towards something else.

Set Boundaries: Sometimes, hard as it may be, setting boundaries with your dog is very important. If your dog is licking you because of learnt behaviour, you can use a number of manoeuvres to get them to stop. Looking away, moving away, or even leaving the room can act as an indicator. However, when they stop licking you, make sure you praise them and cuddle them so that it registers to them as the desired behaviour.

Identify Triggers: You may notice that some situations make your dogs start licking themselves or you more than others — anxiety, fear, boredom, etc. So, try and identify these triggers. If you can manage these triggers beforehand, they are likely to reduce their licking.

Teach a Trick: A great way to distract your dog from licking you is to start teaching them a trick. Dogs are usually excited to learn new things, and they love the positive reinforcement that comes with it. So, whenever they start licking you, others, or themselves, invite them to learn how to shake paws, roll around, or do other easy tricks.

Introduce Lick Mats: Although it may cause you some amount of discomfort, it is not right to always inhibit a dog’s licking behaviour. So, sometimes, you can direct your dog’s attention (and tongue!) towards a lick mat slathered with goodies like fruit puree or peanut butter. Lick mats are also textured, which gives your dog extra stimulation.

Consult a Vet: If the licking is obsessive, unnatural, or sudden, it is best to consult a doctor just in case there are any underlying issues, such as OCD, allergies, infections, or injuries. The vet will be able to properly direct you in case there is a medical problem.

As humans, it is important to remember that licking is a natural behaviour in dogs, so it will never completely stop. In fact, if it ceases completely, there may be something wrong with your pup, and you should get them checked by a vet. While unpleasant to some, it is usually your dog’s way of trying to connect with you, so it’s best to not interrupt them all the time, as this may impact their emotional health negatively.