Top 3 Reasons Why Your Dog Licks Your Face So Much

Do you have a dog that enjoys licking your face at every opportunity? Generally speaking, licking is a sign of affection and there isn’t much to be concerned about unless there is an underlying problem that’s making your dog lick your face a bit too much.

1. It’s a social grooming behavior

Dogs like to lick one another. It doesn’t necessarily mean you are dirty. Some dogs partake in social grooming to show affection and to build trust with one another. You can take it a positive sign when your dog licks your face. It most likely means that they like you as well as trust you. You could return the favor with some kisses!

2. There is something tasty on your face

Some dogs may like to lick you because there’s something on your face that’s tasty. For example, dogs like yucky things. Some dogs may like to lick off the sweat on your face. Other dogs may like the sweet and fragrant smell of your makeup. They could be licking your face to see what the makeup tastes like.

Some dogs may lick your face when you cry. They could be doing it to comfort you. They could also be doing it because they like the salty taste of your tears.

3. The dog feels anxious

It might not just be your face that your dog licks excessively. He might also be licking anything else in front of him. This could mean your dog is facing stress and anxiety. Researchers have found that licking can help release endorphins in the dog’s brain. The endorphins may help make the dog feel more relaxed. You will need to figure out and eliminate the cause of the stress.

Should you let a dog lick your face?

It’s an affectionate behavior but something you shouldn’t encourage. The problem comes with other people. You might feel fine with getting your face licked. Others (including other dogs) who interact with your dog may not always feel the same way.

From a health perspective, there isn’t a major health risk as long as both you and your dog are healthy. It’s better, however, to be safe than sorry as there is a risk of a dog passing on bacterial and parasitic infections. You may have read before that a dog’s saliva is cleaner than a human’s. This isn’t true. Dogs just have different strains of bacteria in their saliva.