Why Do Dogs Lick Your Hands What Does It Mean

There’s a reason why dogs, which come from the Canidae family and belong to the Canis genus, are called a man’s best friend!Dogs have high sensory functions. This is why you often get jumped at, licked all over, and even sniffed completely by your dog because as they do this, they learn something about you.A majority of us dog owners love getting tackled by our dogs and getting smothered in their wet licks but guess what? They love doing the same to us too! It is an important practice utilized by them to communicate and is normal, positive behavior. The exact reason as to why dogs lick our hands is not definitely known but a lot of dog experts and dog owners themselves claim it is either a way for them to show affection towards you, a form of greeting, a way of seeking attention if they feel like you’re not giving them any, or a way of submission and accepting you as a ‘pack leader’.An evolutionary perspective says that dogs lick the hands of their owners out of instinct as well. This is because wolves, from whom dogs evolved, would return to their young pups after they had their meal to feed them by regurgitating what they ate. Once the pups were fed, they would lick the mouth of the mothers. This behavior has been passed down through genetics and so, we see it in our dogs often. There are plenty of ways to understand why your dog licks your hand. When your pet dog licks your hand with a slow and long sloppy lick, it’s a sign of love and affection.That’s why many call it dog kisses. Dog licking is also seen to be a way of earning rewards either emotionally or physically. They like the way you taste and smell too. In fact, you taste good to them! They will run to you and lick your hand if you have just made yourself a turkey sandwich or will also lick your feet when you return home from a sweaty soccer game and remove your socks. The mother always licks her puppies for grooming purposes and to keep them clean. This could indicate why they lick your hands. There’s a possibility that they could also do it if they are anxious and have obsessive-compulsive behavior. This is a sign of stress and when you notice them excessively licking you, take them to the nearest vet.Dog licks can be an enjoyable and pleasant feeling for dog lovers. It is not necessarily considered to be harmful or dangerous unless you have a weak immune system or some sort of wound. Doctors and veterinarians also state a certain percentage of bacteria is present in the saliva of dogs which is known as capnocytophaga. This bacteria can lead to some serious infections among humans with weak immune systems, make them sick, and in very rare cases, even cause death.However, so far, there has been no documented case where a human fell severely just because of a dog lick so there is nothing to stress about! You could also develop some minor skin rashes and irritation when a dog is licking you. Hence, you should take some precautions either way to ensure your health as well as the health of your dog. You can stop or reduce the licking if your dog does it excessively to you or other people. Sometimes, even giving negative attention to your dog will encourage licking.You should never push away your dog when it seeks attention from you as this is not the message you want to send to your dog. Treatment that involves behavior modification can be used. Denying attention slowly but not completely can also get them to stop excessive licking. You could also consider hiring a dog trainer since training your pet dog works very well. Above all else, ensure that you do not wear certain creams and lotions that could be dangerous for your dog’s health.If you liked this article about why dogs lick your hands, check out these articles to discover some fun facts that answer why do dogs have wet noses and interesting facts on why do dogs lick each other that you’re sure to love!Are dogs licks similar to kisses?Dog licks are seen as dog kisses by a lot of dog lovers! They like to lick people and it’s a very natural act for them. There are various reasons why dogs lick people and it is easy to identify when they do it.All dog lovers and owners will tell you that when a dog licks or ‘kisses’ you, it is because they are very pleased to see you after an anxious day of not being near you and are doing it as a form of greeting. If you want to start learning why they lick you so much, start observing their body language. It could also indicate that they are submissive towards you, seeing you as a pack leader or a figure of authority. Therefore, they are acknowledging you as their leader. However, apart from submission, it is very often a sign of affection. They want to give you a ‘kiss’ to send you the message that they love you!It is a way in which they communicate their feelings towards you because licking has always been experienced by them ever since they were puppies. Hence, they’ve learned it from the grooming and affection they got as a puppy from their mothers. Other places apart from your hands pups can lick include your face, especially right after you eat, because they can smell the food you ate and your feet too because, apparently, they like the salty taste and smell of your sweaty toes, which can be quite gross!Why do dogs lick their owners?Licking is a common trait and they do it for a variety of reasons.They lick you when they haven’t seen you for a long time, are experiencing some sort of stress or anxiety, want your attention, are showing you empathy, want to get a reward out of you (which could either be physical or emotional), and out of obsessive-compulsive behavior too. It is mostly a sign of love towards you and what better way than showering you with their ‘kisses’. It can cause a positive reaction in both the dog owner and the dog. It all depends on you and your dogs.Dogs like to lick their owners’ hands or any part of the body for that matter so that they can learn about what they did that day. From licking you, a dog can know immediately where you’ve been, the people or other dogs you might have met, or even the food you ate. This is also why your dog will come licking you right when you’ve just had your food, as it is a trait that has been carried since it was a puppy where the mother would lick the mouth after she fed the pup.There can be times where getting smothered in a dog’s slobbery, wet kisses is this last thing you want and that’s completely fine. But it is very important to keep in mind the way you go about it. Every dog thrives on positive interactions and they don’t hesitate to physically express their affection towards you. Acting nonchalant, cold, or unemotional can leave them feeling unloved and uncared for. It can lead to excessive levels of anxiety in your dogs, to the point where it can be medical. So, the healthier way to set boundaries with your dog and make them slowly stop licking is through training or by employing a dog trainer. If you feel or notice anything different in dog’s licking, get them to your family vet or to the nearest vet.What does it mean when a dog licks you?Dog licking can mean plenty of things. It is a common trait in their behavior because they groom themselves that, they lick their wounds when they are hurt, and can lick many other things too that they find interesting.It typically means that they either want to give you affection or get affection from you. They like the taste and smell of you, take comfort in knowing that you’re their human! Since they were often licked as young puppies by their mothers, it’s a major communication style used by them. They get comfort out of it and lick your hands to comfort you too. Dogs can also lick you as it is seen as a submissive behavior they do towards a ‘pack leader’. They may lick your mouth or hands too if you just ate or touched some sort of food in search of the remaining flavor left on your skin.Sometimes, dog licking can be the result of a medical issue or a behavioral problem like anxiety or a type of compulsive behavior. Many veterinarians have stated that excessive licking by dogs can sometimes be due to gastrointestinal disorders. If you are not very comfortable with your dog licking you, you can train them in such a way that this behavior is reduced or stopped. If you have a pup, licking is mostly the only way they can communicate to you so pushing them away when they lick you is not advisable. It can make them feel rejected and you do not want your puppy to feel that wayIs it harmful to you or to them?It is harmful to neither! However, at the same time, it is important to keep in mind the kind of creams, lotions, and perfumes you use on your skin and whether the contents of them are safe for dogs when they ‘kiss’ you.Since they love licking you, at times certain harmful chemicals and contents can be consumed which leads to severe medical conditions so always be careful and aware of the products you use. If anything severe does happen, rush your dog immediately to the nearest vet or contact a family vet to get advice on what is and what is not safe. Similarly, this works the other way around as well. Although the severity cannot be judged definitely, it is possible that the saliva of a dog can affect your health and make you sick if you have a weak immune system. You may also develop a minor rash or allergies.Dogs eat things they find on the street, lick their private parts and lick themselves to keep them clean. Dogs are known to put just about anything in their mouths so their saliva can definitely contain a good amount of nasty germs. It’s in a dog’s nature to groom themselves constantly, and they often lick their paws and their privates. Hence, always pay close attention to where your dogs are licking themselves before they come and lick you! In very rare cases, their licking can cause death, therefore, do not forget to get yourself as well as your loved ones checked if you plan on getting a dog!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for why do dogs lick your hands then why not take a look at why do dogs have tails or can guinea pigs eat bread.

There’s a reason why dogs, which come from the Canidae family and belong to the Canis genus, are called a man’s best friend!