It
always happens here on the farm, as I get ready to relax and get into the hot tub, the dogs seem
to know where I'm going, maybe it’s because I have very little on and I am going
outside. Everyone runs for their spot
around the tub and Abbie always jumps on the corner of it and sit’s
pretty. It’s usually uneventful except
when the guest dog wanted to get in, and did… and you know, he liked it…
As
I sit, I have always thought about “Why do the dogs want to lick me” because
they were doing it even as I was sitting in the warm water, Doc had jumped up behind my
back putting his paws on the side and licks my ear. Not wanting to be out done, when I changed
positions, both Abbie and Dutchess were licking my face, Dutchess on
one side of my brow and Abbie on the other and I can tell you, Abbie is soft
and Dutchess will lick your eyebrows off, but why do they do this. I always thought they wanted water or the
salt if you’re sweating, but I have found out that’s not always the case…
According
to a known source…Why is the dog licking? Right from birth that is how the mother
communicates with her new puppies, how she stimulates them to start breathing
and how she cleans them when they are born, so it's very important to the
survival of puppies. In the wild and in
domestic dogs, you'll find they will lick around the mother's mouth as newborns
and puppies still retain that instinct.
It's also sort of a submissive gesture — the more subordinate members of
a pack will lick the more dominant members and that's important in maintaining
pack harmony.
I
can say for sure that this is true. With
the pups that have been born here, it always a lick fest. Even to this day, Annie and Meggie will lick
Molly wanting her attention and will submit to her while they are doing the
licking and yes, Molly is the dominate female.
From about six weeks of age, some pups lick their
mom's face and lips when they want her to regurgitate food for them. This
behavior is a remnant of their wild ancestry—it was easier for the mother to
carry food in her stomach rather than dragging it back to the den in her mouth. As puppies grow older, they lick to groom
themselves and their pack mates. It also becomes a way of welcoming others back
into the pack and increasing the bonds between pack members. Adult dogs lick as a sign of deference or
submissiveness to a dominant pack member. The dog doing the licking usually
lowers its body to make itself smaller, and looks up, adding to the effect of
subordinate behavior. The dog receiving the face licks shows its dominance by
standing tall to accept the gesture, but doesn't return the favor.
As
I think about this, I remember a time when I thought it was a horrible
thing. I remember seeing a dog lick a
person hand and I thought it was gross and I was reminded of this statement as
Clancy was licking my leg once while I was wearing shorts. I only remember it felt so good and I was
disappointed when he quit and how things have changed.
When
your dog’s tries to lick your face, you might have a better idea of what he's
trying to communicate. He may simply be letting you know that he's glad to see
you. Or he may be hungry and asking for a snack.
But
can his enthusiastic licks also represent a sign of affection? Here's one way
to look at it. A dog's behavior can be encouraged with positive reinforcement. So if a dog licks his owner's face—either out of instinct, anxiety, or just
because his owner's face tastes salty—and that action is greeted with positive
attention, such as hugs and human kisses, he'll want to repeat the behavior.
While it's probably not a "kiss," you can bet it's a sign that your
dog thinks you're pretty great. Once I was working of the farm and was hit on the leg with a large piece of wood and while holding up a heavy board, Clancy started licking the wound and I just knew it would hurt, but when he got to the injury, it felt better and cleaner.
So
what is a lick…?
Affection?
Love?
Adulation?
Healing?
Submission?
Admiration?
Or
all the above. I can’t think of any
other animal that leads itself to another person or animal with a cold nose and
a wet tongue flopping from side to side ready to clean out your ears, nose or heal your wound…and, I wouldn’t have it any other way…
And
just think, we thought it was just a lick…Ken
