# Why do dogs want to lick my face? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [February 26, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214 "2000-02-26T19:51:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 15\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Llardball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f6c823/32.png) [@Llardball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llardball)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 6:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/1 "2000-02-27T06:35:00Z")
I am taking care of two dogs while my neighbors are gone. I love dogs but don’t have any because they tear up the furniture. Anyway, when I scratch the dogs, they lay there and shake their leg. Then, when I am finished scratching or my hand gets tired, they jump up and try to lick my face like no tomorrow. They are ferocious about this. One time I just layed there and took it, just to see what he was licking at. It turns out he was licking around my mouth (my lips were shut tight and I was about to scream because it tickled to death) quite a bit. Is this because he wants to see what I’ve eaten lately or what? ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2000, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/2 "2000-02-26T19:51:00Z")
Someone with more specific knowledge than I will probbly come along, but I believe it has to do with pack behavior. The dogs are recognizing you as their leader; pack animals will lick the muzzle of the alpha male in the group, possibly as a sign of respect. * * * The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2000, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/3 "2000-02-26T20:15:00Z")
Yeah, respect, and wanting to spread all that where-canines-lick-themselves-and-other-canines stuff on ya so you smell like them & thus they mark you as their territory. gross if you ask me. ---
**Author:** ![mr\_john](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/8baadc/32.png) [@mr\_john](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mr_john)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2000, 9:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/4 "2000-02-26T21:23:00Z")
Hey, Lardball, that wasn’t you askin what napkins are for a while back was it? Nah, that’s just the way dogs are. Lickin at the mouth is how they say, " Uhyhuck! That was fun boss, let’s do it some more! How ya doin buddy ? C’mon let’s play.Wanta chase cars? HUH!? HUH?! C’mon I found somethin dead we can roll in." The greatest minds in science have yet to discover the connection between the tummy rub and the leg twitch. * * * “Pardon me while I have a strange interlude.”-Marx ---
**Author:** ![funneefarmer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9fc348/32.png) [@funneefarmer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/funneefarmer)\ **Post date:** [February 26, 2000, 10:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/5 "2000-02-26T22:20:00Z")
With a name like Llardball it seems like you would kind of expect to be licked by dogs. I guess you just taste good. ---
**Author:** ![Jois](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ea666f/32.png) [@Jois](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jois)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 1:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/6 "2000-02-27T01:40:00Z")
Some dogs are more face lickers than others. I get the feeling I’m being used as a salt lick sometimes - that I’m especially beloved when I’m sweaty. Worse is the tendency of my Sheltie Darwin to lick my feet – I’ve been told it is a sign of allergies when a dog licks his feet, what’s it mean when the dog lick my feet? Also puppies who want to get fed may lick their mama’s face - kind of a feeding reflex. * * * Are you driving with your eyes open or are you using The Force? - A. Foley ---
**Author:** ![DrFidelius](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drfidelius/32/3447_2.png) [@DrFidelius](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrFidelius)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 2:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/7 "2000-02-27T02:05:00Z")
## The dogs are hoping to induce you to vomit. That’s how puppies back at the den get “fresh” meat from a kill the pack made. Dr. Fidelius, Charlatan Associate Curator Anomalous Paleontology, Miskatonic University “You cannot reason a man out of a position he did not reach through reason.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/8 "2000-02-27T16:41:00Z")
“… pack animals will lick the muzzle of the alpha male in the group, possibly as a sign of respect.” I think they lick the butt not the muzzle. After all when they meet they head to the butt not the front. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Ed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Just\_Ed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Ed)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2000, 7:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/9 "2000-02-27T19:08:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by handy: > I think they lick the butt not the muzzle. After all when they meet they head to the butt not the front. From [this site](http://www.canismajor.com/dog/alpha1.html): > [@](#): > > The cubs learn to greet the adults with respect by approaching them using a slightly crouching posture, with ears back, tail down and wagging, and they lick the adults’ muzzles. The cubs do this as a sign of respect and affection, not out of fear. I’ve never seen a dog _lick_ another dog’s butt. Sniff, yes - there’s a gland near the anus that has an identifying, er, _scent_. This is how they recognize each other, and also how they recognize the owner of scent markings. Now, licking their _own_ butts, well, that’s common. * * * The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man. ---
**Author:** ![Prairie\_Rose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/b77776/32.png) [@Prairie\_Rose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Prairie_Rose)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/10 "2000-02-28T04:35:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by DrFidelius: > \*\*The dogs are hoping to induce you to vomit. That’s how puppies back at the den get “fresh” meat from a kill the pack made. > \*\* Hm, that explains what happened earlier tonight, I guess. :rolleyes: My schnauzer had rolled in something awful outside, then decided to try to kiss me. I certainly _felt_ like barfing, but instead of regurgitated steak she’s getting an appointment at the groomer’s tomorrow morning. And then I’m cleaning the car out! Ick! Prairie Rose * * * If you’re not part of the solution you’re just scumming up the bottom of the beaker. ---
**Author:** ![mega\_the\_roo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/3da27b/32.png) [@mega\_the\_roo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mega_the_roo)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 4:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/11 "2000-02-28T04:40:00Z")
cause they mistake your face for their butt. bahf. * * * “If anybody wants a sheep, that is proof that he exists.” ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 4:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/12 "2000-02-28T16:40:00Z")
Alright, from the net: …Licking can be a sign of submission or it can be a sign of dominance. It also probably occurs in some dogs because they like the taste of sweat on the skin or some other product applied by the owner. In the case of submissive licking it may help a great deal to give the dog an acceptable alternative behavior – like sit and stay or fetching an object – that will substitute for the behavior. Spending a few minutes a day at a regular time with the pet can help a lot. In these dogs, giving a treat is OK if that helps to reinforce the new behavior. Trying to reduce the stress levels in multiple pet households or in busy households can help a lot, too. In the case of dominance aggression (more likely if your dog growls at you if you try to stop the licking) it is much more important to work on gaining control of your dog – teach the same commands but insist on them being carried out and do things like making your dog sit prior to giving him his food so that the dominance of family members is reinforced. This is a situation where utilizing the services of a behaviorist would be good idea, too. In some dogs this is considered to be an obsessive/compulsive behavior and may respond to medications for these disorders, such as Anafranil (Rx) or Prozac (Rx). Your vet would be able to help determine if these medications are appropriate. ---
**Author:** ![justwannano](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/7ab992/32.png) [@justwannano](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/justwannano)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2000, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/13 "2000-02-28T16:51:00Z")
I don’t know how old you are but mom always said “don’t let them do that.” It didn’t take me long to figure out why. They lick their own butts. Sort of unsanitary don’t you think? ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [February 29, 2000, 4:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/14 "2000-02-29T04:15:00Z")
Why did my brother’s dog drink other dogs pee in mid stream? All were male. He wanted to lick your face too. * * * I’m only your wildest fear, from the corners of your darkest thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![sxe\_dopefiend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/b9e5f3/32.png) [@sxe\_dopefiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sxe_dopefiend)\ **Post date:** [March 7, 2000, 3:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-do-dogs-want-to-lick-my-face/8214/15 "2000-03-07T03:50:00Z")
i always thought it was because of the natural salt in your skin