Licking... good or bad?

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snkoyle15

Forums Enthusiast
So my husband asked me a question today that i dont know the answer to, so i figured i would ask the thoughts of everyone on here. Gizmo really likes to lick my husband's chin, especially when he is kinda scruffy. he will sometimes try to nibble to, but mostly just lick.... and lick and lick and lick :lol:. with me, Gizmo doesnt lick my face (which is fine with me because i have never been one that likes dogs licking my face) but he will lick my arms, hands, legs and the bottoms of my feet (which by the way TICKLES LIKE NO OTHER:eek2:).
So we are wondering; by licking, is Gizmo showing affection and submission, or is he trying to be dominate?
I always thought it was a good thing; when a dog trusts/likes you then they lick you to show affection, but I have tried to look this up but some places say its one thing while others say its the opposite. i read somewhere that a dame licks her pups to try to get them to mind and show she is dominate or something. (i could be remembering that one wrong, it was a while ago i read it.)
So what do you guys think? is this a good thing, or something bad that we need to stop?
 
I think it's simply a way of greeting and connecting. Ever since I read John Bradshaw's Dog Sense, I don't put to much stock in the whole dominant/submissive thing. Some people don't like their dog to lick. I personally just love it!

"Kiss me, you fool!!!" :lol:
 
I'm glad you asked this question because I'm not sure either. Greyson ALWAYS licks us if we pet or scratch his feet. I'm not sure if it's because he doesn't want us to stop, or if he doesn't like his feet touched!
 
Gavin isn't a licker. It's not something I trained him to do (or not do).
He will give me kisses on command, like lick my fingers. but that's it. some people get offended when he won't give them kisses, but unless you put food on your face it aint gonna happen! that being said, Gavin trusts me completely (I can do anything to him..and he just lets me, cause I'm me!). So not sure we should read too much into licking or not licking.
 
It is just one of those things pups learn from a very early age. Even with the Siberian Fox Farm experiment they foxes started licking the handlers after a few generations of selecting for friendliness.

Tully is a really obsessive licker and I must say it drives people crazy. But I hadn't realised the excessive licking was allergy related until it had already become a habit. Apparently licking is very soothing for a dog so it feels good.
 
Ellie loves to lick me but avoids licking my husband. She does it in a rhythmic way, almost like it is a very calming/soothing/relaxing thing to her. I feel it is a definite sign of affection. She absolutely loves my husband (and vice versa), so we don't know why she doesn't lick him. :confused2:
 
Miko will lick feet every once in a blue moon, but he never licks anyone's face (I have to admit that I see this as a positive).

Tasha (the shih-poo) licks A LOT. If I'm standing in my bathrobe, she's licking my bare leg... I'm I put my hand down to train for "touch", she licks my hand instead of touching her nose to it.

I think it's definitely a soothing thing for them... she licks herself a lot... she licks people... she does a ritual of licking her own face for a few minutes before settling in to sleep... I'm quite certain it's soothing to her.
 
It has nothing to do with dominance, its likely just your sheltie's way of showing affection.

Toby is a bit of an obsessive licker. He'll occasionally lick when he's being petted, but he'll also lick his legs, the carpet, toys, etc. for longer than I think necessary. I try to discourage it when I think he's been licking too long.
 
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