Is it All Right to Let My Dog Lick My Face?
by admin
Filed under Dog Behavior, Dog Health, Dog Training
This is a good question. After all, licking is how dogs show affection as well as submissive behavior. Generally speaking, I think face licking should be discouraged. This is my opinion; others may disagree and feel that to stop the dog from face licking would be to deny it a means of interaction.
However, licking can be a cause of infection to owners in some cases. My wife, for example, has picked up both eye and ear infections from our dogs licking. Fortunately, they were mild and easily treated. But consider, dogs rink water from toilets and gutters, eat manure, and lick not only their own rectums but those of other dogs.
You may want to consider teaching your dog the “no lick” command. Basically, when your dog tries to lick you, say, “no lick” and then give it a piece of kibble and scratch its ears or by the tail or anywhere else it finds pleasurable.
By the way, if you notice your dog excessively licking its body, this could a sign that may indicate an allergy, constipation or a skin disease. Some people think that dogs wash themselves like cats, but they do not. Sometimes when dogs get their paws wet, you see them licking that area to dry, just as a female dog licks her puppies to clean and dry them. As far as your dog licking you, I suggest letting it lick your hand because hands are easily washed. However, as I mentioned above, I suggest discouraging licking at an early age.
[tags]face licking,curbing face licking,discouraging face licking in dogs,dog behavior,licking source of infection,dog licking[/tags]
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