If your dog frequently licks your hands, arms, face, or legs, you may wonder what the behavior means. Is your dog showing affection, asking for attention, or simply enjoying the taste of your skin?
The answer can be a little more complicated than you might expect. Dogs lick people for many different reasons, and the meaning often depends on the situation, the dog’s body language, and what happens immediately before and after the licking.
One of the most common reasons dogs lick their owners is social bonding. Dogs use licking as a form of social communication, and some dogs learn that licking their favorite person gets a positive response. If you laugh, pet the dog, talk to it, or give it attention after being licked, your dog may learn that licking is an effective way to interact with you.
Sometimes the behavior is simply a request for attention. Your dog may lick your hand because it wants to be petted, played with, fed, or taken outside. If the licking happens when you’re busy and stops when you give the dog attention, your pet may have discovered a very effective way of getting you to notice it.
Dogs can also be attracted to the taste and smell of human skin. Sweat contains salt and other substances that dogs can detect, while lotions, food residue, and other scents can make your skin interesting to them.
You may notice your dog licking your hands more after you’ve been exercising. The salt left behind by perspiration can be particularly interesting to some dogs.
Another reason is communication. Dogs rely heavily on body language and scent, and licking can be part of their normal social behavior. A dog may lick another dog as a calming or affiliative gesture, and some dogs extend similar behavior toward humans.
However, not every lick means affection.
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