Should You Let Your Dog Lick Your Face?
Why Do Dogs Lick Your Face?
Here are a few reasons your furry friend might be giving you lick or two.
You don’t taste half bad. Our skin is slightly salty, especially after exercising which explains why our canine companions might be inclined to lick our faces. Dogs will also be happy to lick off any food residue, so you may notice more kisses around mealtime.
Your pooch is searching for snacks. Dogs often lick their humans as an instinctive request for food. In the same way that a pup might lick their parents for attention or nourishment, your four-footer might be eager to ask for the same from you, especially if you just got home after being out all day.
Your pup is offering a sign of affection. There is some evidence that licking could be a straight sign of affection for your canine companion. Dogs are licked by their mothers in a litter, so licking it could provide a sense of security to your pooch.
Should You Let Your Dog Lick Your Face?
In general, this answer chalks up to personal preference. Here are a few pros and cons to letting Spot give your smooches.
PROS:
For most people, face licking is a minimal health risk. While face licking does open you up to bacteria carried from your dog’s mouth, it’s usually a negligible health risk so long as you are following proper hygiene practices.
Build your bond with your best buddy. For some dogs, licking can be a sign of affection. However, there are plenty of other ways for your pooch to show you just how much he cares, so don’t sweat it if licking isn’t for you.
CONS:
Some people don’t like being licked. Simply put, some people prefer not to be licked. With that in mind, you should have a reliable way to get your dog “off” someone or restrict your pooch to prevent unwanted licking. This habit can be more difficult to curb if it’s reinforced regularly.
Dog’s mouths carry bacteria. Unfortunately, dogs’ mouths carry a whole host of bacteria and parasites. Some of the bacteria can be zoonotic, meaning that it can be passed from your dog to you. Staying away from puppy kisses mitigates this risk.
If you do decide to let your dog lick your face, you’ll want to keep a couple of things in mind to stay as safe as possible:
Restrain your pooch around those with compromised immune systems. You should teach your dog “off” to prevent him from licking babies or those with compromised immune systems since those affected groups are likely to be more vulnerable to the bacteria in your dog’s mouth.
Protect your eyes, nose, and mouth. Try to direct your dog so that you aren’t licked around your eyes, nose, mouth, or any open part of the body.
Wash your hands and face regularly when interacting with your furry friends. It’s good practice to wash your hands regularly, especially when interacting with your furry friend who may be carrying unwanted germs.
At the end of the day, the choice is yours when it comes to whether you should let your dog lick your face. Luckily, there are plenty of ways to share love and joy with your canine companion. Enjoy spending time with your furry friend!
