In one famous scene in the beloved 1965 cartoon, A Charlie Brown Christmas, Snoopy licks Lucy’s face, prompting her to exclaim, “Ugh! I’ve been kissed by a dog! I have dog germs! Get hot water! Get some disinfectant! Get some iodine!” One wonders how many children have watched this scene, only to fretfully turn to their parents and say, “I let our dog lick my face all the time. Is Lucy right about dog germs?!? Please tell me Lucy isn’t right!“
If you find yourself wondering if you should let your dog lick your face, with or without the influence of this cartoon, you’re not alone. To get an answer to this question—and other questions like, “Why does my dog lick me so much?” and “What should you do if your dog licks your face?”—Parade spoke with Dr. Melody Winterhalter, an Australia-based veterinarian known as Melody the Vet on Instagram (or Dr. Melody, as she prefers to be called), and New Zealand-based veterinarian Dr. Lianne Mellin, BVSc (Hons).
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Is it safe for a dog to lick your face?
If your Labradoodle is lunging to lick your face right now, command her to sit while you read about the risks associated with this kind of canine affection. She might even respect your commitment to safety.
“A dog’s mouth contains bacteria, so letting your dog lick your face does carry a small amount of risk,” Dr. Melody says. “Although it is very low risk, there can be situations
where the risk is higher, such as if your dog licks a wound and you’re immunocompromised or allergic to canine saliva. Remember, dogs eat all
sorts of things—including other animals’ poo on walks—so there can be a risk of contamination too!”
Do dogs get sad when you don’t let them lick your face?
“As long as you give your dog plenty of positive attention in other ways,” Dr. Melody explains, “such as giving them pats or playing with them, your dog shouldn’t be too sad if you divert attention away from licking your face to another fun activity!”
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‘Why does my dog lick me so much?’
“There could be [many] reasons your dog licks your face,” Dr. Melody explains. “Look at your dog’s other behavioral cues to decode his body language.”
Here are 7 possible reasons.
1. It’s a Sign of Affection
“Licking can be a sign of affection—your
dog is trying to show you he loves you!” Dr. Melody says.
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2. It’s a Stress Response
“The act of licking releases endorphins, or ‘feel good’ hormones,” says Dr. Mellin, who prefers to be called “Dr. Lianne.”
She continues, “If your pet is feeling anxious or stressed, behaviors such as licking may make them feel good.”
Of course, we humans know nothing about this sort of thing. We only binge on our favorite foods when we’re stressed because it prompts the release of endorphins and—wait for it—makes us feel better.
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3. They’re Seeking Attention
“Dogs have a difficult time differentiating between positive and negative reinforcement,” Dr. Lianne says. “If you react—whether you’re excited or cross—each time your dog licks you, they learn that it’s a way to get attention. Then when they want attention, they lick you!”
4. It’s a Sign of Potential Underlying Issues
It’s one thing for your dog to lick you lovingly, and another for him to have—ahem—a licking problem.
“If your pet is excessively licking you, itself, or objects in its environment, it’s important to see your vet in case there are underlying issues such as infections, pain or allergies,” Dr. Lianne explains.
If you’re concerned, it never hurts to check things out with your vet.
5. It’s Instinctual Behavior
“Mother dogs lick their puppies in order to clean them and stimulate them to go to the toilet,” Dr. Lianne says. “This is a caring behavior. Our dogs may do the same thing to us to show they care—but not get us to go to the toilet!”
6. Your Face Tastes Good
File this under “Ewww.” Or “Awww.” It’s really up to you.
“Dogs don’t have sweat glands all over their bodies like we do,” says Dr. Lianne. “Our sweat glands produce a salty substance which some dogs may enjoy!”
7. They’re Hungry
“Your dog knows when you have treats,” Dr. Lianne says. Boy, don’t we know it!
Surrender the treats to put an end to unwanted licking—it may be as simple as that!
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What should you do if your dog licks your face?
If your Labradoodle moves in for a smooch despite your best efforts to stop her, fear not. Lucy had it right when she mentioned hot water—but no need for disinfectant or iodine. Good ‘ol hot water and soap will suffice!
“Make sure to clean your face and hands afterward,” Dr. Melody recommends. “Dogs eat all sorts of silly things, so proper hand and face-washing are important. If you’re not keen on your dog licking your face, try some behavioral training to teach your dog not to do this.”
Up Next, The 5 Dog ‘Love Languages’ and How To Offer Them Every Day
