What does licking REALLY mean?

People often assume by default that a dog licking them is always a good thing. While in certain circumstances the licking can be innocuous enough, in many cases we will mistakenly misinterpret a dog’s licking as “showing love” instead of it’s true intent of communication.

Licking is not often actually affection or a dog showing someone they like them. It’s really important to look at the context in which a dog is licking a person. For example, A nervous, unsocial dog licking a new person they just met is likely an appeasement gesture, and they are trying to tell the person they are not a threat because they are still fearful. If your dog comes over and starts frantically licking you after something stressful has just happened, they are likely very stressed and looking to communicate this. If you go to cuddle up to your dog and give them kisses in the face and they start licking you back, it’s more than likely a “kiss to dismiss” over an actual sign of affection: your dog is asking you nicely to get out of their space!

Look at this dog’s overall body language- he is being stood over, having his space invaded, and seems to be cornered and lightly restrained. Do you think this lick is actually a show of love, or him asking for some space?

Look at the whole dog’s body language and the context they are in when determining what the “lick” means. More often than not, you will start to see the signs indicating that the licking is actually a communication of stress, discomfort, or fear than it is a harmless show of affection. If a dog has a low tail, their ears are pinned back, they are showing the whites of their eyes, are hunched over or leaning away, or are generally showing frantic, over-the-top behavior, it’s likely that the licking paired with this body language is indicating a dog who is uncomfortable, over aroused, or stressed.

Why does this matter, anyways? Well, firstly, we owe it to our dogs to learn how they communicate and understand them fully, so that we can provide for them in the best ways that we can. It’s our duty to learn how our dogs tell us that they are uncomfortable, so we can adjust and find different ways to show them love that they actually enjoy. Secondly, It’s important to understand what your dog is trying to communicate for your own safety- licking is a low-level way that a dog can tell you they’re uncomfortable. If you don’t listen or mistake what they’re saying, this could lead to an escalation in communication, potentially turning into growling, snapping, or biting if ignored long enough.

Did you know this about licking?