Licking, What does it mean????????

[Karen & Lucy]

I am asking this question to all of the doodle experts here on DK........
When Lucy was a puppy, in the morning she would start licking us, arms, hands, face etc. We stopped her from doing that, but she is 2 1/2 now and it has started all over again. She is constantly wanting to lick us. Not just in the mornings. It just seems like a mother washing her pups. I have to try and stop this again, but my question is..... Why is she doing this? It she lacking something? Do all dogs do this?

[Lynne Fowler-Oodles of Doodles]

My Ginger is very licky. She has been like this for two years. Every morning she licks ears, faces, hands, whatever is available. My other two dogs don't do it and they eat the same food so I don't think it's a lacking something. We all think it's adorable and love her "kisses." She wakes the boys and my husband with her kisses.

[GBK]

My Kona does this each morning also :) She wakes me up with kisses all over my face and does a nice stretch over me so I can return some love with rubs. Then she rolls over and continues to kiss as I rub her belly. It is the nicest way to greet the day I can think of, Buddy however leaves the bed in disgust of our show of affection till he can have me to himself later LOL

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas is very cuddly and kissy in the morning, too. He stretches, rolls over, lays on my pillow, etc. It's all belly rubs and kisses. I call this our cuddle-dood time. I agree with you - it's the best way to start the day.

[Jacquie Yorke (DRC)]

My doodle does the same.....With wolves it's a sign of affection and respect as well as good grooming...lol....I do find that if I'm sweaty for any reason, I get much more tongue attention...lol...so it may be a "salt factor".....Are you particularly "salty" Karen?...lol

[Karen & Lucy]

I don't consider myself "salty" Jacquie. LOL LOL but who knows. I thought of the salt idea, but wasn't really sure. It sounds like alot of our doods do that though.

[Eva (Lilo and Rocky)]

My dog trainer told me that licking is a sign of submissiveness. Only one of mine does it, and he's not the dominant one, so I kind of believe that explanation.

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas is pretty submissive, so I can believe this explanation. He likes to licks my hands and arms when we're having cuddle-dood time.

But my parents used to have a husky that licked a lot, and she was pretty dominant. She was a rescue, though, and I think she really understood that my parents' place was her forever home, so maybe her licking was just her indicating that she was submissive to them, even though she was dominant in general.

[Patty Barnes]

I think it means you smell good, taste good or are a good person. Whatever the origin, to me licking says I love you--all my dogs are good at it.

[Karen & Lucy]

Awwww Patty, I like that reasoning. I really didn't want to think I was salty. LOL LOL LOL I love Lucy with all my heart and would hope she feels the same. Wouldn't it be nice to know what they are really thinking.

[Patty Barnes]

No, you're not salty, you're lovable. Sometimes I think my dog's eyes speak what they are thinking. And its usually something kind.

[Tamara & Giada]

My dogs know I don't like it, so they usually don't, but in the morning Giada always gives me ear kisses/licks.

[2hl9mp3c2fuam]

I have two doodles one NEVER licks and the other gives lots of kisses - but licks my feet...drives me crazy - but it is funny - I have no idea why they do what they do???