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?

[Nanette de la Torre]

I have no idea why but I can empathize with the licking. Our Higgins will like you even if there is no skin showing. We call him a "lick aholic". Are there other Doods out there that are compulsive lickers?

I wonder if it is a way for them to get salt.

[Nicole Wayne]

I had to laugh when I saw the mention of your "lick aholic." My Mazie is a licker. She gives me kisses by licking my ears whenever she can. She knows not to lick Daddy, 'cause he doesn't like it, but she knows I'm a big old softie, so she licks me when she feels like it or when I ask for kisses (she always obliges!) But the real reason I'm responding is that my last dog, a Standard Poodle named Kira was total lickaholic! She would lick everyone all the time if left to her own devices. She would get in bed with me at night and lick me for 15 minutes EVERY NIGHT, more if she could get away with it. We figured she probably had a bit of OCD in her, because there were other obsessive traits as well (she was a rescue with a variety of issues, but the sweetest, smartest dog you could ever want.) I miss Kira, my lickaholic!

[Maya]

My dear dog Tina, from the old country, way, way back (over 20 years ago) used to wake us up like that (me and my sister) and we loved it! Never crossed my mind to be worried. Well, now, over 20 years later, I have a dog again... our Labradoodle Cassie whom we just got the other day, and who likes to show love the same way - but I have kids now, and I keep worrying - should we let her do it, or not? After all, that's the same tongue she licks her you-know-what with... wouldn't it be dangerous if she transferred the bacteria from her feces to us?!? Any educated opinion out there? Or ANY opinion? Ever heard of somebody getting sick from being licked by their dog?

Maya

[Maryann,Roo and Tigger]

My vet says licking feels good to the dog who is doing it - it stimulates them in a positive way. Did not pursue this! It is way better than biting or nipping I always teach my dogs to "lick" as a diversion from chewing on me as they do on each other. I had one Siberian Husky female who loved love LOVED to lick and she was dominant to other dogs. Both my doodles lick - they like it as much as I do. I don't think you should let a dog lick an open wound, but I have never heard of anyone getting ill from being licked. Personal preference probably. Although my vet is adamant about his patients not being on the BARF diet as he feels there is enormous risk to humans from salmonella poisoning (dogs are pretty resistant) from both their mouths and feces and and paws.

[Nicole Wayne]

I'm not a professional, but I have been licked and licked and licked by my dogs and, occasionally, other people's dogs and I have never gotten sick because of it. Even as babies, our dogs licked us (why wouldn't they? We smelled interesting and we were on their turf: the floor!) My parents were very conscientious and would certainly have stopped the licking if it were dangerous. Our Mazie loves to lick the toddler next door, and he's fine with it. It just makes him laugh. It has never made him sick. Just my rambling thoughts on the subject.

[2m42srv7vi6sq]

Cealeach wakes me up each morning by gently licking my nose. Once my eyes open, she then starts vigorously licking my face, ears, neck and anything that is available. She licks me until I start to laugh. Then we have hug time. We hug and talk. Cealeach has this "rurrr, rurrr, rurr" she does back to me, when I talk to her. It is so cute. After about 20-30 minutes of Doodle hugs, we then get up and start the day. I wouldn't trade those kisses for anything. It is such a great way to start each day!

[Leslie and Halas]

Halas and I do this, too. We call it Cuddle-Dood time. I love starting the day that way!

[Mary Beth Sancomb-Moran]

Casey does this, too, though to my husband. On weekends, he'll wait until he sees Brian move and then he's on the bed, one foot planted on either side of him, and licks whatever part he can until Brian finally says, "OK!"

Casey "talks" to me with those "rurr" sounds - I love it! He'll also give me a kiss - a small lick right on the mouth. Non-dog people are probably appalled, but I find it sweet.

[Leslie, Dexter & Kirby]

Dexter is a huge "kisser" - he'll kiss anyone :) He'll lick our faces, our fingers, our toes...he's a huge goof!

Kirby has started giving "kisses" more in the past few months. Based on Kirby's changes in this behavior, I definitely think it's either a sign of submission or affection (he has become so much more affectionate with us in the past 6 months).