Why Does My Dog Lick Me So Much?

Picture it.

You park the car in the driveway. You get out of the car, shuffling for your house keys. As you walk up to the door, you hear a commotion on the other side. 

You unlock the door and there’s your pup, your #1 fan who is excited to see you. 

You take a few steps in the house being careful not to step on your dog’s paws. Once you finally get your jacket off and your things put down on the entryway table, you kneel to meet your dog. 

That’s when it happens.

Your face gets tongue-smacked. 

Your dog is now giving you an unlicensed spa treatment: a dog saliva facial. Oh god! It’s not stopping. 

Why does my dog lick me so much????

The answer to this question is obvious: your dog loves you. Things have changed though! That’s the language of a domestic dog but the origins of this act of licking is more instinctual than you think. 

Shared from the American Kennel Club (AKC):

The American Kennel Club (AKC) also explains that there’s a difference between these standard licks of affection and excessive licking. 

If your dog is licking you more than usual or you suspect the frequency is unnatural, schedule an appointment with your local trusted veterinarian. The vet office can help you eliminate health issues as the cause of your dog’s excessive licking so you can get back to that dog saliva facial without worry it’s a sign of a larger problem. 

If you simply want your dog to stop licking you so much, here’s what you can do: When your dog starts to lick you, divert their attention to something else. It can be a different activity or their favorite toy. Over time, they’ll pick up what you’re putting down: that you don’t want to be licked so much.