by Caroline
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:There may be some debate to this issue, but I want to know if dogs lick to get salt off your skin, or are they showing affection?
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Are licks really doggy kisses?
by Caroline
ORIGINAL MESSAGE:
There may be some debate to this issue, but I want to know if dogs lick to get salt off your skin, or are they showing affection?
DISCUSSION:
Caroline, Well, there may be times that salt off ones skin may be appealing to the little ones.....but I think shower too often to have too much salt. Taffy is a perpetual tongue, and I get little kisses sometimes, and then there are times she just licks like crazy, on the mouth, on my nose, on my cheek, I really believe these are "kisses". This is the only way dogs can "kiss" and show true affection. I hope you get lots of kisses and enjoy them! Ha, I get more kisses from Taffy than I do my husband!!
Dogs know/sense that when they lick/kiss us, and we ooh and oaaah over it, good doggie, you're so sweet, etc., that it PLEASES us.
Robin M. & Taffy
I think they that are both. My Chibi is a constant licker not only towards me but also other people she meets. On the other hand she also reponds to the command of "give me a kiss" which can be considered as affection. Either way as long as it's not excessive, I promote the behaviour.
RC
I've read that dogs lick under the chin to show submission, not dominance. They lick those they consider superior to them. That's just what I've heard (similarily, when one dog licks another dog's face, you'll often see it put a paw on that dog's back -- which is a dominating gesture made to offset the licking). Dog body language is fascinating.
Erin
I've heard of dogs who will lick to annoy, so you will get up and open the biscuits, or whatever. But our dog Arby, a licker more than most dogs I've had, will only do it a couple of times usually, and it's a greeting thing, or in the evening, so I see it as affectionate. We're going to bed, he knows that, so there's nothing but affection coming back at him. One thing he does love is knees. When people come to the house with shorts on, he licks their knees a few times. I try to run him off with a command
first, because I can understand some people feeling strange about it.
Marilyn
I think it's a combination of the two, submission and love. 
For Gracie, it's almost constant. For Sass, well, she pulled a new one on me the other night. She licked me to get my attention. Kid you not. This is not a licker, in fact rarely will she give kisses. But the other night, she licked me on the arm, three little licks. When I turned my head to look at her, totally surprised , she "stood at attention", and ran down the hallway toward the kitchen. She usually stops at the door to the kitchen to see if I'm following.I wasn't. LOL. I think between humans and dogs, licking has gone beyond what happens between two dogs. I still remember crying in the backyard, and my dog licking the tears off my face. Nope, don't think it was the salt, I think she felt my sadness or something.
Rena
I think its a combination also. Buster loves to kiss. Especially in the mouth. Yes I get "French Kisses" also! He also loves to lick the lotion off my face and/or hands especially right after I put it on. Buster will also kiss on command so I think most of his licks/kisses are signs of affection.
Libby & Buster
Shayna gives me far more licks (kisses) than KoKo. Do we conclude Shayna needs more salt or she is more affectionate? I like to believe licks are kisses, especially when I kiss them first and they lick me back. Interesting isn't it?
Shelley
I would say they are geniune kisses. When Itell Tasha togive me a kiss, she will. She's really not a "licker" soooooo I think it's kisses.
Dottie & Tasha
Lexie has a nightly ritual. She loves to lick my feet.
She seems to know when I am about to take my shoes and socks off.
It's almost like doggie ESP.
David
When Touquet sees his reflection in the mirror, he licks it -- right on the nose .
Barbara & Touquet
Hi Caroline, Peanut sometimes licks just to lick but other times he jumps on the couch and climbs on my lap and the look of love comes over him, his eyes twinkle, he is smiling, and wagging his tail, then the kisses come. They are alot different then when he just licks, they are fast and all over. Then I tell him I love him too and he settles down on my lap or just gets down and goes back to what he was doing before he got so lovey. So I have to say both.
eva
I read somewhere that Maltese is know as the little white dog of a million kisses. This certainly applies to Bee Bee, He is forever licking everyone. I prefer to consider these as kisses. When I tell him to kiss me, he licks my cheek. Arent they the best little sweethearts?
Bernadette & Bee Bee
I agree that dogs are taught very young by their mother & other members of their pack, that licking the muzzle is a greeting & a show of subordination. For this reason, our puppies have been trained to just give a couple of little licks around our muzzle, lol, on greeting. One is a licker, the other one is just too energy hyped to stop long enough to lick! Over the years, we've never allowed our dogs to lick faces... :) dont know why - just cuz I guess. lol Dont they just love to lick yr feet & legs when you step out of the shower? lol
BeeGee
Ok come on we al know those adorable doggie licks are kisses and it's because they love us dearly. No scientist needed it's the most precious thing in the world to have a doggie cuddle up beside you in the middle of the night and give you kisses now isn't it!!!!!
Joyce
I still think licking means more than we want to believe. I think dogs lick us because we enjoy it. But if you observe licking between dogs, I know something else is going on. Would be nice to have a animal expert to answer this question.
Janese
I think different licks mean different things to different dogs. Rudy, licks everything all the time, but when he licks my face, they are definitely kisses. I have to coax kisses out of Baxter, but when I get them they are so special. Now for licking always being kisses - no way. When they lick the cement - kisses? When they lick hand lotion - kisses? When they lick sweat and tears - kisses? When they lick their... ahems - kisses? No to all these things. By the way, I saw a dog training book the other day in a bookstore (by a well known trainer) and she said kisses are definitely a no-no and they should be trained not to do that. I put the book back. Phooey to her.
Marie
I sure hope it means kisses....because I would sure be disappointed....I am thoroughly convinced that she is kissing us...I tell her kiss daddy and she licks him on the lips.....and same with me.....so I would be very disappointed to find out otherwise....hehehe
Denise
I think they lick their kisses on us because they can't pucker!!!
Linda P
KISSES FROM YOUR LITTLE DOG! 3 weeks ago, I had to have my little Merlin, age 10 but down and it broke my heart! He had congestive heart failure, his heart was enlarged and so was his liver. All of this happened overnight and the emergency vet told me he was critical and suggested I have him put down - she gave him a life expectancy of maybe two months. Merlin was a licker/kisser. Every morning, as soon as I took my legs out from under the covers he would pounce on his "rack of toes" and lick each and every one on each foot before I could get out of bed.
He also loved it when my husband came home from cycling - at which times he would leap into Jim's lap and dive straight for his nose, face, ears and lick away. Merlin never left my room when I was recovering from quadruple by pass surgery - loyal and true was he.I have only just brought home a new 12 week little Maltese called Chester. At 2 lbs, he is a ball of raw energy, still learning to do his business outside (he doesn't make too many mistakes inside), and hopefully he will get to know his name soon. He plays hard and sleeps hard (in bed with me of course) - mind you my husband wasn't too happy to find little Chester chewing on his nipples the 2nd night we brought him home! He has brought joy and laughter back into my life after a very tough couple of years medically. He is my 4th Maltese and my mum has a 2 lb. Yorkie, a Bichon and a Maltese. My father in law always wishes that when he dies he would like to come back as a Maltese Terrior because of their cuteness, their wonderful personalities, and true affection and loyalty.Maltese, guilt you into feeding them treats (it's all in the eyes you know), they shred the tissues in your purse, bring the outside inside, play, and are fearless. They are also the best breed of puppy I have ever owned.I was also thrilled to find this website. Maltese Owners are special people.Thanks for listening.
Jonie Billard
Jonie, what a lovely story. I'm so sorry about your loss of Merlin. So happy you found Chester. Chewing on your husband's nipples... what a hoot!!
Marie
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