Dog licks: More than affection, a complex signal decoded

Surely every owner of a four-legged friend has been licked by them more than once. At times, dogs do this regularly. It turns out that licking hands is not always related to showing affection. Learn what the dog might want to convey to us in such cases.

Ellen Furlong, a professor of psychology and neurobiology at Transylvania University in Kentucky, as quoted by popsi.com, explains what this behaviour entails.

"For instance, if a familiar dog approaches you energetically, with repeated licks and loose "wiggly" posture, then a lick on the face or hand is likely an expression of greeting or enthusiasm," the professor explains.

Additionally, Zachary Silver, a professor of psychology at Occidental College and director of the Canine Intelligence Lab, notes that this is about building bonds.

"[It may be] an attempt at creating affiliation or reaffirming affiliation," Silver explains.

However, licking can also be a marker of hierarchy. A dog licking a human communicates some form of submission or belonging.

Another reason mentioned could be creating distance, which also manifests, for example, through turning away. Licking can be a way for the pet to alleviate stress, during which it releases hormones responsible for well-being.

Licking by a dog is not only a form of communication related to bonding or emotions. It can also mean that the pet is simply interested in the taste and smell of our skin. Additionally, when we are eating something, the dog usually hopes for a treat.

"Your dog’s lick of you when you come home is absolutely a greeting, they’re happy to see you, but also it’s a little bit of a request for whatever you just ate," says Alexandra Horowitz of Barnard College, quoted by popsi.com.