Why does my dog lick my face?

Question

My Border collie is 6 years old and such a loving dog. Normally she’s very calm, but she likes to lick my face and will fight me to do so. She gets slobber everywhere, and it’s so slimy and gross! Why does my dog like licking my face all the time? Is that a way she shows her loyalty or affection to me?

Answer 1

Yes, like you assumed, your dog is showing affection. Licking is a functional behavior that puppies learn from their mothers as a way of showing love. Maternal licking as well as licking between littermates is a way of strengthening familial bonds. So, your dog might be licking your face in order to form a closer bond between the two of you.

Also, I think there’s another reason why your dog licks your face all the time, she is grooming you! Naturally, dogs lick themselves and each other in order to clean. This act of grooming is also an intimate behavior. If your dog licks you frequently, they might be trying to clean and groom you. It could be gross for you, but it’s the way she loves you!

Answer 2

Your dog likes how you taste. Dogs enjoy the taste of the salt on our skin that is secreted through our sweat, and sometimes they can taste small food particles left on our bodies. If your dog tends to lick your face after you’ve ate or drank something, this is probably because of the smells and tastes of the food. Generally though, dogs often lick you because they like the way you taste.

Answer 3

It could also be she is gathering information about your emotions. Their noses and mouths have special receptors that process and interpret the hormones found in human scent. Your dog might be licking your face as a way to find out how you are feeling and if you are happy or sad.

Answer 4

Why does my dog lick my face… Why? You don’t like it? It’s could be a bit disgusting, but I found it adorable. I think it’s a way that our dogs showing love to us.

Answer 5

If your dog tends to lick your face around its feeding time, this could be a sign that they are hungry. Puppies will lick their mother’s lips as a way of stimulating their regurgitation reflex in order to eat the mother’s vomit for nourishment. Wild dogs have retained instincts that go back to their wolf ancestors, licking the pack leader’s face as a sign of submission to beg for food.