RSSExplaining the Licking Behavior
Jun 26
Dog Information dog behaviour, Dog Information, dogs, pets, why do dogs lick No Comments
Dogs really do have the propensity to lick. Dogs are often seen licking themselves. Dogs have the inclination to lick other animals too. These four legged friends are really great lickers as every time they get a chance, they would lick the face, the hand and any body part of their human friends. A lot of people that love dogs abhor the touch of the rough tongue as well as the slobber of the pet. Dogs have the disgusting habit of eating feces, their own or other animal’s that is why the habit of licking people is a common concern of pet parents. The dog’s tendency to lick can be a concern of dog owners and to be able to put a stop to this habit, it is necessary to know why dogs have the inclination to lick.
Licking becomes a natural behavior as it was learned by puppies from their mother dog. Instinctively, a mother dog would lick the newly born puppies to clean and to promote circulation. Licking is done every time the puppy defecates or urinates. To encourage the mother dog to regurgitate food, the puppies would like the mouth of the mother dog.
Dogs lick to clean themselves. Dogs would be seen using the tongue to clean themselves although they are not as fastidious as cats that would lick themselves clean for hours. Dogs would also lick their injuries. This gives rise to the notion that the saliva of dogs can heal wounds and other injuries.
Dogs are sweet by nature and their inclination to lick people can be a sign of affection. Dogs are known to have high levels of intelligence. Bring a dog its favorite treat and you will be rewarded by wet sloppy licking and kisses. Puppies lick their mother and litter mates to show affection. It follows that the dog will show the human family affection by licking as well
Dogs lick to communicate. Dog are naturally sweet thus they would need attention from the owners. Neglected dogs often develop unwanted and destructive habits. A dog can turn into a barker, be a destructive chewer or be a compulsive licker resulting to lesions in the body
An owner can wash the slobber after being licked by the dog. This behavior though becomes a concern if the dog is already harmed. If your pet becomes an excessive licker it is possible that the dog is a neglected pet. This habit can be the dog’s way of attracting the owner.
You now know a bit about why dogs lick. But there is more to it. Come on over to Sarah’s Dogs where the topic is discussed further.
Related posts:
