Although many pet parents enjoy licking behavior, it can be a nuisance to others. But why do dogs like to lick us anyway?

In some cases, the obvious answer is the best answer. Sometimes you just taste good! Whether you’ve been cooking and your hands still taste like lunch or your skin tastes a bit salty, sometimes dogs just like the way you taste.

Licking can also be a sign of affection. Because their mothers licked them frequently as pups, they have come to associate the act with love and comfort. In this way, licking can also show submission as it’s a tender act that originally took place been a mother and her pup.

Dogs can also learn a lot about you and your scent by licking you. In many cases, this is why a dog may lick a visitor in your home.

For more information, visit the website of Central Marin Cat & Exotic Hospital, or call your vet San Rafael.