Although there is no definite reason why dogs love to lick us, experts have some theories.

The most plausible reason behind this behavior is that your dog, or any dog for that matter, wants to gain your attention and show interest in you. Dr. Emily Blackwell, a lecturer on companion animal welfare and behavior from the University of Bristol, explains, "it's essentially a social behavior that comes from their evolutionary history."

According to Blackwell, when a dog licks you, whether on your hand or your face, the dog is greeting you, saying hello, and should be taken as a compliment.

On the other hand, there is history to this behavior.

In an article by the American Kennel Club, Alexandra Horowitz, the head of the Horowitz Dog Cognition Lab and author of Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know, explains, "Researchers of wild canids report that puppies lick the face and muzzle of their mother when she returns from a hunt for her to regurgitate for them"

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Licking to survive

Blackwell also states that although puppies do this behavior to greet their mother, it is motivated by the need to eat, hoping that the mother would regurgitate materials for her pups. 

From birth, mothers lick their pups to stimulate breathing and to communicate. In short, licking is a vital survival behavior. 

Animal Planet points out that subordinate members of a pack lick the dominant members to signify harmony within the pack.

This doesn't mean that you should regurgitate on your dog every time they lick you. Blackwell explains that licking, especially if it's strangers, is primarily a social behavior meant to greet humans for adult domesticated dogs.

It's rare to see adult dogs lick other dogs--it's a juvenile behavior that they perform on humans. Humans are the primary caregivers throughout the dog's life; hence we, unknowingly, encourage life-long puppyhood. 

Blackwell points out that there are many puppy-like behaviors in the adult domesticated dog. The level of vocalization in adult dogs is more than puppies of non-domesticated canines.

Neoteny

Neoteny refers to the retention of juvenile behavior into adulthood. 

Today, there is no consensus on whether encouraging puppy behavior in pets is good or not. On the other hand, Blackwell says that we should be aware of how we influence them as humans and primary caregivers to these animals, especially when we aren't around.

"We have huge expectations for our dogs. We expect them to be quiet while we're away. Yet, the default setting for any puppy and most domesticated adult dogs is to scream like hell when separated from the social group."

She further explains that roughly 80% of domesticated dogs have negative psychological reactions when left alone."

Why do dogs love to lick us?

Maybe we'll never have a definitive answer. Whether it's a social behavior or they're just asking for food, as humans, we should be mindful of how dogs react to us and how the pack can live harmoniously. 

Also Read: Dog Domestication Begun Because of Leftovers

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