March 16, 2026, 8:12 am | Read time: 6 minutes

Many dog owners actually enjoy it when their furry companion’s wet tongue licks their face or hands. That must be true love! Others, however, find it gross and unhygienic. Licking is part of dogs’ nonverbal communication and can have various meanings. PETBOOK spoke with a dog behavior expert about this curious habit and explains below how dogs communicate through licking and how to stop it if you don’t want your dog licking your hand or face.

How Does Licking Fit Into Dog Communication?

Dogs have various ways to communicate. Licking and sniffing play an important role in these strategies. When observing dogs making contact, you can see that they often use their tongue, snout, and teeth. The tongue is not only used for grooming but also to appease or express affection.¹

Why Does My Dog Lick My Face or Hand?

Primarily, this can be interpreted as a very positive gesture, meant to be friendly and polite. Dogs groom and lick each other when they care for one another. When we receive such a “wash,” the dog wants to show us affection. Sometimes, it can also be a request. For example, if the dog wants something: food, a treat, a pet, or simply our undivided attention.

A common situation where a dog shows this gesture is when it runs up to us, wagging its tail, and licks our hand as a polite greeting. But it can also be to appease us if we’re upset because the dog did something wrong. Or perhaps we’re relaxing on the sofa, scratching its ears, and it responds by licking our hand. This shows us that it feels comfortable and trusts us.²

Frequent Licking of Hands and Feet Can Have Health Reasons

However, owners should be alarmed if their dog constantly and specifically licks people’s hands and feet, as this can be a sign of health issues, says dog trainer Désirée Scheller from Hundezentrum Hundewohl in Cologne. “It could actually be a sign of a salt deficiency. Especially in humans, hands and feet sweat the most.” Therefore, the expert advises that if the dog increasingly licks hands and feet, the cause should be checked by a veterinarian. “Because a salt deficiency always has a cause, and it’s not enough to just add a little more salt to the food or give sodium-rich water.”

It’s much more important to investigate the reason for the deficiency. “You must find and address the cause,” Scheller emphasizes in a conversation with PETBOOK. Of course, the constant licking should be considered in the exact context, advises the dog expert. “Licking itself is just licking. You have to see: ‘What exactly is my dog trying to show me?’ Is it just about licking or mutual grooming? That exists too. But if the dog really focuses on hands and feet every day, it should definitely be checked for health reasons.”

Why Dogs Like to Lick Their Owners After They’ve Applied Lotion

Constant licking could also be a coping strategy for the animal to relieve stress. In this case, owners should take action. “Here, I need to find out why my dog is so stressed that it does this to calm down.” Another “licking phenomenon” that many dog owners know is that their dog likes to lick them after they’ve just applied creams or body lotions.

This can also have various reasons, explains the dog interpreter, as Désirée Scheller calls herself. “Often, creams contain very artificial scents that some—especially greedy dogs—might perceive as food.” Other dogs want to clean their owners and remove the dirt from their skin. “They want to get rid of this chemical smell because their human no longer smells like their human.”

However, there are also different reasons here, and not all dogs do this, Scheller clarifies. One should also closely observe in which situations the dog does this and how. However, licking off creams should also be stopped, as some ingredients in cosmetics are toxic to animals. ³

What Does It Mean When Dogs Lick Themselves?

Primarily, dogs lick each other for grooming. They usually do this only if there is a social bond with the other. Strange dogs or animals that only know each other briefly are less likely to engage in mutual grooming.

Puppies and young or insecure dogs lick another dog’s mouth as a sign of submission. They want to appease the other and often turn away or crouch down.

A mother dog licks her puppies immediately after birth to dry them and stimulate their circulation. Even after nursing, the little ones are carefully licked and massaged with the tongue to stimulate bowel activity. The mother not only perceives the scent of the little ones but also strengthens the mother-child bond.

If the dog or another fellow dog has a wound, it will also be licked to remove dirt and promote healing.

More on the topic

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Is It Harmful if a Dog Licks Your Face?

When it comes to hygiene, many imagine what the dog might have picked up on the street and, in the worst case, even eaten. Additionally, dogs clean their anal area with their tongue, thus picking up fecal bacteria through the mucous membranes, which can cause diarrhea and intestinal inflammation in humans. The concerns are therefore quite justified. If you want to avoid the dog licking your face, you should redirect its affection by offering your hands. This way, you still strengthen the bond, and you can quickly wash your hands again.

Note: Infants are more susceptible to pathogens. If the dog has licked their feet or hands out of excitement and affection, these should be washed immediately. Never leave the dog and baby alone in the room.

How Do I Stop My Dog From Licking My Face?

Scolding and punishing are not effective here and only worsen the human-animal relationship. If the dog tries to lick your face, simply turn your head away demonstratively and ignore the animal for a while (about 30 seconds). Repeating this consistently will make the dog understand that it won’t get attention or treats for doing this. As mentioned above, you can also “sacrifice” your hands for licking and then just wash them with soap.

Conclusion: It’s completely normal for a dog to lick a person’s face or hands and not a bad habit, as some think. How far you allow your four-legged friend’s displays of affection is, of course, up to you.