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Does your female dog love to lick you? If so, this is another common canine behavior! However, if you’re a first-time pet parent, you may find all this licking to be strange and concerning!
So, we’ve put together some information about why female dogs lick their pet parents. Let’s get started!
Why Do Female Dogs Lick Their Owners?
Here, you’ll find some of the reasons your female dog may be licking you!
Affection
Licking is one way dogs show affection to one another and to their pet parents. Female dogs lick their puppies to clean them and offer comfort. And dogs remember this care all the rest of their lives.
So, when your female dog licks you, she may be showing she loves you and wants to keep you safe. And she may be offering her comfort, too, in case you’re upset.
Licking also releases endorphins, which are natural feel-good hormones. So, your female dog may be helping herself feel better when she licks you, too!
Communication
Dogs are social animals that form strong attachments to the members of their packs. They often use licking as a way to communicate with one another. Here, again, a mother dog licks her puppies and teaches them to lick their siblings, too. This forms close bonds between the puppies and their mother.
So, your female dog could be looking to cement her strong bond with you when she licks.
Reward
Another reason a female dog may lick her pet parents is to get something in return. What better way to gain attention!
Your female dog may lick you to get your attention and/or to ask for a treat, comfort, and more.
Clean a Wound
Another thing that we don’t often understand is that dogs may lick to clean a wound. Dogs do this to themselves, too. When they have a sore, they will lick it to soothe discomfort and pain. They also lick the wound to keep it clean.
So, if you have a wound, your female dog may try to lick it to keep it clean. We once had a dog that even ripped off scabs and licked the wound to clean it! That’s not usual, but some dogs may exhibit this behavior.
Summing it Up
So, there you have it! These are some of the reasons your female dog may be licking you! However, if you’re ever concerned about this behavior, we recommend talking with your vet.
Connect with a verified veterinarian in minutes. Licensed vets are available 24/7 to answer your questions. No need to worry about your furry family member.
Kim
Kim is a talented author, who loves animals especially dogs. She engaged in writing books and articles relating to animals a decade ago. Kim resides in Chicago with her husband and son. The family is the proud owner of a dog and a parrot (Jack and Lily). Kim wanted more than these two pets, but her husband put his foot down... She often visits elementary schools to talk to the kids about what she learned about pets and how they could learn from them.
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