Why Do Dogs Lick You?

Licking is a normal way for a dog to say hello. It can also be a request: attention, a walk, or dinner. Salt on skin makes a hand interesting even when the dog is not hungry.

Greeting and habit

Puppies lick their littermates and their mother. Many keep a shorter version of that greeting as adults. A few licks when you sit down are affection. A dog that licks for a long time after you have already said hello is often asking for something to happen next.

Licking around meals

If the licking starts when you are in the kitchen, or stops as soon as the bowl goes down, the dog may be asking for food. That still does not mean the current portion is too small. Look up the calories on the bag and the dog’s weight on the dog food calculator before you add a big extra scoop.

When to call a vet

Ask a vet if the licking will not stop, or if it comes with drooling, pacing, or the dog licking its own skin raw. A friendly lick on your hand is not that. This page is a general note, not a diagnosis.

Related: why dogs eat grass. Feeding amounts still start on the dog food calculator.