Dog Behaviour - Why dogs Lick?

Dog Behaviour – Why Dogs Lick?

Licking is a very natural behaviour for dogs and it starts from early puppy hood.
Puppies lick each other for several reasons –

• To groom one another
  
• To strengthens the bond between littermates.

Licking may continue in adulthood. An adult dog may lick the face of another and this shows -

• A sign of respect or deference to the dominant dog, showing a sign of submission.
  
• A symbol of affection and friendliness as it would be with its littermates.

So when your dog licks you, he may be displaying his respect and deference to you as the dominant one in his pack, he may be communicating submission and pacification, or he may simply be showing his affection.

Compulsive licking is sometimes unintentional. A Dog may learn with time that licking to gets them what they want including attention, thereby to continue this.
Overall Licking is not a problem or a matter of concern.

Links
http://www.peteducation.com/article.cfm?cls=2&cat=1547&articleid=1145