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Why Dogs Lick
Holly Frisby, DVM, MS
Veterinary
Services Department, Drs. Foster & Smith, Inc.
Dogs
lick for a number of reasons. They lick to groom themselves and others.
Mothers lick their puppies to clean them and stimulate their urination and
defecation. Older puppies and the young of wild canids (relatives of the dog
such as wolves) lick the mouths of the adults as a greeting to stimulate
them to regurgitate. The puppies eat this regurgitated food as they are
weaned from their mother and begin to eat solid food. As the puppies grow
older, the licking becomes a way of welcoming others back into the pack and
increasing the bonds between the pack members.
This last reason for licking (greeting and begging) is probably the one
that has developed into the licking tendency of pet dogs. Licking is a way
our pet dogs can greet us, say 'glad you're back!' and strengthen their
relationship with us.
© 2004 Drs.
Foster and Smith, Inc.
Reprinted as a courtesy and with permission from
PetEducation.com (http://www.PetEducation.com)
On-line store at
http://www.DrsFosterSmith.com
Complete list of articles
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The dog was created especially
for children. He is the god of frolic.
-
Henry Ward Beecher "Proverbs from
Plymouth Pulpit"
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