Why Does My Dog...LICK!?!?

Welcome to the premiere episode of our new series "Why Does My Dog...?" Today, Pet Set Juliet tackles the number one question on Google when it comes to dog behavior: Why do our dogs lick? There are myriad reasons, most of them nothing to be concerned about. Some, entertaining. But it's important to understand dog behavior and body language, to understand our furbabies. Enjoy!

WELCOME TO THE PREMIERE EPISODE OF "WHY DOES MY DOG...BLANK"?

TODAY, IT'S A COMMON ONE. PROBABLY THE MOST COMMON, AT LEAST IF YOU LOOK AT GOOGLE.

WHY DOES MY DOG LICK?

(BECAUSE HE CAN...AHAHAHAHA) (SORRY, HAD TO)

THERE ARE A COUPLE REASONS, ACTUALLY.

NUMBER ONE: INSTINCT. MOMMY DOGS LICK THEIR PUPPIES TO KEEP THEM CLEAN, MAKE THEM FEEL SAFE AND LOVED. THEY ALSO LICK THEM TO GET 'EM TO GO TO POTTY. SO, TO THEM, IT'S A SIGN OF LOVE, AFFECTION, SAFETY, BONDING AND RELIEF.

MEANTIME, HUMANS USE OUR HANDS AND EYES TO EXPLORE LIFE. DOGS USE THEIR MOUTHS. AND ONE OF THE THINGS THEY DO, IS THEY APPARENTLY LICK YOU WHEN THEY GREET YOU TO SEE WHAT YOUR REACTION IS GONNA BE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT. THEY'RE ACTUALLY TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, "HMMM IS MOMMY IN A GOOD MOOD? OR IS SHE A LITTLE CRANKY".

THERE'S ALSO A VERY SWEET REASON THEY SOMETIMES LICK US. THEY'RE SHOWING THEY'RE WORRIED ABOUT US, THEY SENSE SOMETHING'S UP AND THEY WANT TO MAKE US FEEL BETTER. IN FACT, THERE ARE STUDIES THAT HAD OWNERS START TO PRETEND TO CRY AND THE RESEARCHERS FOUND OUR DOGS WERE SO MUCH MORE LIKELY TO KISS US AND CUDDLE US WHEN WE SEEMED UPSET.

AND YES, OF COURSE, SOMETIMES THEY LICK US BECAUSE THEY WANT ATTENTION, THEY LIKE THE FEELING, OR THEY LIKE HOW WE TASTE.

THE ONLY TIME YOU NEED TO WORRY IS IF THEY DO IT A LOT MORE THAN USUAL. THAT MAY BE A SIGN THAT SOMETHING'S UP. MAYBE THEY'RE ANXIOUS. SO MONITOR IT AND IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, JUST POP BY THE VET.

I'M PET SET JULIET AND THAT'S WHY DOGS LICK.