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Why Do Dogs Lick People?
Thereâs no doubt dogs are affectionate creatures. And they have numerous ways of showing it. So whatâs the deal when your furry friend comes up and gives you a big olâ pooch smooch? Letâs take a tongue-in-cheek look into why.
You taste great ⌠or at least interesting
Dogs are oral creatures and gather a lot of information about their surroundings through taste and smell. Maybe youâre salty after a sweaty run. Maybe youâve got barbecue sauce on your face. âDogs can smell a lot better than we can,â says Opens a new windowDr. Jo Gale, BVetMed CertLAS MRCVS, Senior Manager, Global Science Advocacy at Waltham Petcare Science Institute, âso they find a lot more things interesting to lick than we can.â This despite the fact dogs only have about 1,700 taste buds compared to around 9,000 in humans.
Why do dogs lick your face?
In a poll* of dog owners, IAMS⢠found a large majority (75%) believe dogs lick people to offer friendliness. Thatâs definitely a correct assumption. Licking has been a social behavior among dogs since the days of great-great-great granddaddy wolf. "Itâs a standard canine greeting to lick others around the face,â agrees Opens a new windowJames Serpell, B.S., Ph.D., Professor of Humane Ethics & Animal Welfare at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine. âJunior members of the pack will run around and lick the mouths of more senior members.â Your dog considers you part of their pack, so itâs their way of greeting and welcoming you. Or maybe you still have that barbecue sauce on your face.
Why do dogs lick your wounds?
In ancient Greece, dogs at the shrine of Asclepius were trained to lick patients. In the Middle Ages, Saint Roch was said to have been cured of a plague of sores through his dogâs licks. The French even have a saying, âlangue de chien, langue de mĂŠdecin,â which translates to, âa dogâs tongue, a doctorâs tongue.â
Donât cancel your health insurance just yet. While dogsâ saliva does have some possible bactericidal properties against some types of bacteria, it can put you at the risk of exposure to others. Too much licking can also reopen the wound and cause further infection. With modern medicine, youâre much better off hitting the first-aid kit.
And that myth about dogsâ mouths being cleaner than humansâ? Not true â both contain over 600 types of bacteria. Youâre welcome for that image.
How to handle a dog that licks too much
While an occasional canine kiss is âawwâ-inducing, some dogs can overdo it to the point of annoyance. When this happens, the best thing to do is âcompletely ignore it and give no attention,â suggests Dr. Jo Gale. âWhen they stop, provide them with attention.â Over time your dog will learn to scale back on the smooches.
*Surveyed U.S. dog owners, age 18+
Sample Size: n=201
Fielded May 8-10, 2020
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- adp_description_block465Could Your Dog Escape Your Yard? Hereâs How to Secure It
For some dogs, a simple fence isnât enough to keep them in the yard. Maybe youâve got a little escape artist thatâs too smart for their own good. Maybe youâre raising a brave explorer who loves to get lost. Or maybe youâve been unlucky enough to have your dog stolen from their own backyard. Creating a safe and secure space to keep your pet can be a challenge, but weâre here to help. Understanding the common reasons dogs get out and what you can do to prevent it from happening goes a long way toward keeping your furry friend safe.
Why Does Your Dog Want to Escape?
Securing your yard starts with understanding the impulses that drive your dog to see whatâs beyond your property. Spaying or neutering is an important first step in curbing a dogâs desire to roam, but there may be other factors at play. Creating a safe yard for a lonely Labrador in search of a friend is an entirely different exercise than securing a burrow-happy beagle on the hunt for a squirrel. Weâd recommend trying to learn as much as you can about your dogâs breed and underlying instincts. The most common reasons dogs try to escape are:
- Feeling socially isolated
- Lack of stimulation (think toys)
- Desire to escape something that scares them, like thunder
Countering these behaviors starts with understanding which one is at the heart of your dogâs desire to break free. Once youâve got a theory of whatâs motivating your pup, itâs time to give your safety measures a second look.
How to Keep Your Dog Safe and Secure in Your Yard
Microchip Your Dog and Scan Their Nose
If your dog is committed to getting out, your most useful tool will be the ability to track and locate them wherever theyâre found. There are a huge variety of products and services designed to help you keep your dog safe, but the most important thing you can have is a plan. Youâve most likely heard of GPS tracking chips that can be implanted in your pet, but you may not know that you can also scan their nose. Through a new app called NOSEiD, you can capture your dogâs unique nose print, which will give whoever finds them a faster, simpler way of reuniting the two of you. Itâs that easy! Just download the app, call your pup over and start scanning.
The Best Defense Is a Good ⌠Fence
Even though theyâre not technologically impressive, a sturdy wooden or metal fence still plays an important part in protecting your dog while theyâre in your yard. Not only does it keep your dog from wandering, it also keeps unwanted animals and people away from your dogâs space. If your dog can leap over it, youâll obviously need to raise the height, or you can add an overhang that makes it harder to clear. You might also consider planting some shrubs along the inside of the fence to discourage jumping. If your dog is burrowing beneath your fence, consider adding a barrier beneath it or putting a bumper collar on them, which makes it harder to squeeze into small spaces.
If you have a particularly territorial dog, you may want to cover any open spots in your fence that your dog might spy adversaries through. A solid fence may help them feel safe and diminish their need to patrol their surroundings.
When it comes to electric fences, using one successfully depends on your dogâs personality. If your dog has recently been ignoring the electric fence, you may want to consider retraining them or investing in a physical barrier.
Make âYardâ Mean âYay!â
Making your yard a dog-friendly and entertaining space is a huge part of keeping your dog safe at home. With enough toys, space to burn energy and ideally a friend to play with, your dog wonât have any reason to see if the grass is greener elsewhere. A few popular dog-pleasers you may want to provide are:
- A bit of shelter or shade
- A source of water
- A rotating lineup of toys
- Their favorite playmate (you)
Use Your Yard Wisely
Last, but not least, if you leave your dog unattended for a long period of time in your yard, thereâs a good chance they will get bored and look for a way to burn off some energy. To prevent them from getting mischievous, limit the amount of time theyâre out on their own, and check in frequently. Also, for dogs with separation anxiety or that may be afraid of loud noises, your presence will help keep them calm and close to home.
With your dog chipped or their nose scanned, youâll always have an option in the event that your dog strikes out on their own. Beyond that, understand what makes your dog unique and check your yardâs safety features regularly for holes or weak points. As usual, a little preparation now can save you a ton of time and energy in the long run.
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