One of the most common questions that new dog parents ask themselves is whether or not their dog likes being kissed. Of course, we know that humans like being kissed, but does our dog?
Let’s find out.
Do dogs like being kissed?
A simple answer to this question: do dogs like being kissed is a NO. Dogs generally don’t like to be kissed. But some dogs might have been trained to accept as well as enjoy being kissed.
Humans kiss each other to show affection and love. Parents kiss their children, and partners kiss each other as an expression of their love.
A kiss is a human way to express love and emotions.
Unfortunately, dogs don’t kiss each other. And they certainly don’t properly understand why humans put their mouths against their faces. Approaching a dog with your mouth close to its face can be threatening for the dog.
Hence, try to avoid kissing your dog when you want to express your affection.
Do dogs understand when you kiss them?
No. Dogs don’t understand when you kiss them. Kissing is a human way to show affection. Dogs know no such way to show affection.
Since dogs are not humans, they communicate in a manner different from humans. Dogs communicate through body gestures and facial expressions. It is all that matters to them. When humans approach a dog to give them a kiss on their face, they take it differently. Some dogs might even get annoyed and go rogue.
Can dogs misunderstand when you kiss them?
Dogs communicate through body gestures and facial expressions. In order to make sense of the kiss, we have to understand what dogs think about it.
Moving your lips closer to the dog’s face for a kiss is an aggressive and assertive behavior in a dog’s language. If your dog is not well-trained, it might feel threatened because dogs do such a gesture to win over other dogs and establish their superiority.
If the kiss is being given by a child, the dog can confuse him easily by threatening him.
Hence, never try to force a kiss on your dog.
How can I train my dog to like it when I kiss him?
If you have a puppy, and you want to train him to enjoy when you kiss, start the kissing training at the earliest. That way, he will be familiar with your lips’ touch at a very early age. It would also bond you and your puppy together.
As your dog gets older, he will be familiar with your kisses, and it won’t bother him anymore.
For adult dog training, calm your dog first by cuddling its belly. Once they are calm, kiss them gently and quickly. Repeat the same process, and they will be familiar with your kissing in no time.
Are dog licks really kisses?
Dogs often lick their owners. Dog licking is so common that owners consider them dog kisses. There can be many reasons why your dog licks you.
The most significant reason is that it is a dog’s way of showing his affection.
When your dog licks you, it is actually saying that he loves you as a token of his love.
If your dog licks you often and you react in an affectionate way, licking can also mean that the dog seeks your attention. The dog knows that by licking, it would get a pat on the back or a cuddle.
Hence, it is safe to say that dog licks are actually dog kisses. Humans kiss to show their affection. Dogs also lick to let humans know of their love.
Is it okay to let your dog lick your lips?
Though it may seem harmless and enjoyable, letting your dog lick your lips is not without its harm. After a long day at work, when you reach home tired, you might want your dog to come up to your face and give your lips a sweet lick. That lick might drain away all your tensions.
Don’t let your dog lick your lips or face. Dogs’ mouths are a host to an enormous number of bacteria, viruses, parasites and yeasts. Your face skin can readily absorb these disease-causing pathogens, and you can fall ill.
Hence, it may be a good idea not to let your dog lick your lips or face.
Frequently asked questions
Why does my dog hate to be kissed?
Your dog hates to be kissed because it does not understand how humans express emotions. Humans use kissing to express love and affection. Since a dog is not a human, it cannot understand why you kiss him. And that is why your dog hates to be kissed.
Is it okay to let your dog kiss your face?
It is not okay to let your dog kiss your face. Dog’s mouth is full of disease-causing bacteria, viruses and pathogens. These can be absorbed by the skin of your face causing severe illness. Hence, it is not okay to allow your dog to kiss your face.
Do dogs like being kissed on the head?
No. Dogs don’t like to be kissed on the head. When you approach a dog with your face, dogs consider it an aggressive behavior, as it reads your body language. Dogs approach other dogs to make them submissive and establish their dominance over them. Hence, when you approach a dog to kiss on the head, they don’t like it.
Can dogs get aggressive from a kiss?
Yes. Dogs can get aggressive because when you approach a dog for a kiss, they consider it an aggressive behavior. They might react to neutralize this threat and attack you. In order to not annoy your dog, Never force a kiss on your dog to annoy it.
Conclusion
Dogs don’t like to be kissed. Whenever you approach your dog for a kiss, they consider it an aggressive behavior on your part. But dogs can certainly be trained to enjoy kisses. If training is started early, dogs become familiar with the kisses and tend to enjoy it afterwards.
However, if your dog does not enjoy being kissed, never force a kiss on your dog.
Good luck.
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