Animals - Dogs - Licking behavior
Why do dogs lick people?
Correct!
Dogs lick people for several reasons. Licking can be a form of social communication and affection, become a learned way to get attention because of a person's response, or help dogs explore smells and tastes. Salt and other scents on the skin can add to their interest.
The behavior also has evolutionary roots: young wild canids lick the muzzles of adults, and licking serves several functions. Occasional licking is usually harmless; if it suddenly becomes very frequent or compulsive, stress, fear, or a physical problem may be involved. The query “Why do dogs lick you?” recorded 13,197 worldwide searches over 30 days and ranked 85th in Glimpse's analysis.
Source: American Kennel Club; Glimpse
