![\"dog](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/leon-rojas-LLSpY0OsEqA-unsplash-819x1024.jpg\")
Why does my dog lick my hands?<\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\nWell obviously you taste great, but the reasons behind why your dog licks your hand can vary, and it doesn\u2019t always mean they are tasting you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Licking is your dog showing you affection<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This is our favorite explanation as to why your dog is licking your hands, it\u2019s because they love you! Licking is a common feature of dog body language<\/a> to show affection. Dogs often lick one another to show affection, so it\u2019s common for dogs to do the same to us. I mean… How cute is that? <\/p>\n\n\n\nHave you been crying lately? Your dog probably licked your hands to try and comfort you. Just when you thought dogs couldn\u2019t get any more wonderful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick hand lick can be a dog greeting you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been out for a while and return home to your dog, they will often lick your hands when you come in. It\u2019s usually a quick lick to say hello type affair, and often coincides with a wiggly bum and a waggy tail, perhaps jumping up<\/a> too. They\u2019re so pleased you came back, they missed you. <\/p>\n\n\n\nLicking your hands might be your dog trying to tell you something<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dogs have to communicate differently with humans, after all, they can\u2019t talk. Some breeds will\u00a0bark<\/a>\u00a0and give you other signs that they want something, whereas others will do it by licking your hands. I\u2019ve known dogs do it when they\u2019re telling you they want to go out for a wee, especially if you\u2019re\u00a0toilet training a puppy in an apartment<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\nDogs licking your hands due to stress or anxiety <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Some dogs will lick your hands when they feel stressed or worried about a situation. They can be licking you for reassurance or because they want your attention. There is evidence to show that endorphins are released when dogs lick, so licking can make them feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
You\u2019ll notice the difference because this kind of licking gets quite obsessive, and they keep on and on licking at your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stress and anxiety can be more prevalent in a fear period<\/a>. Your puppy will have several of these as they go into adolescence and adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\nLicking your hand because they\u2019re in pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This can also be a reason why your dog licks your hands. Yes, they\u2019re trying to say that they’re hurt, and the licking helps them forget about it for a minute, as well as releasing those feel-good chemicals that make them feel a bit better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Your dog is licking your hands because they smell interesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been out of the house, you\u2019ll bring all kinds of smells inside with you on your hands. Whatever you touch will stay on your hands, and your dog will be super interested if you\u2019ve touched another creature as that animal\u2019s scent will be on your hands. Try stroking a cat<\/a> and then letting your dog sniff your hands, they\u2019ll be super nosey!<\/p>\n\n\n\nHand licking because your hands taste delicious<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Of course, your dog could just be doing an operation clean-up by giving your hands a nice wash after you\u2019ve been eating chips or doughnuts. Well, waste not want not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Scavenging and putting everything in their mouths <\/a>comes naturally to domestic dogs, it\u2019s how they probably came from wolves<\/a> after all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"labrador](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/shane-guymon-KCdYn0xu2fU-unsplash-1-684x1024.jpg\")
Photo by Shane Guymon<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nIs my dog licking my hand a bad thing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
The type of licking your dog is doing will determine if this kind of hand licking is good or not, and it depends if you like it, or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Look at the rest of your dog’s behavior<\/a>, and learn to read their body language<\/a> to see what they\u2019re trying to communicate with the licking. <\/p>\n\n\n\nSome people don\u2019t mind their dog licking their hands, but other people find it unhygienic, after all, we know what else they lick don\u2019t we? And what have they had in their mouths? Yuk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Should I let my dog lick my hands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Hand licking is generally a harmless thing that your dog will do, and is a way for them to communicate with you. If you don\u2019t mind them licking your hands, then that\u2019s totally fine, do give them a wash before you move on and do something else like preparing food, eh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop my dog from licking my hands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019re not keen on your dog licking your hands and it\u2019s becoming a problem for you then you\u2019ll want to know how to stop them. Here\u2019s our step-by-step process on how to stop your puppy from licking your hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n
1. Determine why your dog is licking your hands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
The first step in treating any problem behavior is to find out the root cause, and here that\u2019s \u2018why is my dog licking my hands?\u2019. If you feel like your dog is licking your hands due to stress or anxiety, consult a dog behaviorist who can look at your pup\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your dog is trying to communicate something like they need the toilet, are hungry or thirsty, then meet their mental or physical needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
If your dog is licking your hands because they\u2019re being affectionate, wants attention or they\u2019re using it as a greeting behavior, then it\u2019s quite easy to teach them to do something else with positive reinforcement training. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n2. Offer your dog alternatives to hand licking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dogs naturally want to chew and lick things. Give them toys which encourage licking, like Kongs<\/a> and Lickimats, and give your dog an outlet for all of that licking they may want to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n3. Redirect them to a toy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If your puppy enthusiastically greets you by licking your hands or is licking them for attention, offer them a suitable puppy toy<\/a> and play with them instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n4. Ask them to do something else<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Teach your puppy basic cues<\/a>, so rather than them licking you when you come into the house they can sit and wait instead. Rewarding behaviors you want to see more of will make your dog more likely to do them more, and less likely to do behaviors you don\u2019t want, like hand licking!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\nIf your dog is attention seeking and you\u2019re not able to give them attention, or you\u2019re finding it to be too demanding, teaching them a basic cue like \u2018go to your bed\u2019 can teach them that you won\u2019t be giving them attention right now. Don\u2019t forget to give them lots of attention when you can. It\u2019s what they want most from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
5 . Remove your hands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Don\u2019t leave your hands dangling around, tempting your pup to lick them. If your puppy still tries to lick them, moving them away means they can’t get to them so it breaks the licking habit. Management to stop a dog from practicing unwanted behavior is always going to help hugely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dogs lick hands for a variety of reasons, find out what the cause is, and then seek professional help if you feel it\u2019s connected to a behavior problem. Redirecting your dog to a more appropriate outlet, and training them to do something you like instead, is the easiest way to stop the hand licking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"close](\"https:\/\/zigzag.dog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/kayla-farmer-2BtYO-pHwyI-unsplash-1024x683.jpg\")
Photo by Kayla Farmer<\/a> on Unsplash<\/a><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\nWe hope you\u2019ve found this article useful, and it\u2019s answered some of your questions as to \u2018why does my dog lick my hands?\u2019. Perhaps you\u2019d like to do some further reading on puppy body language<\/a> to see what else your puppy is trying to tell you, it’s fascinating to know what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\nFor a full puppy training program, guides and tips as well as access to a team of puppy trainers<\/a>, download a trial of the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> today and get cracking! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Have you been crying lately? Your dog probably licked your hands to try and comfort you. Just when you thought dogs couldn\u2019t get any more wonderful!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A quick hand lick can be a dog greeting you<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
If you\u2019ve been out for a while and return home to your dog, they will often lick your hands when you come in. It\u2019s usually a quick lick to say hello type affair, and often coincides with a wiggly bum and a waggy tail, perhaps jumping up<\/a> too. They\u2019re so pleased you came back, they missed you. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs have to communicate differently with humans, after all, they can\u2019t talk. Some breeds will\u00a0bark<\/a>\u00a0and give you other signs that they want something, whereas others will do it by licking your hands. I\u2019ve known dogs do it when they\u2019re telling you they want to go out for a wee, especially if you\u2019re\u00a0toilet training a puppy in an apartment<\/a>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Some dogs will lick your hands when they feel stressed or worried about a situation. They can be licking you for reassurance or because they want your attention. There is evidence to show that endorphins are released when dogs lick, so licking can make them feel better. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You\u2019ll notice the difference because this kind of licking gets quite obsessive, and they keep on and on licking at your hands.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Stress and anxiety can be more prevalent in a fear period<\/a>. Your puppy will have several of these as they go into adolescence and adulthood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This can also be a reason why your dog licks your hands. Yes, they\u2019re trying to say that they’re hurt, and the licking helps them forget about it for a minute, as well as releasing those feel-good chemicals that make them feel a bit better.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019ve been out of the house, you\u2019ll bring all kinds of smells inside with you on your hands. Whatever you touch will stay on your hands, and your dog will be super interested if you\u2019ve touched another creature as that animal\u2019s scent will be on your hands. Try stroking a cat<\/a> and then letting your dog sniff your hands, they\u2019ll be super nosey!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Of course, your dog could just be doing an operation clean-up by giving your hands a nice wash after you\u2019ve been eating chips or doughnuts. Well, waste not want not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Scavenging and putting everything in their mouths <\/a>comes naturally to domestic dogs, it\u2019s how they probably came from wolves<\/a> after all. <\/p>\n\n\n\n The type of licking your dog is doing will determine if this kind of hand licking is good or not, and it depends if you like it, or not!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Look at the rest of your dog’s behavior<\/a>, and learn to read their body language<\/a> to see what they\u2019re trying to communicate with the licking. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some people don\u2019t mind their dog licking their hands, but other people find it unhygienic, after all, we know what else they lick don\u2019t we? And what have they had in their mouths? Yuk!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Hand licking is generally a harmless thing that your dog will do, and is a way for them to communicate with you. If you don\u2019t mind them licking your hands, then that\u2019s totally fine, do give them a wash before you move on and do something else like preparing food, eh?<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you\u2019re not keen on your dog licking your hands and it\u2019s becoming a problem for you then you\u2019ll want to know how to stop them. Here\u2019s our step-by-step process on how to stop your puppy from licking your hands<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first step in treating any problem behavior is to find out the root cause, and here that\u2019s \u2018why is my dog licking my hands?\u2019. If you feel like your dog is licking your hands due to stress or anxiety, consult a dog behaviorist who can look at your pup\u2019s behavior.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is trying to communicate something like they need the toilet, are hungry or thirsty, then meet their mental or physical needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is licking your hands because they\u2019re being affectionate, wants attention or they\u2019re using it as a greeting behavior, then it\u2019s quite easy to teach them to do something else with positive reinforcement training. <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs naturally want to chew and lick things. Give them toys which encourage licking, like Kongs<\/a> and Lickimats, and give your dog an outlet for all of that licking they may want to do. <\/p>\n\n\n\n If your puppy enthusiastically greets you by licking your hands or is licking them for attention, offer them a suitable puppy toy<\/a> and play with them instead.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Teach your puppy basic cues<\/a>, so rather than them licking you when you come into the house they can sit and wait instead. Rewarding behaviors you want to see more of will make your dog more likely to do them more, and less likely to do behaviors you don\u2019t want, like hand licking!\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your dog is attention seeking and you\u2019re not able to give them attention, or you\u2019re finding it to be too demanding, teaching them a basic cue like \u2018go to your bed\u2019 can teach them that you won\u2019t be giving them attention right now. Don\u2019t forget to give them lots of attention when you can. It\u2019s what they want most from you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Don\u2019t leave your hands dangling around, tempting your pup to lick them. If your puppy still tries to lick them, moving them away means they can’t get to them so it breaks the licking habit. Management to stop a dog from practicing unwanted behavior is always going to help hugely!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Dogs lick hands for a variety of reasons, find out what the cause is, and then seek professional help if you feel it\u2019s connected to a behavior problem. Redirecting your dog to a more appropriate outlet, and training them to do something you like instead, is the easiest way to stop the hand licking.<\/p>\n\n\n\n We hope you\u2019ve found this article useful, and it\u2019s answered some of your questions as to \u2018why does my dog lick my hands?\u2019. Perhaps you\u2019d like to do some further reading on puppy body language<\/a> to see what else your puppy is trying to tell you, it’s fascinating to know what they\u2019re saying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For a full puppy training program, guides and tips as well as access to a team of puppy trainers<\/a>, download a trial of the Zigzag puppy training app<\/a> today and get cracking! <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Licking your hands might be your dog trying to tell you something<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Dogs licking your hands due to stress or anxiety <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Licking your hand because they\u2019re in pain<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your dog is licking your hands because they smell interesting<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Hand licking because your hands taste delicious<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Is my dog licking my hand a bad thing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Should I let my dog lick my hands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How do I stop my dog from licking my hands?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
1. Determine why your dog is licking your hands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
2. Offer your dog alternatives to hand licking<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
3. Redirect them to a toy <\/h3>\n\n\n\n
4. Ask them to do something else<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
5 . Remove your hands<\/h3>\n\n\n\n