Why Do Dogs Like Kisses?

Our puppies are the cutest, sweetest pets in the world, so naturally, we want to show them our love by giving them lots of hugs, belly rubs, scratches, and kisses. They obviously love being petted, but do dogs like kisses? Do you even understand what a kiss is?

Do dogs like kissing?

"Whether a dog tolerates or even enjoys human kisses depends on the individual dog, his or her upbringing, and what he or she has learned from close encounters with people," Salant said. When kissing and Dogs will associate kissing with good things when associated with other things they enjoy, such as being petted and scratched in their favorite spots. However, some dogs are uncomfortable with this interaction.

You can tell if your dog enjoys kissing by observing his body language. Salant says if he wag his tail, move closer to you for more affection or kiss you back, these are all signs that your kiss is approved by your dog.

What do dogs think of human kisses?

Dogs may not understand that a kiss means "I love you," but they will soon learn that it is a beneficial thing. "Generally speaking, we don't feel uncomfortable with our dogs when we go and kiss them, so they know that human kisses are a good thing," Salant said. They associate the kiss with other positive elements that align with it. After all, before we kiss our dogs, we usually talk in a happy, calm, or loving voice, we pet them or scratch them behind the ears, and we might even give them a treat afterwards.

Do dogs kiss each other?

It's so cute to see dogs "kissing" but unlike the budding romance in Lady and the Tramp , affection isn't the motivation behind the exchange of licks. When dogs "kiss" each other, it is an act of appeasement similar to when they kiss humans. You might see a scene like this at a dog park, where two dogs tussle and 10 minutes later they kiss each other. "It's like a dog saying, 'Please don't be angry. Let's make up,'" Dr. Tynes said.

Do dogs like hugs?

When you consider whether dogs like kisses, you have to wonder about the counterpart to kisses: hugs. Do dogs like hugs as much as belly rubs? "Some dogs get used to being hugged or kissed and tolerate it, but it's rare that a dog actually enjoys this interaction," says Dr. Tynes. This is because cuddling usually involves wrapping yourself around their body, which can feel like you're restricting them. While it's certainly not your intention, this can make your dog feel anxious, stressed, or fearful.

As much as we want to cuddle our puppies, we should take a step back and consider how they are feeling first. Dogs may not understand this type of interaction because it's not something they do with other dogs. Dr Tynes said: "Unfortunately, a lot of people think dogs should do whatever we want and put up with it, but that's not a very respectful way to treat our best friends."