EXPERT EXPLAINS WHY DOGS LICK YOU: “IT’S A LITTLE BIT OF A REQUEST…”

When a dog showers you with kisses, it’s not just a display of affection—there’s an evolutionary reason behind it.

To understand this behavior, Dr. Alexandra Horowitz, a dog cognition researcher and author of “The Year of the Puppy: How Dogs Become Themselves,” explained on “CBS Mornings Plus” that we should look to their wolf ancestors.

Dogs are descendants of wolves, and when wolves return to their pack after a hunt, the others swarm them and lick their faces.

“They do this to encourage the wolf to regurgitate some of the food it just caught,” Horowitz noted. “So when your dog licks you when you come home, it’s not only a greeting—an expression of happiness at your return—but also a subtle request for a taste of whatever you just ate.”

Additionally, dogs use licking to gather information about their environment.

“They’re smelling you by licking you,” Horowitz added.

Deciphering your dog’s behavior

Dog owners often feel they can decipher their pets’ behavior, whether it’s barking for a walk, begging for food, or searching for a lost tennis ball.

“On some level, they are communicating with us, but we don’t always interpret their signals correctly,” said Horowitz.

For instance, it’s common to recognize when a dog has a “guilty look,” with ears pinned back and a whimper. However, the true reason behind this expression might not be what you expect.

“It turns out that the ‘guilty look’ is actually a response to our perception that they’ve done something wrong. It’s a submissive or appeasing behavior they adopt to avoid punishment, and it often works,” Horowitz explained.

We can also gauge our dog’s emotions by observing their tails.

“It’s more than just a sign of happiness,” Horowitz noted.

For example, a low tail wag tucked between their legs can indicate anxiety or nervousness, while a high, flag-like tail wag shows interest in something.

Parallel worlds

While dogs adapt well to our human environment, they perceive the world in a distinct way.

“The way we experience the world—dogs smell it. They’re navigating a kind of parallel universe,” Horowitz said. “We should let them explore with their noses and appreciate that this is how they understand their surroundings.”