Is It OK To Kiss Your Dog?

My friend’s home is frequently used to rescue and foster animals. She adores dogs with a big heart. I asked if she kisses dogs or not. Some of them were receptive to kissing, but others were not, including one who would probably get violent if she tried to give a kiss to him. Clearly, this rescue dog views kisses rather negatively.

The answer she gave is a near-perfect example of her situation. Should you kiss your dog? In the end, it really comes down to who you and your dog are as well as what is comfortable for everyone. You should keep a few things in mind when you’re deciding whether to kiss your dog.

How Come Some Dogs Enjoy Kisses?

Unlike humans, dogs view kisses as a unique form of communication. These dogs, probably since puppyhood, have learned that kisses have a positive effect. This is actually a survival technique. Wild wolf and fox pups respond to the return of their mothers by licking their faces, and their mothers may even regurgitate food for their young. Another way packs communicate is by licking faces. According to experts, subordinates lick their superiors’ faces and mouths in an act of active submission.

How Come Some Dogs Hate Kisses?

Most dominant dogs will see any intrusion into their personal space as an insult or even a challenge if you kiss them. Our children are taught not to pet animals they don’t know. Animals may feel subordinate and submissive toward their human companions, but foreigners, in particular children, are viewed as inferior. The wagging of the tail and direct eye contact can be difficult to understand. Accidentally breaking a dog’s social rules puts children and adults at risk. This may be a reaction from parents who may have taught them to be averse to it.

How about the microorganisms?

As humans, we know that kissing can be beneficial. It releases endorphins, encourages bonding, relieves stress, and burns calories to some extent. It remains to be seen whether doggy licks transmit germs. It is true that germophobes will disagree with the old saying that dogs have a cleaner mouth than humans do, and they are right.

Dogs’ mouths are very similar to our own. They contain a variety of bacteria noodling around in there. None of the microorganisms are particularly harmful compared to what lives in your loved one’s mouth. It’s possible that your significant other didn’t nibble on a squirrel carcass after thoroughly licking their privates this morning, whereas your dog might have done so.

As long as your dog has not eaten anything from a litter box and all the treats she has in her mouth are from a biscuit box, you can kiss her anyway. It’s up to the individual, but there are some precautions for people with compromised immune systems compared to canines who consent.