Why does my dog lick me? 6 things your dog is trying to tell you

• Dogs lick you for a number of reasons, including showing affection or demonstrating empathy.
• If your dog licks you when you get home, it could be their way of welcoming you back.
• Your dog may also lick you in order to get your attention or let you know that they're anxious.

Have you ever wondered why your dog seems so eager to lick your hands and face? Your dog could just be licking you to show their affection, but there are several other factors that may be at play.

Here are six reasons why your dog may be licking you.

1. Greeting you when you get home

One simple explanation is that your dog is excited to see you walk in the door.

"Essentially, it is their way of greeting you … like they are saying 'Hello!'," says Lara Sypniewski, DVM, a professor of small animal medicine at Oklahoma State University.

It may also be an evolutionary behavior — researchers have observed that some wild dog species will lick other members of the pack as a welcome when they return home.

2. They're showing affection

Licking can be a way for dogs to bond with family members. For example, mother dogs will often lick their puppies to groom them or offer comfort.

Likewise, licking may be your dog's way of grooming you and showing closeness.

"Licking is a normal juvenile behavior in puppies and this behavior appears to be common with humans, especially when humans encourage the interaction," Sypniewski says.

3. They're showing empathy

Your dog is very sensitive to your emotional states. "Dogs have evolved alongside humans and appear to have the unbelievable ability to interpret and respond to human emotion," Sypniewski says.

If you appear to be upset, your dog may mirror this feeling, and respond by licking you, says Melissa Bain, DVM, a professor of clinical animal behavior at UC Davis.

Dogs may also have a drive to comfort unhappy humans. A small 2012 study showed that dogs were more likely to offer comforting behaviors like approaching and nuzzling to people who seemed sad, rather than people who acted neutral.

4. Your dog wants your attention

Your dog may learn over time that licking is an effective way to get your attention.

"As dogs lick, humans typically respond with attention and love, further reinforcing the dog's licking behavior," Sypniewski says.

Your dog may also seek your attention and lick you to signal that they want food.

This instinctual behavior mirrors that of wild dogs — puppies in the wild lick their mother's lips after a hunt to show that they're hungry and the mother will then regurgitate food for them.

5. You taste good

Your dog may want to lick you when you're sweaty after a workout — studies have shown that dog tongues can taste salt.

Your dog may also want to lick your face or hands after you eat a meal. Even if you don't think you have food on your face, your dog may be able to pick up more subtle, enticing smells with their incredibly sensitive noses.

6. They feel anxious

According to Bain, there are several reasons why your dog might feel anxious, including:

• Your behavior — "this may be because the owner has done something that the dog finds aversive, such as yelling," Bain says.
• Some dogs may be prone to a general sense of anxiety, based on their disposition.
• Dogs with separation anxiety may feel anxious when their owner returns home.

"When experiencing anxiety, they may look for ways to soothe themselves," Sypniewski says. Licking causes dog's brains to release dopamine and endorphins, hormones that can help them feel more relaxed.

"Dog owners may also respond to anxious licking by petting, cuddling, or offering encouraging sounds or words," Sypniewski says. This can encourage your dog to use licking as a way to get comfort in the future.

Insider's takeaway

There are many possible reasons why your dog might lick you, ranging from showing love or just trying to get a taste of your dinner.

But keep in mind that excessive licking can also be a sign that your dog isn't feeling well. "Owners should also be aware that dogs can lick if they feel nauseous, so if this is a change in behavior for the dog, or if it is accompanied by other signs of illness, they should contact their veterinarian," Bain says.