Why Does My Dog Lick My Feet? 7 Reasons Why Do Dogs Lick Your Feet

If you are a dog owner, chances are you have probably experienced the feeling of a slobbery tongue more than once. At the end of the day, you might sit down on the couch, kick off your socks and shoes, and put your legs up on the coffee table. Then here comes Fido, licking your feet like they are some sort of tasty lollipop. 

Dogs show affection by licking, and we know that they like to lick our faces, hands, and other parts of our bodies. If you have ticklish feet, a doggy tongue-bath can be downright annoying, not to mention slimy. This article will discuss several reasons why your pooch likes your feet, and what you can do to curb this behavior.

Why Do Dogs Like to Lick Our Feet?

According to behaviorists and veterinarians, there are several reasons for this behavior, and these are listed below.

1. Attention

Licking is a form of communication for pets, and they may lick your feet to get attention. For example, if your best friend is in the mood for a walk or a game of fetch, he may start licking your feet to get you engaged and interact with him. In households with multiple dogs, you’ll notice that one might lick the other’s face to get his buddy to play. Dogs are social creatures and love social interaction and attention, and licking is a way to communicate that.

2. Reassurance

When your pet licks your feet, he may also be asking for comfort and reassurance. In the natural world, wolves and other pack animals will strengthen social bonds and reassure each other by grooming and licking one another. When dogs lick each other, it stimulates the release of the hormone oxytocin (the hormone that strengthens bonding and emotional attachment). So one reason your pet may like to lick your feet is that he is seeking reassurance and emotional bonding.

3. Asking for Food

As mentioned above, licking is a form of communication for dogs, and sometimes your dog may be tempted to lick your feet because he’s hungry. Puppies and young dogs lick their mothers in hopes that they will regurgitate food for them, and perhaps your pet has transferred this early behavior to you and your feet. Plus, any dog owner can tell you that if you have salty skin, or have been sweating after a workout, most dogs will be attracted to the salty taste of your skin.

4. Affection

In the canine world, mothers lick their pups to demonstrate affection and love. When dogs live in a group, they will lick each other’s faces, and this strengthens the bonds of the pack. One of the reasons your pet likes to lick your feet may because that he is simply showing you affection and love.

5. Information

Dogs also lick to take in information about their surroundings and environment. Dogs are fantastic smellers and have a special sensory organ, called the Jacobson’s organ, ^[1] which connects the nasal cavity to the roof of the mouth. Jacobson’s organ allows canines to taste and smell at the same time, enabling them to take in a wealth of information. Dogs also have millions of scent receptor cells in their noses, and if you have sweaty feet, or have been hiking around a farm or a zoo, your dog will be very interested in these smells. 

Unlike dogs, we have sweat glands all over our bodies, and as our sweat glands secrete water, salt, and electrolytes, they mix with sebum (the oily substance produced by your body’s sebaceous glands) located near hair follicles. If you have sweaty feet, your pet may be interested in these smells as well.

RELATED: Why Does My Dog Sit on Me? (Explained by Dog Trainer)

6. Anxiety

Sometimes this behavior can be a way to deal with anxiety and stress. As mentioned above, licking releases the hormone oxytocin which is associated with empathy, trust, and social bonding. Because licking acts as a self-soothing behavior and releases oxytocin and other endorphins, licking can be a way for your pet to deal with anxiety and a way to comfort himself.^[1]

7. Submission

Another reason your pet may like to lick your feet is that he is acting submissive. In the dog world, licking is a display of submission, as well as a way to ensure a place in the pack by accepting the social hierarchy of the home. Submissive dogs will often lick dominant dogs to let them know that the submissive dog is not a threat. Submissive dogs may also lick a dominant pet to gain a reward such as attention or food. 

How Can I Teach my Dog to Stop Licking my Feet?

No matter the reason behind it, the good news is that you can correct this behavior. The best way is to try to distract your pup from this. For example, try redirecting your pup’s licking by offering a toy, or training your dog to sit calmly and then offering him a treat or a belly scratch. Positive reinforcement is always recommended in pet training, and dogs respond well to rewards.

However, never punish your pet for licking your feet, because this is a natural behavior for him, and it will only compromise his trust in you as an owner. You can also consult your veterinarian or a pet trainer regarding ways to deter these foot baths in the future. 

FAQs

READ MORE: Best Toys for German Shepherds

Article Sources:

1. Tyson, Peter. “Dogs’ Dazzling Sense of Smell.” PBS, 4 Oct. 2012, pbs.org/wgbh/nova/article/dogs-sense-of-smell/.
2. Scholz, Martina, and Clarissa von Reinhardt. Stress In Dogs — Learn How Dogs Show Stress and What You Can Do to Help. amazon.com/Stress-Dogs-Learn-dogs-stress-ebook/dp/B077ZGD6NZ.