Do Dogs Feel Happy When You Kiss Them? Vet-Verified Facts & FAQ
As humans, we show affection to the people we love through words and physical actions like hugging and kissing. Since our pets can’t understand our verbal proclamations of love, we sometimes inundate them with physical affection, hoping that they’ll understand just how much we love them by smothering them with kisses. But do dogs understand what our kisses mean, or are they uncomfortable when we shower them with love?
While dogs don’t understand human kisses and the reasons for them, many may associate them with positive feelings and affection. Read on to learn more.
Do Dogs Understand Kisses?
It is not in a dog’s DNA or natural for them to understand the specific behaviors that humans exhibit when they’re happy or in love. Your dog’s wild ancestors didn’t see humans kissing each other, nor did they ever receive kisses from people in the wild.
This is why your newborn puppy may not immediately understand what it is you’re doing when you shower them with kisses. The same may apply to dogs that have been abused or neglected in the past. They may have never been shown affection, so kisses or affection of any kind are new to them. Over time, however, most dogs will begin to associate your kisses with positive feelings.
Many dog owners will use a high-pitched or gentle tone when they’re showing affection toward their pets. Dogs will eventually learn to associate these tones with kisses and cuddles. So, while dogs are unable to understand the nuanced nature of how we express love as humans, many will understand that kisses are a positive expression.
Is It Safe to Kiss My Dog?
Most dogs will tolerate kisses from their family members well and will learn to associate kisses with love and affection. That said, this rule does not apply to every dog, and some dogs may not understand that kisses equal love. Some may feel afraid or threatened when you approach them, and they could even bite you.
That said, you know your dog best. If they have ever shown signs of aggression in the past or if you’ve rescued them and don’t know what their past was like, it’s best to approach kisses carefully. You need to create a strong bond with your pup and introduce physical affection gradually based on their level of comfort.
Does My Dog Like My Kisses?
Some dogs will like getting kisses while others will not. There are certain body language cues that you can look for to determine whether your dog appreciates you smothering them with kisses.
Common Signs Your Dog May Enjoy Your Kisses
There are also warning signs that your dog will display if they are not interested in receiving physical affection from you or they dislike or feel uncomfortable.
Common Signs Your Dog Is Not Interested in Kisses
How Does My Dog Tell Me That They Love Me?
If dogs can’t use words, kisses, or hugs to tell us that they love us, how do they show us affection? There are several behaviors that dogs exhibit to subtly tell you that they love you.
How Do Dogs Communicate?
Dogs don’t communicate with each other the way we do as humans. Friendly dogs know to approach each other from the side instead of head-on. They often avoid prolonged eye contact with one another and will sniff each other out before deciding to play with each other.
Dogs rely heavily on body language and vocalizations to communicate with one another. Their posture, tail, facial expression, and eyes can tell a lot about a dog’s personality and willingness to be in certain situations. Their fur can even fluff up (piloerection) when aroused or unsure.
When we kiss our dogs, we don’t approach them in the way that they’d be approached by other dogs. In fact, when we go in for a smooch, we’re often displaying the exact opposite behavior that they’d expect. We’ll make direct eye contact and approach them straight on. If dogs were to treat each other this way, it could be misconstrued as aggressive.
Final Thoughts
While dogs may not ever understand what kisses mean, most will eventually learn that kisses are a positive message from their humans.
Does your dog feel happy when you kiss them? It depends on the dog, but if you notice any positive feedback post-kiss, it’s safe to say that your dog appreciates it (and you).
Related read: What Makes Dogs Happy?
Sources
Featured Image Credit: Lubo Ivanko, Shutterstock
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Chantelle is passionate about two things in her life – writing and animals. She grew up on the prairies of Canada surrounded by animals and as an adult, she choose to share her home with five cats, two guinea pigs, and a bearded dragon. Chantelle, her husband, and their child take great pride in being great animal parents- the ones who spend a thousand dollars on wall-mounted cat shelves so that their cats can have an indoor jungle gym all year round. When Chantelle isn’t snuggling her cats on the couch or taking pictures of them being funny, she’s outside exploring in the Rocky Mountains, binging the same shows on Netflix over and over, and reading about whatever random topic pops into her brain.
