[tangoblue (OP)]

for example:  every time that my dog (or bitch if you want to be pedantic) sits beside me she licks my face for ages, and she gets really excited as well.  Is this because she loves me, thinks that my face is dirty, just to tell me that she is there or is it something differant.  Please give me your thoughts on the subject.

[Chemistry4me]

Is this because she loves me, thinks that my face is dirty, just to tell me that she is there or is it something different.  Please give me your thoughts on the subject.

I think it could well be all those reasons. []

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Have a read:

http://www.seefido.com/html/why_do_dog_lick_people.htm

http://www.perfectpaws.com/lick.html

[tangoblue (OP)]

i still think its weird though even after years of her doing it.

[Chemistry4me]

Well it'll be REALLY weird if your mum or your wife or girlfriend licked you so why not animals? Even after years and years of doing it. [xx(]

[tangoblue (OP)]

good point, and thanks for the links by the way they were quite helpfull.  I had a read through them and found out quite a bit.

[Karen W.]

It is common for dogs to lick and clean and show affection in this matter with their mates puppies or fellow buddies...I do think it is so with the whole pack.

Humans excrete salt and sweat from their skin and I think that is attractive to the dogs also..Like a horse with a salt lick.
but basically affection and friendliness is expressed that way also.

[tangoblue (OP)]

do salt licks for horses not kill them because, well, of to much salt in their system.

[Chemistry4me]

do salt licks for horses not kill them because, well, of to much salt in their system.

Huh? What? [][]

[Karen W.]

do salt licks for horses not kill them because, well, of to much salt in their system.

I believe horses rabbits and other animals need salt  to supplement in their diet also.. wheres "Simulated" Ryan' or Doc \eaver...they would probably knows why also...

Some salt licks have other nutrients also... and I thought there were other reasons also..No harm though its really impotant for them....we kept them I the chicken pen also, I think as I recall.

They need the minerals and if we don't supply it they would be eating wood and such and a horse could collic without it!

[nicephotog]

Yes why do they lick,
I couldn't train mine for months in 1986, it only responded to me within a chord band of 20 degrees facing me if it turned around at 200 meters whether i spoke its name or yelled it , else it ignored all of that.
Mad i know that their eye-sight is narrow vision and the only dexterous tool they have are at the front called the mouth and teeth.
As for its tongue and licking, why do that, its a "meat rasp"?
Hmmm makes you think.

Why familiaris can lick you, is because he/she can PERIOD!