Do Dogs Understand Kisses? Unlocking The Truth

While kissing is a natural way for humans to show affection, it's not the same for dogs. Dogs don't instinctively understand what kisses are, and they can't pucker or purse their lips like humans. However, dogs are good at recognising human emotions and can learn to associate kisses with affection if they are taught. For example, a dog may not show any signs of recognition when kissed as a puppy, but as it gets older, it may come to like kisses due to their association with petting and affectionate tones of voice.

Do dogs understand kisses as a sign of affection?

Kissing is a natural way for humans to show affection, and many pet owners kiss their dogs. But do dogs understand what kisses mean?

The human perspective

As humans, we often expect our dogs to behave in human-like ways. We may dress them up, teach them to shake hands, and even expect them to tolerate kisses and hugs.

The dog's perspective

When we kiss a dog, we bring our face very close to theirs, which some dogs may perceive as a threat. Hugging a dog can also be stressful for them as it removes their "flight" option, and they may feel trapped. Bending over a dog, putting our face close to theirs, and making eye contact can sometimes lead to defensive bites, especially in children, who often see dogs as toys.

According to animal behaviorists, dogs do not instinctively understand human kisses in the same way that humans do. However, with repeated pairing of kisses with petting, affectionate tones of voice, and other positive gestures, dogs may learn to associate kisses with affection and even come to enjoy them. Some dogs may never get used to kisses, especially rescue dogs, who may have had negative experiences in the past.

Dogs show affection differently from humans. They use loose bodies, rubbing, nuzzling, and licking to show affection. Licking is instinctual for dogs, as this is how their mother communicates with them from birth, and it can also be a way to maintain pack harmony. While dogs may not understand kisses in the same way humans do, they can learn to associate them with positive attention and respond accordingly.

Signs your dog likes kisses

If your dog likes kisses, they may show it by licking your hand or face, wagging their tail, looking alert, acting excited, or running around. All dogs are unique, so their responses may vary, but you should be able to tell from their body language if they enjoy kisses.

Do dogs like being kissed?

Kissing is a natural way for humans to show affection, and many pet owners kiss their dogs. But do dogs like being kissed?

Dogs' perspective

When a dog is kissed, it means bringing our face very close to theirs, and some dogs are not comfortable with this. From a dog's perspective, putting our face close to theirs may be perceived as a bite or an attempt to bite. Hugging and kissing dogs can put us at risk of a defensive bite to the face, which can be dangerous. Studies have shown that bending over a dog, putting our face close to theirs, and making eye contact (all behaviours that take place when kissing a dog) often led to bites directed towards the central area of the face.

According to animal behaviourists, dogs don't understand kisses the same way humans do. When kissing a young puppy, you may not notice any signs of recognition because they have yet to associate kisses with affection. After repeated pairing with petting and affectionate tones in the owner's voice, dogs may go beyond tolerating kisses to liking everything that surrounds the kissing experience. On the other hand, some dogs never get used to being kissed, for example, some rescue dogs.

Some dogs may show very subtle signs of discomfort that go unnoticed, like pulling away or turning away, some even snarl or grumble. Dogs may respond to kisses differently: some love them, others show signs of disliking them, and some just tolerate them. If your dog becomes rigid, flicks their tongue, or pulls their ears back, these are likely signs that they are feeling uncomfortable, and you should stop.

There are other ways to show your dog affection without causing confusion or stress. You can play with your dog and watch what kinds of games they like, and give them what they want. Exercising together is a great way to bond, so take your dog walking or hiking and allow them to explore the world. Some dogs also make good running companions. You can also try teaching your dog some fun tricks.

How do dogs show affection?

Dogs do not instinctively understand that human kisses are a sign of affection, but they can learn to realise that they are positive gestures and respond accordingly. For example, a dog may jump up and try to lick you, which is its way of showing affection. Other signs that your dog likes your kisses include licking your hand or face, acting excited, and running around with its tail wagging. Dogs also tend to look straight into your eyes when you kiss and cuddle them, and it is often easy to see how much they trust you when receiving this type of attention.

Dogs show affection with loose bodies, rubbing themselves against you, and nuzzling your hand to solicit petting and cuddles. They may also shower you in their own, sloppy kisses. While dog kisses are different from human kisses, their urge to lick is instinctual. From birth, puppies are licked by their mothers, and licking can also be a way of maintaining pack harmony, with more submissive dogs licking more dominant ones as a show of submission.

If you want to teach your dog to kiss you, you can do so by holding a treat in your hand and encouraging your dog to lick the hand with the treat. Once they have started doing this, begin using the word 'kisses' or a similar word so that they form a link between that word and licking your hand. You can also teach your dog to kiss or bump your nose by holding a treat close to your nose and doing the same thing. Once your dog gets used to this, you won't even need to hold the treats – you can just say the word 'kisses' and they will know what is expected.

How can you tell if your dog likes being kissed?

Dogs do not instinctively understand that human kisses are gestures of affection. However, they can learn to associate kisses with positive feelings. If your dog likes being kissed, they may show it by licking you back, wagging their tail, looking alert, acting excited, or running around. Some dogs may also nuzzle up to you instead of getting excitable.

If your dog is comfortable with kisses, they are likely to show signs of recognition such as licking your hand or face. They may also jump up, become excited, or run around with their tail wagging. These are all signs that your dog is happy and feels loved.

However, it is important to remember that not all dogs enjoy being kissed. Some dogs may tolerate kisses for their owner's sake, while others may feel stressed or confused by this human gesture. Putting your face close to a dog's face can sometimes be seen as threatening, and hugging does not come naturally to dogs. If your dog becomes rigid, flicks their tongue, pulls their ears back, or turns away, these are signs that they are feeling uncomfortable and would prefer you to stop.

To determine whether your dog likes being kissed, you can try a consent test. Pet your dog briefly on an area of their body that they enjoy being touched, then stop and hold your hands out. If your dog moves closer or nudges your hand, they want you to continue petting them. If they seem indifferent or walk away, they do not want to be petted or kissed at that moment.

How can you teach your dog to kiss?

Kissing is a natural thing for humans, but dogs do not express affection in the same way. Dogs cannot purse their lips like humans, and bringing your face very close to a dog's face may be perceived as a bite attempt, which can be dangerous. Some dogs may never get used to kisses, and they may be showing subtle signs of discomfort that go unnoticed.

However, dogs can learn to recognise kisses as positive gestures and may respond and reciprocate accordingly. Dogs have evolved with humans and adapted to our social cues, and they can understand that kisses are a sign of affection. If you kiss a dog and it licks you back, it probably understands the affection connection.

• Start with your dog in a sitting or lying position. Present your cheek or chin and say your command word, such as "kiss". Avoid using your mouth as the target to prevent unwanted licks on your lips.
• Whenever your dog licks your cheek or chin, immediately reward them with a treat. This helps them understand that licking your cheek is the desired action.
• Repeat this process for 5 to 10 minutes every day. After several training sessions, you can start to take the treat away and offer other types of positive reinforcement, such as praise and head scratches.
• Once your dog has mastered cheek kisses, you can start teaching them to kiss your hand, nose, or even your friends!
• If your dog isn't responding to your kiss command, you can use a treat to guide them. Hold a treat in your hand and present it to your dog, guiding them to your cheek while continuously showing them the treat. When they begin to lick your cheek, say the command word "kiss". Repeat this process until your dog learns to associate the command word with licking your cheek.
• Remember that learning tricks takes time, and it may take a few days for your dog to master this new trick. Make sure to have fun and keep the training sessions enjoyable to strengthen your bond with your dog.

Frequently asked questions